Drivers for Welsh medium and bilingual qualifications and assessment

1. Drivers for Welsh medium and bilingual qualifications and assessment Rachel Heath-Davies: Head of Strategic Policy

2. Context of Welsh language in education • National curriculum • Welsh as a subject – first and second language • Welsh as a medium - • Welsh medium and bilingual schools • Welsh medium in FE and HE

3. Legislative and policy developments • Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 • A million speakers by 2050 • New Welsh Language Act?

4. We want to see an increase in language transmission in thefamily, early introduction of Welsh to every child, an education systemthat provides Welsh language skills for all, and greater appreciationof Welsh language skills in the workplace.

5. Targets - Welsh in education • The national strategy sets incremental targets in order to reach the ambitious target of 1m speakers by 2050: • 40% increase in students studying through the Welsh medium. • Transform the way we teach Welsh so that 70% report that they speak Welsh by the time they leave school. • Significant increase in teaching capacity required across all sectors. • An increase in the number of assessors and moderators able to work through the medium of Welsh. • Reform post-16 offer to ensure that young people have the opportunity to continue developing bilingual skills to support a prosperous economy.

6. Wider policy and legislative context • Welsh Language Commissioner • The Well being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 • Welsh medium education strategy and education powers and legislation Through the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 specified public bodies covering the whole of Wales are required to work towards seven well-being goals, one of which is ‘A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language’

7. Education Strategy developments • WESPs – robust planning and monitoring framework • Commissioning resources • Bilingual Champions in FE • HE - ColegCymraegCenedlaethol • Sabbatical Programme • Work Welsh • Apprenticeships

8. Growing demand • Growth of Welsh medium – schools, FE and HE • High proportion of learners in Welsh medium schools come from non Welsh speaking households • 40%+ of school age children in the population speak Welsh • Growth in adult learners of Welsh

10. Chicken and Egg!

11. Assessing the demand or Strategic and Proactive approach • Medium and long term • Sectors/ economy • Where courses are available in Welsh in FE and HE – progression pathways • Gaps and opportunities

12. Priority sectors and professions • Public sector – health, social care, local authorities, teaching, assessing • Hospitality and tourism • Media • Agriculture

13. Our current approach • Require approved qualifications to be available in Welsh and English • Designated qualifications – encouraged to be available • Health and Social Care – bilingual • Sectoral reviews – more to come • QW Policy review during 2018

14. Recent developments and support for you • Stakeholders’ Group • Awarding Bodies’ Group • Link LinkdIn

15. Welsh Language Support Grant Demand – Awarding bodies will be expected to provide evidence demonstrating the level of demand/likely demand for the qualification(s) Policy and Initiatives – Awarding bodies must demonstrate how the Welsh medium provision of the qualification(s) answers specific policies or initiatives

16. Welsh Language Support Grant Quality Assurance – Awarding bodies will be expected to provide evidence of their ability to quality assure their grant activities. Internal Quality Assurance process documents can support this, but will not provide enough detail on their own Sustainability – Awarding bodies will be expected to evidence how they plan to support the qualification(s) in the long term £180,000

17. Practical ideas • Skills Audit • ColegCymraeg model • SafleSwyddi, Lleol.net, Golwg • Training and CPD to build capacity

18. Forwards… • Aiming to see an increase • QW Policy review during 2018

19. Next Steps and Questions