Welsh-medium Education
Thinking about Welsh-medium education for your child? There are many added benefits of being bilingual:
- Bilingual children tend to be higher achievers.
- Bilingual people think creatively.
- Bilingual people find learning a third language easier.
- Wider employment opportunities in Wales.
Being competent in both Welsh and English gives young people an enormous advantage when they enter the job market in Wales.
Just over 33% of employers think Welsh language skills are important for their customer service, and over 25% of employers think they would benefit from more Welsh language skills.
In Wales, children who study through the medium of Welsh achieve just as well as children who study through the medium of English.
According to a study in the journal, Brain and Language - A bilingual person is accustomed to switching between different languages.
This gives the brain plenty of practice in focusing and filtering information.
Take a look at our video to see the opportunities that we have to offer!
I was raised in an English speaking home, however my parents decided that I was to have a Welsh-medium education. For this I am forever grateful.
My children are educated through the medium of Welsh and I am so proud to be able to tell the world that my children are the future of the Welsh language.
- Claire, Bridgend
Welsh-medium schools
Bridgend has four Welsh-medium primary schools (age 3 to 11 years) and one Welsh-medium secondary school (age 11 to 19 years). Currently, there are no ‘catchment areas’ for Welsh-medium schools in Bridgend. A parent/carer can make an application for a place for their child at any Welsh-medium school within the county.
Welsh-medium journey
In Bridgend County Borough, there is a variety of support available to start learning Welsh from birth. From parents/carers and child groups to primary and secondary education.
Transport to school
Did you know? – We normally offer free home-to-school transport to your nearest suitable Welsh-medium school within Bridgend, if you live more than 1½ miles away for Nursery pupils, more than 2 miles away for primary school pupils and more than 3 miles away for secondary school pupils.
My son is autistic and a year ago he could barely speak English, now he is bilingual, something I could never have envisaged for him however, I feel this has helped his development immensely.
I am now working as a teaching assistant within a Welsh-medium comprehensive with children who have additional learning needs. I love that I can give all children the education they deserve, through the medium of Welsh.
- Sarah, Pencoed
Late Immersion Provision
New-comers to Welsh-medium education can access our late immersion provision which provides intense language learning that enables children to gain a level of competency before transitioning to class full-time.
- Contact your local Welsh-medium school and ask to visit.
- Apply for a place at the school via the local authority’s ‘admissions office'.
- The school will make a referral to the late immersion provision.
- Your child will attend the late immersion provision for one term whilst also spending some sessions in their new class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. You don’t have to be Welsh to speak Welsh. Parents of children in Welsh-medium schools have come from all over the world: Wales, the rest of the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.
While some might consider themselves to be Welsh, others might not - the key point is that learning Welsh is open to all.
Absolutely not. Pupils leaving Welsh-medium primary schools are expected to reach exactly the same standard of English as those in English-medium primary schools.
And in secondary schools, pupils in Welsh-medium education sit exactly the same English language GCSE and A level as those in English-medium schools (the reverse is not true: pupils in English-medium education do not reach the same standards, or sit the same level of exams in Welsh as those in Welsh-medium education).
As most children don’t speak Welsh at home, Welsh-medium schools are very experienced in supporting both pupils and parents.
For younger pupils, homework instructions will be given in both Welsh and English.
At a later age, children will be able to explain their work to parents themselves. In fact, research suggests that dealing with their work in two languages can actually help children better understand the subject that they are studying.
The education website Hwb also gives access to a range of nationally provided digital learning tools and resources.
Not at all. There’s almost no limit to a child’s ability to learn languages. In most European countries, young children can commonly speak two or three languages.
Speaking one language can help reinforce the other, making it easier for the child to learn more languages later on.
Some parents, after choosing a Welsh-medium school for their child, decide to learn Welsh as well.
It’s a great opportunity to learn together, to practice your language skills with each other and spend quality time together.
Learn Welsh courses are available throughout Bridgend County Borough and are suitable for learners at all levels.
There are also opportunities for parents/carers to be introduced to and learn Welsh from when the child is born up to school age.
The application procedure is the same for all schools – neither the child's home language, religion or national identity, are taken into account in the application process.