Welsh medium education

Education delivered through the medium of the Welsh language is known as Welsh medium education (Welsh: Addysg Cyfrwng Cymraeg).

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 Stages 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.

Nursery Education

The Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin 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.

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 Wales
• Gaelscoil - Irish medium education 10% of schooling population.

External links

• Welsh Language Board
• Mudiad Meithrin