Welsh-medium Education in South Wales East

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:41, 25 January 2022

(Translated)

Well, I thank Delyth Jewell for that supplementary question. And it's wonderful to have such a question on the day where we are celebrating the centenary of the Urdd, which, of course, has done so much work to promote the Welsh language among young people. As I've heard when I've been in conversation with officials working on the Welsh in education strategic plans, they have developed the ambition that we were hoping to see in the new plans. And, of course, that does respond to the comments made by Delyth Jewell. We are trying to develop the Welsh language in all parts of the region, and throughout the whole of Wales too, particularly with primary schools. I haven't personally seen the WESPs yet. They will be submitted to Ministers in the coming week, and I do look forward to seeing plans in each and every local authority in the South East Wales region to see what more can be done to bring more children into Welsh-medium education.

When we look at the secondary sector, what we want to see is local authorities collaborating. Where they can't make provision alone, then, they should seek to collaborate with other local authorities in order to deliver Welsh-medium secondary education, which is convenient for children and of a quality where we see the Welsh language continuing to develop.