Welsh medium education
Encyclopedia
Education delivered through the medium
of the Welsh language
is known as Welsh medium education .
Welsh medium education should be distinguished from the teaching of Welsh as an academic subject. Welsh as a subject is taught as first language in Welsh medium schools. In English medium schools it is taught as a second language and became compulsory for all pupils in Wales at Key Stage
s 1, 2 and 3 (up to age 14) in 1990. In 1999, it became a compulsory subject for Key Stage 4 pupils (GCSE (ages 15 and 16)). Provision of Welsh as a subject in independent (private) schools is less widespread — only a few provide it, and it again it is taught as a second language.
There is no private designated Welsh-medium school in Wales, although one does exist in London
, called the London Welsh School
.
Roughly a quarter of schoolchildren in Wales now receive their education through the medium of Welsh. Children wishing to join a Welsh medium school do not have to speak Welsh to attend if they are young enough to learn the language quickly. Ysgol Glan Clwyd
is an example; although 70% of the pupils attending this school come from homes where English is the main or only language, 95% of pupils finish their education speaking Welsh as well as a native speaker.
Ysgol Glan Clwyd
was the first Welsh-medium secondary (comprehensive) school, and opened in Rhyl
in 1956.
has established play groups and nurseries throughout Wales which allow children to learn Welsh through immersion
. The spread of such nurseries has ensured strong demand from parents for Welsh Medium primary schools. The success of MYM inspired the Ikastolak movement in the Basque Country
and the Diwan
movement in Brittany
.
Information taken from Schools in Wales (accessed 23 July 2010)
Information taken from Schools in Wales (accessed 23 July 2010)
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
of the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
is known as Welsh medium education .
Welsh medium education should be distinguished from the teaching of Welsh as an academic subject. Welsh as a subject is taught as first language in Welsh medium schools. In English medium schools it is taught as a second language and became compulsory for all pupils in Wales at Key Stage
Key Stage
A Key Stage is a stage of the state education system in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the British Territory of Gibraltar setting the educational knowledge expected of students at various ages...
s 1, 2 and 3 (up to age 14) in 1990. In 1999, it became a compulsory subject for Key Stage 4 pupils (GCSE (ages 15 and 16)). Provision of Welsh as a subject in independent (private) schools is less widespread — only a few provide it, and it again it is taught as a second language.
There is no private designated Welsh-medium school in Wales, although one does exist in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, called the London Welsh School
London Welsh School
The London Welsh School, or Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain in Welsh, is a Welsh medium primary school in London, England. The Welsh language is the language of instruction for all classes and activities. The London Welsh School's origins date back to language classes taught in 1955, and a dedicated school...
.
Roughly a quarter of schoolchildren in Wales now receive their education through the medium of Welsh. Children wishing to join a Welsh medium school do not have to speak Welsh to attend if they are young enough to learn the language quickly. Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Ysgol Glan Clwyd is a Welsh medium secondary school, and was the first of its kind. It opened in 1956, initially at Rhyl on the coast before moving inland to St Asaph in 1969 . It is overseen by Denbighshire Local Education Authority.In 2006 it had 833 students, of whom 108 were in the sixth form...
is an example; although 70% of the pupils attending this school come from homes where English is the main or only language, 95% of pupils finish their education speaking Welsh as well as a native speaker.
Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Ysgol Glan Clwyd is a Welsh medium secondary school, and was the first of its kind. It opened in 1956, initially at Rhyl on the coast before moving inland to St Asaph in 1969 . It is overseen by Denbighshire Local Education Authority.In 2006 it had 833 students, of whom 108 were in the sixth form...
was the first Welsh-medium secondary (comprehensive) school, and opened in Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
in 1956.
Nursery Education
The Mudiad Ysgolion MeithrinMudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin is a movement for the formation and support of Welsh Medium Nursery groups. These voluntary groups are often crucial in the subsequent establishment of a Welsh Medium primary school in the area. The movement is particularly active in anglicized areas of Wales and has had...
has established play groups and nurseries throughout Wales which allow children to learn Welsh through immersion
Language immersion
Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool,...
. The spread of such nurseries has ensured strong demand from parents for Welsh Medium primary schools. The success of MYM inspired the Ikastolak movement in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
and the Diwan
Diwan (school)
Diwan is a federation of Breton language-medium schools in Brittany .-Concept:The Diwan concept, which allows children to learn French and Breton through immersion was inspired by the Gaelscoileanna movement in Ireland, Ikastolak movement in the Basque Country and the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin...
movement in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
Primary Education
In the primary school sector, the numbers of children in Welsh-medium schools (or in the Welsh-medium stream of dual stream schools) has grown steadily in recent years.| School year | Total pupils | WM pupils | WM as % | % inc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000/2001 | 262,751 | 49,422 | 18.81% | |
| 2001/2002 | 260,151 | 49,687 | 19.10% | +1.5% |
| 2002/2003 | 256,690 | 50,756 | 19.77% | +3.5% |
| 2003/2004 | 252,230 | 51,131 | 20.27% | +2.5% |
| 2004/2005 | 248,328 | 52,792 | 21.26% | +4.9% |
| 2005/2006 | 243,982 | 52,867 | 21.67% | +1.9% |
| 2006/2007 | 240,621 | 54,099 | 22.48% | +3.7% |
| 2007/2008 | 237,917 | 54,895 | 23.07% | +2.6% |
Information taken from Schools in Wales (accessed 23 July 2010)
Secondary Education
The percentage of children in Welsh-medium secondary schools is slightly less than in primary schools, but is also growing, with 2007/2008 seeing a major increase compared to 2006/2007.| School year | Total pupils | WM pupils | WM as % | % inc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000/2001 | 210,396 | 38,007 | 18.06% | |
| 2001/2002 | 212,024 | 38,817 | 18.31% | +1.4% |
| 2002/2003 | 214,276 | 39,458 | 18.41% | +0.5% |
| 2003/2004 | 215,609 | 40,169 | 18.63% | +1.2% |
| 2004/2005 | 214,626 | 40,221 | 18.74% | +0.6% |
| 2005/2006 | 213,045 | 40,828 | 19.16% | +2.2% |
| 2006/2007 | 210,353 | 40,702 | 19.35% | +1.0% |
| 2007/2008 | 206,936 | 40,756 | 19.69% | +1.8% |
| 2008/2009 | 205,421 | 41,916 | 20.40% | +3.6% |
Information taken from Schools in Wales (accessed 23 July 2010)
See also
- Education in WalesEducation in WalesEducation in Wales differs in certain respects from education elsewhere in the United Kingdom. For example, a significant number of students all over Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of Welsh: in 2008/09, 22 per cent of classes in maintained primary schools used Welsh...
- GaelscoilGaelscoilA gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
- Irish medium education 10% of schooling population.