Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025

Language categories of schools

9 School language categories

(1) Each school is designated a language category, in accordance with this Part, that determines—

(a) in accordance with section 10, the minimum amount of Welsh language education provided in the school, and

(b) the school’s Welsh language learning goal (see section 11).

(2) The language categories are—

(a) the “Primarily Welsh Language” category;

(b) the “Dual Language” category;

(c) the “Primarily English Language, partly Welsh” category.

(3) A school may be designated more than one language category, and the Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make provision in relation to such a school, including provision that applies this Part with modifications.

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to a community special school (but see section 20).

10 Minimum amount of provision of Welsh language education for each language category‍

(1) Subsection (2) specifies the minimum amount of Welsh language education for each language category, as a percentage of the education and training provided over a school year during school sessions for pupils of compulsory school age.

(2) The minimum amount is—

(a) 80% for the “Primarily Welsh Language” category;

(b) 50% for the “Dual Language” category;

(c) 10% for the “Primarily English Language, partly Welsh” category.

(3) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, amend subsection (2) to change the minimum amount for any language category, but the minimum amount must not be less than 80% for the “Primarily Welsh Language” category, 50% for the “Dual Language” category, and 10% for the “Primarily English Language, partly Welsh” category.

(4) The Welsh Ministers must decide whether to exercise the power to make regulations under subsection (3) in relation to the “Primarily English Language, partly Welsh” category within the period of 5 years beginning with the day after the day on which this section comes into force, and after that, within each period of 5 years following their most recent decision.

(5) In deciding whether to exercise the power to make regulations under subsection (3), the Welsh Ministers must consider the likely effect of the minimum amounts on achieving the targets set by the Welsh language strategy in accordance with section 1.

(6) The governing body of a school must ensure that the school provides at least the minimum amount of Welsh language education for the language category designated for the school in each of the school years for which a Welsh language education delivery plan is to have effect (see sections 14(3) and 15(5)).‍

11 Welsh language learning goals for each language category

(1) The Welsh language learning goal for “Primarily Welsh Language‍” category schools is that pupils, by the time they cease to be of compulsory school age, are proficient Welsh language users (that is, they reach the C1 or C2 common reference level), at least.

(2) The Welsh language learning goal for “Dual Language” category schools is that pupils, by the time they cease to be of compulsory school age—

(a) are independent Welsh language users (that is, they reach the B1 or B2 common reference level) at least, as an initial goal;

(b) after that, in relation to a year group in a school year specified by the Welsh Ministers in regulations, and subsequent year groups—

(i) are independent Welsh language users (that is, they reach the B1 or B2 common reference level) at least, and

(ii) reach at least the B2 common reference level for oral interaction.

(3) The Welsh language learning goal for “Primarily English language, partly Welsh” category schools is that pupils, by the time they cease to be of compulsory school age—

(a) are basic Welsh language users (that is, they reach the A1 or A2 common reference level) at least, as an initial goal;

(b) after that, in relation to a year group in a school year specified by the Welsh Ministers in regulations, and subsequent year groups until the goal in paragraph (c) applies, are independent Welsh language users (that is, they reach the B1 or B2 common reference level) at least;

(c) after that, in relation to a year group in a school year specified by the Welsh Ministers in regulations, and subsequent year groups—

(i) are independent Welsh language users (that is, they reach the B1 or B2 common reference level) at least, and

(ii) reach at least the B2 common reference level for oral interaction.

(4) In relation to the Welsh language goals for a primary school, it is assumed that the pupils of the school continue with education in schools of the same language category until they cease to be of compulsory school age.

(5) When considering the school years and the year groups to be specified in regulations under this section, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to the likely effect of the learning goals on achieving the targets set by the Welsh language strategy in accordance with section 1.

(6) In this section—

• “B2 common reference level for oral interaction” (“lefel cyfeirio gyffredin B2 o ran rhyngweithio llafar”)” has the meaning given—

  (i)

  in the Table in Schedule 1, by the second sentence in the “General characteristics” column for the B2 common reference level, to the extent that this applies to oral interaction, and

  (ii)

  by any further provision about that common reference level, and oral interaction, in the Code prepared under section 6;

• “year group”(“grŵp blwyddyn”) means a group of pupils at a school the majority of whom will, in a particular school year, attain the same age.

12 Assessing progress towards meeting Welsh language learning goals

(1) Assessment arrangements made by the Welsh Ministers by regulations under section 56 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4) may make provision for the purpose of ensuring progress of pupils towards achieving a school’s Welsh language learning goal.

(2) For this purpose, the assessment arrangements may (among other matters)—

(a) refer to a type of Welsh language user or a common reference level set out in the Table in Schedule 1;

(b) refer to the Code prepared under section 6;

(c) make different provision in relation to pupils attending a “Primarily English Language, partly Welsh” category school that has a temporary exemption from the requirement to provide the minimum amount of Welsh language education under section 18 or 19.

(3) In section 7 (progression code) of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) In preparing the Progression Code under subsection (1), and keeping it under review under subsection (4), the Welsh Ministers must have regard to the Welsh language learning goals set by section 11 of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (asc [ ]).”

13 Regulations on school language categories

The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make further provision about the school language categories.‍