Welsh Language Policy For Schools Maintained by the Local Education Authority (LEA)

The Authority's Welsh Language Policy aims to ensure that pupils gain the educational stimulus afforded by bilingual education and increase their fluency over time.

Bilingualism will be introduced at the earliest opportunity. The Authority will ensure that bilingual education, once started, will be maintained and developed as the children progress. There are no exemptions from the National Curriculum in Welsh.

The Authority does not provide a language centre for Welsh language latecomers. However, with the full support of the Welsh Assembly Government, the Welsh Language Board has developed a national project to provide late immersion for pupils to access Welsh medium education. Support is available from our Welsh Advisory Team, from January, for those Year 6 pupils currently attending English medium schools, who wish to access Welsh medium secondary education at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in September. Following the Whitsun break they will embark on a six-week immersion course based at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd.

Schools where Welsh is the main medium of instruction, introduce English at Key Stage 2 (KS2) (i.e. ages 8-11).

Junior/Primary Education

All Wrexham County Borough Primary Schools will be bilingual though the degree of bilingualism may differ from school to school. Consequently, it will be the responsibility of the Authority (in conjunction with the headteacher and the school governors) to ensure that competent teachers are available in order that the proportion of time allocated to the teaching of both Welsh and English is in accordance with National Curriculum requirements.

In the majority of the schools, English will be the main medium of instruction. Welsh will be taught as a second language in these schools from nursery until year six.

Secondary Education

Secondary Education will be provided through the medium of English, or through the medium of Welsh according to the wishes of the parents.

In order to preserve and ensure continuity with the primary schools, Welsh will be taught as a second language in all secondary schools, where the main medium of instruction is English, in KS3 and KS4.

Welsh medium Secondary education is provided at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham where every subject is offered through the medium of Welsh.