Young children learn Language easily. They soak it up, as a sponge soaks up water.

 The best way to learn Welsh is to choose Welsh-medium education.

Welsh-medium and bilingual schools can be found in all parts of Wales, and remember – you do not have to be able to speak Welsh yourself for your child to benefit from Welsh-medium education.

Advantages all the way

Socially

Mixing and communicating with a wide variety of people and enjoying two cultures

Aiming high

Children who study through the medium of Welsh do just as well if not better in school

Bilingual and brilliant

Your child's English skills won't suffer at all but will continue to develop

A bright future

In Wales, being able to speak Welsh and English is a big advantage for young people looking for work

Welsh-medium education from the early years – the best start possible for your child

Welsh-medium or Bilingual Provision

Welsh-medium and bilingual education is available to every child in Wales. Every Local Education Authority have schools which provide this type of education. The fact that parents continue to campaign for more Welsh-medium and bilingual provision proves how successful the education is in these schools. Such schools have years of experience and expertise in educating children bilingually. Indeed, Wales is ahead of most countries in the world in terms of developing bilingualism in children and young people.

In Wales full time statutory education begins in the term following the child’s 4th birthday.
Part time statutory education is available for every child from the term following the child’s 3rd birthday. This could be in a school, or a playgroup, meithrin group, day nursery or registered childminder could provide this part time education. You can receive further information about the provision in your area by contacting your Local Education Authority.

The Primary School

Depending on which part of Wales you live in, Welsh-medium primary education can be provided by a:

• Traditional Welsh-medium school
• Designated Welsh-medium school
• Two stream school, where children are either educated through the medium of English or Welsh.

In Welsh-medium schools or streams, the children are taught solely through the medium of Welsh at Key Stage 1 (up to the age of 7). At Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) Welsh continues as the main teaching medium. English is taught as a subject, as well as some aspects of other subjects.

The Secondary School

If a child has received a Welsh-medium or bilingual primary education, there is no reason not to continue to study subjects through the medium of Welsh at secondary school.

There are different types of Welsh-medium and bilingual secondary schools.

In predominantly Welsh-speaking areas there are traditional Welsh-medium secondary schools where pupils can choose to follow subjects either through the medium of Welsh or English.

In other areas there are designated Welsh-medium secondary schools where:
• the majority of subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh to GCSE, AS and A Level
• there may be a choice of language for Mathematics and Science in some schools.

Every Local Education Authority in Wales must produce a Welsh Education Scheme and a handbook for parents noting the different types of schools within the County and the education which they offer. Copies can be obtained from the Local Education Authority or from libraries and schools in the area.

Welsh in Schools

Welsh as a subject is included in the National Curriculum, as outlined in the Education Act of 1988.

Welsh is a compulsory subject for all pupils in Wales up to 16 years of age.

In Welsh-medium and bilingual schools Welsh is a Core Subject, along with Mathematics, Science and English (between the ages of 7 and 16 only).

In English-medium schools Welsh is taught as a second language. Welsh is a Foundation Subject in these schools. It is compulsory for pupils to study Welsh for 11 years, from the ages of 5 to 16.

The Pattern of Teaching Welsh in Schools

In Welsh-medium and bilingual schools, Welsh is taught as a subject. In addition, the other subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh.

For more detailed information on the growth of Welsh-medium education and immersion education, see the links on the right hand side of this page.