Admission to School - Information for Parents 2023-2024

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The Teaching of Welsh and English in Carmarthenshire Schools

Carmarthenshire Schools Linguistic Categorisation of Schools is changing.

In line with Welsh Government guidance (October 2022) all schools and Local Authorities in Wales must publicise information on the language in which they intend to teach.

Linguistic provision is closely coupled with:

  • the County's statutory Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), contributes to the aim of nurturing a million Welsh speakers by 2050;
  • incorporates proposals to teach the Languages and Communications Area of Learning and Experience of the new Curriculum for Wales as well as the promotion of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

As a result, there is a clear expectation that all schools will develop provision that increases the use of Welsh in the formal and extra-curricular curriculum, as a means of achieving the County's recognised 10-year WESP between 2022-2032.

Through consultation with schools and school governing bodies there will be a new system of linguistic categorisation coming into situ in January 2023. Further information on on School categories according to Welsh-medium provision ​can be found on the Welsh Government website.

The following tables defines the language categories applied to schools and the school list found in the middle of this booklet, indicates the category of each individual.

Primary School

Category Curriculum Language of School Outcomes
Welsh Medium WM

Foundation Phase – medium of Welsh. KS2 – at least 70% of teaching through medium of Welsh.

 Welsh is the language of communication with pupils and the language of day to day business of the school. The school communicates with parents in both languages. Pupils, regardless of home language will be able to transfer to Welsh medium secondary provision and by the end of KS2 will have reached equivalent standard in English to that reached by pupils in predominantly English medium schools.
Dual Stream DS Mainly Welsh-medium or mainly English– medium exist side-by-side in these schools. Both Welsh and English are used in day-to-day business of the school. Language of communication is determined by nature of curricular provision. The school communicates with parents in both languages. For pupils in Welsh stream – normal expectations as for the Welsh Medium category.
For pupils in English stream – normal expectations as for the English Medium category.
Transitional school TR Foundation Phase – areas of learning mainly through the medium of Welsh.
KS2 – both languages used but with greater emphasis on Welsh – 50% -70%.		 Welsh is the language used in the day to day business of the school. High priority given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both languages. Some pupils, particularly from Welsh speaking homes may be able to transfer to Welsh medium secondary provision.
All pupils will have reached a standard in English equivalent to that of pupils in predominantly English medium schools.
English medium with significant use of Welsh EW Foundation Phase – pupils experience the areas of learning in both languages but with greater emphasis on English.
KS2 – both languages used in teaching but greater emphasis on English. Welsh as a medium of teaching or learning – between 20% and 50% of the primary curriculum overall.		 Day to day language or languages of school is determined by the school’s linguistic context. Both languages used for communication with pupils and school administration. High priority given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both Languages. Normal expectation is that pupils will transfer to English medium secondary provision, but will have enhanced Welsh second language skills. Some pupils able to pursue limited number of subjects through the medium of Welsh.
English medium school EM Foundation Phase – all pupils experience areas of learning through the medium of English.
KS2 – Welsh taught as a second language. Less than 20% of the teaching is through the medium of Welsh.		 English is the language used in the day- to-day business of the school – some Welsh used as a language of communication with pupils to improve capacity to use everyday Welsh. The school communicates with parents either in English or in both languages. Normal expectation is that pupils will transfer to English medium secondary provision and continue to learn predominantly through the medium of English, learning Welsh as a second language.

 

Other Considerations - Primary Schools

Teaching Welsh and English, either as a first language or a second language, is an essential part of the programme of work of every class in all the primary schools in Carmarthenshire in accordance with the above policies, but special provision is necessary for:-

  1. those children who arrive at the County’s primary schools at a later age;
  2. those children who are officially assessed as suffering from learning difficulties where the introduction of a second language would hinder their educational development, and where education through the medium of their mother tongue is essential [however, the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum must be borne in mind];
  3. children from foreign countries whose second language is neither Welsh nor English and where the introduction of a third language could prevent their educational development, and where the ability to speak English would be advantageous for them.

Each school's language category is noted in the schools list in this booklet.

Secondary Schools

Welsh is taught as a subject to every pupil up to the end of Year 11 in accordance with the requirements of the National Curriculum. There is a variety of provision of teaching other subjects through the medium of Welsh in a number of the County's secondary schools and parents may obtain specific information from the individual schools. There are three bilingual secondary schools where the major part of the curriculum is taught through the medium of Welsh

Category Curriculum Language of School Outcomes
Welsh Medium 1WM All subjects apart from English taught through the medium of Welsh to all pupils. Some schools may introduce English terminology in one or two subjects. Welsh is the language of communication with pupils and the language of the day to day business of the school. The school communicates with parents in both languages. Assessment at KS3 and KS4 will be through the medium of Welsh in all subjects apart from English or other languages. Pupils will be able to progress to Welsh medium post 16 provision.
Bilingual This category has 4 sub- divisions according to the percentage of subjects taught through the medium of Welsh and whether there is parallel provision in English.    
2A At least 80% of subjects (excluding English and Welsh) are taught only through the medium of Welsh to all pupils. One or two subjects are taught to some pupils in English or both languages. The day-to-day language or languages of the school will be determined by its linguistic context. Both languages are used to communicate with pupils and for the school’s administration. A high priority is given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both languages. For pupils in 2A, 2B and 2C following the maximum number of courses through the medium of Welsh, assessment at KS3 and KS4 would be through the medium of Welsh in those subjects and that they would be able to progress to post 16 provision through the medium of Welsh in chosen subjects.
2B At least 80% of subjects (excluding English and Welsh) are taught through the medium of Welsh but are also taught through the medium of English. The day-to-day language or languages of the school will be determined by its linguistic context. Both languages are used to communicate with pupils and for the school’s administration. A high priority is given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both languages. For pupils in 2A, 2B and 2C following the maximum number of courses through the medium of Welsh, assessment at KS3 and KS4 would be through the medium of Welsh in those subjects and that they would be able to progress to post 16 provision through the medium of Welsh in chosen subjects.
2C 50-79% of subjects (excluding English and Welsh) are taught through the medium of Welsh but are also taught through the medium of English. The day-to-day language or languages of the school will be determined by its linguistic context. Both languages are used to communicate with pupils and for the school’s administration. A high priority is given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both languages. For pupils in 2A, 2B and 2C following the maximum number of courses through the medium of Welsh, assessment at KS3 and KS4 would be through the medium of Welsh in those subjects and that they would be able to progress to post 16 provision through the medium of Welsh in chosen subjects.
2CH All subjects (excluding English and Welsh) are taught to all pupils using both languages. The day-to-day language or languages of the school will be determined by its linguistic context. Both languages are used to communicate with pupils and for the school’s administration. A high priority is given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents in both languages. For pupils in 2CH assessment at KS3 and KS4 would be through the medium of Welsh in all subjects except English and that they would be able to progress to post 16 provision through the medium of Welsh in chosen subjects.
English medium with significant use of Welsh EW Both languages are used in teaching with 20-49% of subjects taught through medium of Welsh. All subjects would normally also be taught through the medium of English. The day-to-day language or languages of the school will be determined by its linguistic context. Both languages are used to communicate with pupils and for the school’s administration. A high priority is given to creating a Welsh ethos. The school communicates with parents either in both languages or in English. Pupils choosing Welsh medium options could be assessed through the medium of Welsh in those subjects at all levels and may progress to study at post 16 through the medium of Welsh in those subjects.
English medium school EM Pupils are taught mainly through the medium of English. Welsh taught as second language up to KS4. One or two subjects (could include Welsh first language) may be taught through the medium of Welsh or using both languages. English is the day-to- day language of the school, but some Welsh is used to communicate with pupils, with the aim of improving their capacity to use everyday Welsh. The school communicates with parents either in both languages or in English. Any pupils choosing Welsh medium options could be assessed through the medium of Welsh in those subjects at all levels and may progress to study at post 16 through the medium of Welsh in those subjects. Most pupils would be assessed in English and progress to English medium post 16 study.