Welsh in Education Strategic Plan

Outcome 4

More learners study for assessed qualifications in Welsh (as a subject) and subjects through the medium of Welsh

Where are we now:

Pupils studying and being assessed through the medium of Welsh

Currently pupils at Ysgol Bro Preseli and Ysgol Caer Elen are able to study all subjects at GCSE level through the medium of Welsh. Pupils in these schools are given a choice regarding whether they want to study the sciences through the medium of Welsh or English. The majority of pupils choose to study the sciences through the medium of English. Pupils at these schools can also opt to study some vocational subjects through the medium of Welsh. These courses are delivered in partnership with Pembrokeshire College, Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Sir Gar. Partnerships have been formed with other schools within Cymdeithas Ysgolion Dros Addysg Gymraeg (CYDAG) to collaborate on Welsh medium resources for vocational qualifications. At Ysgol Bro Gwaun, whilst a number of pupils follow a bespoke Welsh curriculum in Humanities, Music and Drama at KS3, currently very few choose to follow the school’s curriculum offer at KS4 through the medium of Welsh. Advice and guidance is provided to parents and carers during the transition from KS3 to 4, with a particular focus on explaining the benefits of undertaking courses through the medium of Welsh.

All sixth form pupils studying academic and vocational qualifications at YYP can study their chosen subjects through the medium of Welsh. Mathematics, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are offered through the medium of English alongside the Welsh medium provision for these subjects.

Pupils studying Welsh as a subject

• Current provision for learners studying and being assessed through the medium of Welsh in Year 10 and over is limited to Ysgol Bro Preseli, but will include Ysgol Caer Elen from September 2021 as the school extends to KS 4.
• All key stage four pupils studying at Ysgol Bro Preseli are entered for Welsh First Language at GCSE. On average 75% of every cohort are also entered for GCSE Welsh Literature. The results for Welsh Language and Welsh Literature are excellent and the school’s Welsh department has received recognition for excellent practice in an Estyn thematic report in 2020.

What we will do:

Pupils studying and being assessed through the medium of Welsh

• The Council is fully committed to increasing the % of learners aged 15 and above studying qualifications through the medium of Welsh. Whilst the long-term aim will be to build upon the immediate changes at Primary level through increasing the capacity of the current provision at post 15, and also by increasing this provision, the short-term aim is to ensure that appropriate conditions, e.g. staffing, courses, support and resources, are in place to increase the number of learners following currently available courses. Consideration will be given to ensuring that pupils follow appropriate pathways at key stage 3 to ensure effective and confident transition onto GCSE courses taught through the medium of Welsh.
• At Ysgol Bro Preseli and Ysgol Caer Elen pupils are able to complete all courses offered at GCSE level through the medium of Welsh however the uptake in terms of pupils opting to study the science-based subjects as a percentage is small. Both schools will develop strategies to increase the number of pupils choosing to study the sciences at GCSE through the medium of Welsh. Ysgol Bro Gwaun will develop strategies to increase the number of pupils choosing to study the humanities at GCSE through the medium of Welsh. During the course of the WESP, and following the transition of Ysgol Glannau Gwaun from Dual Stream to Welsh Medium, the Council will explore Ysgol Bro Gwaun becoming our third Welsh medium secondary school.
• The Council will be committed to supporting the three schools outlined above to ensure that the number of GCSE courses available to learners through the medium of Welsh is increased, and it will actively broker partnership working between these schools and Pembrokeshire College to develop Welsh medium vocational courses for pupils.
• The Council is committed to providing access to pupils for post 16 Welsh medium provision. We will monitor the take up of Welsh medium post 16 options, particularly given the need to ensure that the gains realised at Ysgol Caer Elen and Ysgol Bro Gwaun in terms of pupil numbers are not lost when learners make decisions on their post 16 options.  As part of this exercise we will consider whether retaining sixth form provision at Ysgol Bro Preseli only is appropriate.
• In response to the requirement to outline a target for the expected increase in the number and percentage of learners in Year 10 and above who study for qualifications and are assessed through the medium of Welsh, it is important to set out the baseline which is based on pupil numbers provided by schools in January 2021:

As at January 2021	Year 10	Year 12	Year 13
Pupil Numbers studying through the medium of Welsh	145	76	87
Total Cohort size	1227	347	304
% studying through the medium of Welsh	12%	22%	29%

Our target, along with the necessary assumptions are set out as follows:

• Currently, only pupils attending Ysgol Bro Preseli are counted towards those studying subjects through the medium of Welsh; this will extend to Ysgol Caer Elen  and Ysgol Bro Gwaun in future years;
• Whilst parental preference for school places plays a significant part in shaping the numbers of pupils attending our schools, including those in neighbouring authorities, our assumption of the Year 10 cohort in 2031 is based on the current Reception year group, i.e. 1184;
• Similarly, the calculation for school Sixth form progression at Years 12 and 13 is based on approximate current progression percentages, i.e. 27.5% of the Year 11 cohort progressing to Year 12, and 23.9% progressing to Year 13. 
• The calculation of learners studying subjects through the medium of Welsh is based on forecast growth in the primary sector contributing to growth in the secondary sector during the period of the WESP. This also assumes success in retaining pupils transferring from Welsh medium primary settings to Welsh medium secondary settings.
• Our current targets for 2031 for Years 10 and above are therefore as follows:

As at January 2031	Year 10	Year 12	Year 13
Pupil Numbers studying through the medium of Welsh	300	169	162
Total Cohort size	1184	326	283
% studying through the medium of Welsh	25%	52%	57%

Pupils studying Welsh as a subject

• The local authority will continue to support the work of schools and FEIs to coordinate the provision of Welsh from Year 10 by:
• Continuing and further developing professional networks in collaboration with regional leads for Welsh in order to embed good quality support for all schools;
• Continuing to collaborate with Pembrokeshire College to secure Welsh medium post 15 provision;
• Continuing to support the development of Welsh medium post 15 provision at Ysgol Bro Gwaun with additional resources as available;
• Utilising resources, key staff from within the local authority and promotional materials from Welsh Government to encourage a language and learning continuum across all progression steps to promote learner confidence and parental reassurance.
• The distinctions between Welsh second language and Welsh first language GCSE will be removed following the introduction of the New Curriculum for Wales in September 2022. This realignment of GCSE provision and expectation is recognised at secondary school level and a restructure and development phase is underway to ensure appropriately resourced programmes of Study are in place.
• At Ysgol Bro Gwaun it is expected that all pupils who follow pathways through the medium of Welsh at KS3 will achieve the highest grades available, recognising their advanced knowledge and understanding of the language. It is expected that all pupils, regardless of their skill level will successfully achieve a GCSE grade in Welsh language