Welsh-Medium Post-16 Education

Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 4:31 pm on 14 March 2023.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 4:31, 14 March 2023

(Translated)

I agree entirely with that. In the Member's own area, the Blaenau Gwent Welsh in education strategic plan includes specific targets and challenging targets, in the local context, to increase the number of post-16 learners studying Welsh as a subject and studying through the medium of Welsh in a wider range of subjects, including—and I'll just refer back to the question from Huw Irranca-Davies earlier, and this is perhaps more challenging—vocational qualifications. The track record in that area is less succesful, perhaps. But this is hugely important.

One of the things that we are doing is ensuring that we understand how the language continuum works in terms of qualifications in schools and then what's available once statutory education is left, and we understand the milestones, so that the pathway to continue to learn the language is clearly set out and accesible. But in addition to that, as the Member mentioned in his question, there's the investment in the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, which is making a difference on the ground in terms of provision. But workforce issues are still a challenge, in terms of ensuring that we have a workforce available for this, and this is part of the 10-year plan, as the Member knows. And also, in a few weeks' time, the new curriculum resource company, Adnodd, will begin its work. As part of that company's mission, they will commission specific resources to support the post-16 sector, and we're working with stakeholders at the moment to identify the needs in that area.