6. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Curriculum for Wales Roll-out

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:18 pm on 5 July 2022.

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Photo of Luke Fletcher Luke Fletcher Plaid Cymru 5:18, 5 July 2022

(Translated)

Thank you to the Minister for the statement. I want to refer to paragraph 4 of your statement today, which talks about raising ambition. I assume that this includes Welsh language skills too, which is to be welcomed, of course, but I have to raise my concern about the situation in Bridgend county council. Once again I find myself getting up in this Chamber to raise concerns about the situation of Welsh language education in the county. For years, campaigners have been lobbying the county on this point and, time and time again, they have faced numerous cases of opposition. There is an attempt to turn the current site of Bro Ogwr into an English-medium school. There's also an intention to turn Pencoed and Coity into English-medium schools. And I'm a governor, by the way, at Pencoed. There's also an attempt to open a third school in Pencoed, but councillors tell me that that will again be an English-medium school, at a time when children in Pencoed are already missing out on Welsh-medium education. In terms of Welsh-medium education, we're still awaiting a date for a new Welsh school in Porthcawl, and that's not good enough. So, would the Minister agree to look into the decisions made by officials and elected members in Bridgend, which seem to be militating against your vision and your Government's vision in this area?