Council approves plan despite criticism that it is lacking in detail
A 10-YEAR strategy to boost Welsh medium teaching has been approved by Cardiff council despite being criticised by teaching staff for not being practical or detailed enough.
“People want more detail and underpinning, but we’re very clear that the detail will be coming forward. This is the strategy rather than a detailed plan,” said Sarah Merry, Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills.
“There’s always a frustration for people when you’re dealing with a strategy document.”
The Welsh in Education Strategic Plan stems from Cymraeg 2050, the Welsh Government’s strategy to have one million Welsh speakers and 40% of children receiving a Welsh-medium education by 2050.
One criticism of the draft policy was made by Matthew H T Evans, headteacher of Ysgol Glantaf in Llandaff North, who said: “There are very few firm proposals, and these shortcomings lead us to believe that it is highly unlikely the targets will be achieved.”
Responses to the council’s eight-week consultation on the draft policy were discussed at Tuesday’s Scrutiny Committee meeting.
“This is a strategic 10-year plan so it has to be a strategy and not listing out all of the actions as some of the consultees would like to have seen,” said Richard Portas, director of Cardiff Council’s School Organisation Programme.
“We have provided more clarity since the original draft of the plan went out and we feel that we’ve really tightened up the wording and made it as clear as it can be in that strategic context,” he said.
“We will be setting action plans by September 2022 which will put a bit more meat on the bones regarding how we are going to achieve some of the targets set.”
One of these targets is to increase the number of five-year-olds receiving a Welsh-medium education, from 19% in 2022 to 30% by 2032.
It also aims to increase the number of Welsh-medium nursery, primary, and secondary school places, so more pupils gain qualifications in Welsh and have all subjects taught in Welsh.
This would mean increasing the amount of Welsh-speaking teaching staff.
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, Councillor Merry said: “The basic aim is to ensure that absolutely every child in Cardiff can receive an education in Welsh.
“We also want to make sure there are no barriers preventing parents or children from taking up a Welsh-medium education.”
The newly approved plans will take effect in Cardiff’s schools from September 2022.
