Summary and Background
2.The Welsh Government has set a goal of a million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050. The main objective of this Act is to contribute towards that goal by putting measures in place that aim to ensure that all pupils, by the time they cease to be of compulsory school age, are independent Welsh language users, at least. In particular, the objective is for all pupils to develop oral skills equivalent to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
3.In summary, the Act will:
provide a statutory basis for the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, by requiring the Welsh language strategy to include a target of at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050, as well as other targets relating to the use of Welsh language, including use in the workplace and social use;
establish a standard approach to describing Welsh language ability based on the common reference levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
sets out three statutory language categories for schools (Primarily Welsh language”, “Dual Language”, and “Primarily English language, partly Welsh”), and provides for the designation of those language categories, along with requirements relating to the minimum amount of Welsh language education provided, and Welsh language learning goals for each category;
link the linguistic planning undertaken at a national level (by placing a duty on the Welsh Ministers to prepare a National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh), at local authority level (by placing a duty on local authorities to prepare local Welsh in education strategic plans), and at school level (by placing a duty on schools to prepare Welsh language education delivery plans);
establish a National Institute for Learning Welsh as a new body, responsible for supporting people (of all ages) to learn Welsh.
4.The diagram below shows how different Parts of the Act interact to achieve the main aim of promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh at national, local authority and school level:
5.Noted below is a broad outline of the structure introduced by the Act for linguistic planning and accountability for the steps which are to be taken accordingly. For each level, the main duties imposed on Welsh Ministers, local authorities and schools are as follows: -
National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh
The Welsh Ministers are required to take all reasonable steps to implement their National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh (section 26), and must report on the implementation of National Framework annually (section 29).
Local authorities’ local Welsh in education strategic plans
A local authority must take all reasonable steps to meet the targets set out in the National Framework in relation to its area (section 26), and its local Welsh in education strategic plan must be approved by the Welsh Ministers (section 32). Each local authority must also take all reasonable steps to implement its local Welsh in education strategic plan (section 33).
Schools’ Welsh language education delivery plans
Each school’s delivery plan must have regard to the local strategic plan of the local authority that maintains the school, and be approved by that local authority (sections 14 and 15). A school’s governing body must ensure that the school provides at least the minimum amount of Welsh language education for the school’s language category (section 10(6)) and take all reasonable steps (section 15(9)) to implement the proposals contained in its delivery plan (see section 14(e), (f), (g), (h) and (i)).
6.The Act consists of 57 sections and two Schedules.
