Drivers for Welsh medium and bilingual qualifications and assessment Rachel Heath-Davies: Head of Strategic Policy

Context of Welsh language in education National curriculum Welsh as a subject – first and second language Welsh as a medium - Welsh medium and bilingual schools Welsh medium in FE and HE

Legislative and policy developments Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 A million speakers by 2050 New Welsh Language Act?

We want to see an increase in language transmission in the family, early introduction of Welsh to every child, an education system that provides Welsh language skills for all, and greater appreciation of Welsh language skills in the workplace. A million Welsh speakers by 2050 and increase in use of Welsh from 10% to 20%

Targets - Welsh in education The national strategy sets incremental targets in order to reach the ambitious target of 1m speakers by 2050: 40% increase in students studying through the Welsh medium. Transform the way we teach Welsh so that 70% report that they speak Welsh by the time they leave school. Significant increase in teaching capacity required across all sectors. An increase in the number of assessors and moderators able to work through the medium of Welsh. Reform post-16 offer to ensure that young people have the opportunity to continue developing bilingual skills to support a prosperous economy.

Wider policy and legislative context Welsh Language Commissioner The Well being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 Welsh medium education strategy and education powers and legislation Through the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 specified public bodies covering the whole of Wales are required to work towards seven well-being goals, one of which is ‘A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language’

Education Strategy developments WESPs – robust planning and monitoring framework Commissioning resources Bilingual Champions in FE HE - Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Sabbatical Programme Work Welsh Apprenticeships The Act places Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs) on a statutory basis and gives Welsh Ministers the power to require local authorities to measure demand for Welsh-medium education amongst parents under specified circumstances. The Act was given Royal Assent in February 2013. Under the provisions of the Act, Welsh in Education Strategic Plans and Assessing Demand for Welsh-medium Education (Wales) Regulations 2013 were also introduced. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide school places and are responsible for determining the scale of provision in terms of Welshmedium school places.

Growing demand Growth of Welsh medium – schools, FE and HE High proportion of learners in Welsh medium schools come from non Welsh speaking households 40%+ of school age children in the population speak Welsh Growth in adult learners of Welsh the growth of Welsh-medium education is one of the most remarkable developments in Wales’ education system during the second half of the twentieth century’ Welsh Government, Welsh in education strategy, 2010. Started from the demand of parents, who set up a private school and later followed publicly funded schools. Education Act 1944 – Right for parents to have language choice of school for their children. 1947 – first state primary school opened.

Chicken and Egg! No demand No supply Welsh in education strategy and WESPs – mainly demand approach. However, the aim of the Strategy is to create growth in Welsh-medium provision, by planning in response to demand. Planning based on response to demand does not necessarily ensure an increase in provision. Some examples have been seen of education institutions proactively encouraging demand for Welsh-medium provision, rather than responding to demand from students as the basis for planning provision.

Assessing the demand or Strategic and Proactive approach Medium and long term Sectors/ economy Where courses are available in Welsh in FE and HE – progression pathways Gaps and opportunities

Priority sectors and professions Public sector – health, social care, local authorities, teaching, assessing Hospitality and tourism Media Agriculture

Our current approach Require approved qualifications to be available in Welsh and English Designated qualifications – encouraged to be available Health and Social Care – bilingual Sectoral reviews – more to come QW Policy review during 2018

Recent developments and support for you Stakeholders’ Group Awarding Bodies’ Group Link LinkdIn

Welsh Language Support Grant Demand – Awarding bodies will be expected to provide evidence demonstrating the level of demand/likely demand for the qualification(s) Policy and Initiatives – Awarding bodies must demonstrate how the Welsh medium provision of the qualification(s) answers specific policies or initiatives

£180,000 Welsh Language Support Grant Quality Assurance – Awarding bodies will be expected to provide evidence of their ability to quality assure their grant activities. Internal Quality Assurance process documents can support this, but will not provide enough detail on their own Sustainability – Awarding bodies will be expected to evidence how they plan to support the qualification(s) in the long term £180,000

Practical ideas Skills Audit Coleg Cymraeg model Safle Swyddi, Lleol.net, Golwg Training and CPD to build capacity

Forwards… Aiming to see an increase QW Policy review during 2018

Next Steps and Questions