Welsh-medium Education in South Wales East

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:40 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 1:40, 25 January 2022

(Translated)

Well, thank you very much for that. The 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy does refer to increasing the proportion of each school year group receiving Welsh-medium education from 22 per cent by 2031. There are counties in the south-east where there isn't a single Welsh-medium secondary school. But, even in the primary sector, there are areas that are missing out. Since the closure of the Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd-y-Grug site in Quakers Yard, there is no convenient Welsh-medium school for primary pupils living in the village. The same is true of Treharris in the county of Merthyr, and Nelson, just over the border in Caerphilly. A primary school in that area could serve a large number of pupils: children who either travel long distances on a bus every morning and every afternoon, or who can't access Welsh-medium education. I understand that councils have a responsibility here, but, First Minister, children and families are missing out on a golden opportunity to access Welsh-medium education. Could you take this forward, First Minister, and work with the councils and encourage them to work together to find ways to ensure that children in Nelson and Quakers Yard can have easy access to Welsh-medium education?