Agenda item

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Members enquired about the capacity in terms of physical resources to deliver against the WESP targets. Officers advised that the target of 50% of schools being Welsh medium was within the context of a declining birth rate. In terms of buildings and sites it was a matter of looking at proposals sensibly within this context.

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Members discussed expanding Welsh Medium education provision beyond the 3-18 age range, including in higher education and linking to the world of work. Officers advised that this was covered by Outcome 5 of the WESP. Action plans will be put in place by September 2022 and there will be a formal review after 2 years. There will be close liaison with universities and colleges in developing the proposals. Research is required to discover the learning pathways and decision making in early years and throughout education and the transition to work. The Council provides research, planning and action elements. The 10-year plan provides an opportunity for long-term strategic planning.

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Members expressed concerns about what was required to upskill the teaching profession to be able to deliver the WESP targets, particularly in the context of Covid. Officers advised that a National Workforce Development Plan was expected within a few months. There is currently a lack of consistent methods to record whether members of the teaching workforce can either teach Welsh or teach fluently in Welsh. Research is required to discover a consistent recording method and feed the information into the national policy position.

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Members sought information on plans to recruit good Welsh-speaking teachers into English medium schools. Officers advised that in considering expansion of Welsh medium education the workforce element has to be borne in mind and sustainable growth in training across Wales was required. There is a strong immersion unit for teaching staff and there is the opportunity to broaden its scope.

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Members noted that the training and recruitment of Welsh-speaking teachers was a Wales-wide problem, and that Cardiff was ahead of some other LAs in addressing it. It is not desirable to draw teachers from other LAs so a national approach is required. It is also important to have good senior leaders in Welsh medium education.

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Members referred to the model being trialled at Plasdwr for enhanced Welsh through the English stream and sought information both on how progress would be monitored and on plans to further develop and extend the model. Officers advised that good progress was being made on the school. The Council was looking to map out the model in more detail ahead of the appointment of a head teacher. The model is based on research from the Basque country where a number of different models have been used to successfully grow use of the Basque language to high levels. Discussions are underway around external research into the success of the model.

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Members noted that even a top-grade GCSE results in Welsh did not necessarily make an English first language  student confident in using Welsh. There are different approaches to acquiring the language practiced in Welsh and English medium schools. It is not desirable for a large proportion of the population to feel disadvantaged because of their inability or lack of confidence in using the language.

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Members asked whether the Action Plans due by September 2022 would contain greater detail on how the WESP outcomes would be achieved than in the Strategic Plan. Officers advised that the document was a 10-year strategic plan and so providing full details on all actions were not  possible. However, greater clarity has now been provided. The Action Plans need to be submitted and approved by Welsh Government by September 2022. The Strategic Plan contains details about how the Action Plans will be set out.

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Members enquired about the strategy of making Welsh medium the prime option presented to parents considering an education place, and ensuring parents had confidence in continuing in the Welsh medium from nursery through to secondary school. Officers referred to the high transfer rate from Welsh to English medium and highlighted the importance of promoting Welsh medium education and the wider context of support for the Welsh medium option.

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Members discussed the need for understanding the reasons parents were not progressing their children into Welsh medium secondary education, as parents might have valid concerns that needed to be addressed. Officers advised that a tailored approach was required with particular research into communities with a low take-up of Welsh medium to assess how take-up might be raised.

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Members enquired about research from Welsh speaking taechers about their learning pathways. Officers advised that a rounded approach to research was being undertaken and that the suggestion would be considered.

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Members discussed whether it was intended to raise the number of fluent Welsh speakers or to accept a number of people who had some understanding of Welsh but lacked confidence in using it. Officers advised that there needed to be a balance between growing Welsh within the English medium and immersion options. The Plasdwr model is intended to increase Welsh fluency within the English medium sector and there is an expectation that there will be significant amount of teaching in Welsh within the model.