Strong progress reported for Welsh-medium education across Bridgend County Borough
Friday 25 September 2026
Growing demand for Welsh-medium education, improved transition rates and investment in new facilities are among the highlights of Bridgend County Borough Council’s latest progress report on its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).
The annual review, covering the 2025-2026 academic year, shows continued progress across all seven statutory outcomes of the Council’s WESP 2022-2032, which sets out its long-term plans to support and expand Welsh-medium education.
One of the most encouraging developments is the increase in demand among younger children. The proportion of three-year-olds receiving Welsh-medium education rose from 9.74 per cent to 10.32 per cent, with 164 children accessing Welsh-medium education during 2025-26.
The proportion of Reception-aged children receiving Welsh-medium education also increased significantly, from 6.96 per cent in 2025 to 10.08 per cent in 2026. There are already 158 nursery applications for September 2026, with the application window still open.
The Council is increasing capacity to meet this demand, including increasing the number of Nursery places to 71 at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr from September 2026 and the opening of the new Blodeuol Welsh-medium childcare hub in Bettws.
Major investment is also supporting the future growth of Welsh-medium education. The £5.4 million Welsh-medium seedling school in Porthcawl, alongside its £971,000 childcare hub, has secured planning approval, with construction progressing towards completion in June 2027.
Plans are also progressing for a 10-form-entry Welsh-medium secondary provision in Bridgend, following Welsh Government approval for its inclusion in the Strategic Outline Programme and the Council’s approval to acquire a central site.
The report highlights an excellent 100 per cent transition rate from Welsh-medium primary to secondary education, with all 109 Year 6 pupils progressing to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd in September 2025.
Opportunities to use Welsh outside the classroom are also growing, with all schools engaged in the Siarter Iaith and Cymraeg Campus frameworks and 12 schools achieving awards during the year. More than 550 pupils took part in the Urdd Jambori.
“It is fantastic to see such positive progress in delivering our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, with more families choosing Welsh-medium education and growing numbers of children benefiting from opportunities to learn and use Welsh. “The increase in demand is particularly encouraging and demonstrates the strength of Welsh-medium education across Bridgend County Borough. “We are investing for the future with new childcare and school places, major capital projects and plans for increased secondary provision. While there is still more to do, this report shows that we are making strong progress towards our long-term ambitions for Welsh-medium education.”
The council is continuing to prepare for implementation of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025, which strengthens the role of Welsh in education and supports the ambitions of the Cymraeg 2050 Strategy.
The annual review has been submitted to Welsh Government, with Cabinet being asked to note the progress made in implementing the WESP 2022-2032.