THE SENEDD has passed landmark legislation to ensure that every child in Wales has the opportunity to confidently speak Welsh, regardless of their background or the language medium of the school they attend.

The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, passed today, aims to close the gap in Welsh-speaking ability among pupils from different schools. It supports the Welsh Government’s goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050 by strengthening the role of the Welsh language within education.

The Bill’s overarching ambition is that all pupils attending maintained schools in Wales will be able to use Welsh independently by the time they leave school.

Welsh Language Secretary, Mark Drakeford, said: “The Welsh language belongs to us all. This Bill gives children and young people a greater opportunity to become confident Welsh speakers and brings us closer to our national goal of one million speakers.

“As a Senedd, we have passed an important and far-reaching Bill that will empower every child to use the Welsh language with confidence. I look forward to continued collaboration as we implement it.”

The legislation introduces three Welsh language categories for maintained schools, each with a minimum required level of Welsh language education. It also mandates action to expand access to intensive Welsh language immersion education across Wales, supporting learners of all ages — including those who may not currently use Welsh in everyday life.

Education Secretary, Lynne Neagle, said: “Our approach to late language immersion is unique. This Bill builds on the excellent work already happening across Wales and ensures that every child has the opportunity to learn Welsh, use it, and benefit from it.”

Government support for implementation

To support the ambitions of the Bill, the Welsh Government is:

• Continuing grant schemes to increase the number of Welsh-speaking teachers and teaching assistants.
• Offering free Welsh lessons to all school staff.

Additional initiatives include:

• Transition Scheme: Supports Welsh speakers in primary schools or those teaching outside Wales to become secondary teachers in Welsh-medium schools.
• Iaith Athrawon Yfory Incentive Scheme: Offers £5,000 incentives to students training to teach through the medium of Welsh or to teach Welsh as a subject.
• Retention Bursary: Provides a £5,000 bursary to secondary teachers who have taught Welsh or through Welsh for three years since 2020 and remain in post during their fourth year.
• Expanding alternative routes into teaching, including the Open University’s programme and new accredited models like the Cardiff Metropolitan University scheme.
• A wide range of free Welsh language training courses for practitioners, including the sabbatical scheme, provided by the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

Key provisions of the Bill:

• Provides a statutory foundation for the 2050 target of one million Welsh speakers.
• Requires targets to be set for Welsh language education and broader usage, including in workplaces and social settings.
• Establishes a standard method to describe Welsh language ability across all age groups, based on international frameworks (CEFR).
• Defines three school language categories, with minimum Welsh language education requirements:
  • Primary Language – Welsh (80% of curriculum)
  • Bilingual (50%)
  • Primary Language – English, partial Welsh (10%)
• Sets language learning goals for each school category.
• Requires local authorities to take steps to provide intensive Welsh language immersion education for children aged 7 and over wishing to attend a Welsh-medium or bilingual school.
• Introduces a national system for Welsh education planning, covering national, local, and school levels.
• Establishes a National Welsh Language Learning Institute, tasked with:
  • Supporting Welsh language learning across all age groups.
  • Ensuring the education workforce can learn Welsh and improve their Welsh skills.

A GROUP of 20 young people and their teachers from Oberkirch, Germany, visited Haverfordwest last month as part of an international learning exchange.

The visit, which began on April 7, was part of a return leg following a successful exchange in August 2024, when members of Haverfordwest Youth Club and their youth workers travelled to Oberkirch. The two towns have enjoyed a strong twinning relationship since 1989.

Both visits were supported by Taith, the Welsh Government-funded programme that promotes international learning exchanges in Wales.

During their five-day stay in Pembrokeshire, the visiting group immersed themselves in Welsh culture through a wide-ranging programme of activities. The trip began with a warm welcome event at The Edge Youth Centre, where the group met members of the local community and enjoyed a special performance by the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir.

The itinerary included a scenic walk along the coastal path, guided visits to historical landmarks, and a tour of Haverfordwest High VC School. Participants also enjoyed cultural sessions designed to promote friendship, understanding, and personal growth.

Feedback from the group was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the stunning Pembrokeshire landscape and the warm hospitality of their hosts.

Liz Griffiths, Community Youth Team Manager, said: “Taking part in this international learning exchange programme has been an enriching experience for the young people, broadening their cultural horizons and providing valuable opportunities for travel and learning.

“They conducted themselves with great maturity and courtesy, serving as outstanding ambassadors for Oberkirch. We are hopeful that this marks the beginning of more frequent exchanges between the young people of our twin towns.”

Pembrokeshire Youth continues to offer a wide range of experiences, support and opportunities for young people aged 11 to 25 across the county.

Photo caption: Visiting students and teachers from Oberkirch enjoyed a packed itinerary during their stay in Pembrokeshire (Pic: Pembrokeshire Youth).

Young people and career changers invited to apply for Cyfle Building Skills initiative

APPLICATIONS are now open for the Cyfle Building Skills Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in Pembrokeshire – with only ten places available for those looking to begin a career in the construction industry.

The highly regarded programme, now in its twelfth year, offers hands-on experience across a range of trades while participants study towards a recognised vocational qualification.

Uniquely, apprentices rotate between several trusted local construction firms, gaining a broad range of on-site experience. One day a week is spent at college to support their training.

Paul Falzon, Pembrokeshire Coordinator for Cyfle, is hosting a drop-in information session on Wednesday (May 21) at The Corner Room, Haverhub, The Old Post Office, Quay Street, Haverfordwest, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. No appointment is needed.

The scheme has supported nearly 1,000 apprentices across South West Wales and has a strong success rate – with around 90% of apprentices going on to full-time employment after completing the programme.

Trades on offer include bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, painting and decorating, maintenance/multi-skilling, and technical roles.

Backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme aims to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the construction sector and provide a flexible, supported route into the industry.

Mr Falzon said: “This scheme has helped hundreds of young people take their first steps into the construction industry, and we’re thrilled to be expanding our presence in Pembrokeshire. Whether you’re a school leaver, a career changer, or someone who enjoys practical work, I’d encourage you to come along to the drop-in session or get in touch—it could be the start of something great.”

Applications close at the end of June 2025, and with limited availability, early application is advised.

Local contractors who would like to support the scheme by offering placements are also encouraged to contact Mr Falzon directly on 07799 716 567 or [email protected].