Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025

PART 2 DESCRIBING WELSH LANGUAGE ABILITY

5 Types of Welsh language user and common reference levels

(1) In accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the Table in Schedule 1 specifies—

(a) types of Welsh language user (namely a basic Welsh language user, an independent Welsh language user, and a proficient Welsh language user), and

(b) common reference levels for describing the ability of those types of Welsh language user, and a description of the general characteristics of each level.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, amend the Table in Schedule 1.

(3) But the Welsh Ministers may not exercise the power in subsection (2) unless this is necessary in response to a change made to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

(4) In this Part, the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” means the framework published by the Council of Europe, as revised from time to time, contained in the document “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (2001)”, and further described or updated—

(a) in the document “Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment – Companion volume”, or

(b) in any similar document published by the Council of Europe.

6 Code to describe Welsh language ability

(1) The Welsh Ministers must prepare a Code on describing ability in Welsh that is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

(2) The Code must—

(a) explain how to use the common reference levels set out in the Table in Schedule 1, and

(b) describe the specific characteristics, such as understanding oral or written language or the ability to interact orally, of each common reference level.

(3) The Code may also include anything else related to describing ability in Welsh.

7 Publishing and reviewing the Code

(1) The Welsh Ministers must—

(a) publish the Code in force for the time being;

(b) review the Code from time to time, and may amend it as appropriate.

(2) Before publishing the Code, or the Code as amended from time to time, the Welsh Ministers must consult any persons they think appropriate.