Information for parents booklet 2025 / 2026

Pupils attending Welsh-medium primary school normally transfer to a Welsh-medium secondary school in accordance with the arrangements on pages: Year 7 - making an application for pupils to start Secondary School in Year 7 in September 2025. However, did you know that if your child did not attend a Welsh-medium nursery / primary school at the start of their education it isn't too late for you to consider a Welsh-medium education for your child?

In Swansea there are ten Welsh-medium primary schools and two Welsh-medium secondary schools. Teaching in these schools is through the medium of Welsh. English is introduced in Year 3. Welsh is taught as part of the national curriculum to all pupils in the English-medium primary schools in Swansea. The Education Directorate provides an intensive language service for children of primary age whose parents have moved into Swansea and want them to access Welsh-medium education.

All Welsh-medium schools in Swansea provide part-time nursery education. For further information around other pre-school Welsh-medium early years provision, visit: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/welshmediumeducation 

Use of the Welsh language in primary schools - in Welsh-medium primary schools all subjects of the National Curriculum, with the exception of English, are taught through the medium of Welsh. In English-medium schools Welsh second language is statutory in the Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2.

Use of the Welsh language in secondary schools - in Welsh-medium secondary schools all subjects of the National Curriculum, with the exception of English, are taught through the medium of Welsh. In English-medium schools Welsh second language is a statutory requirement for all pupils in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum. In accordance with the Education Reform Act 1988, Welsh is a core subject in all Welsh-medium schools.

What are the benefits of Welsh medium education?

Welsh-medium education has many advantages. Research shows that it is by far the best way to get children to be bilingual in both English and Welsh. It is very useful as a skill in the workplace with the ability to speak Welsh being an essential or a desirable skill for a growing number of jobs.

Welsh-medium education provides opportunities for children and young people to achieve fluency in the Welsh language through studying a broad range of subjects and disciplines in Welsh. Your child's English skills will also be developed in English lessons and through experiencing some aspects of the curriculum in English.

We don't speak Welsh at home - would that make my child stand out?
Not at all. In fact, the vast majority of children in Welsh-medium education in Swansea do not speak Welsh at home. For some of those, a language other than English is the main language of the home. So, coming from a non-Welsh speaking background is absolutely normal and the curriculum is designed with that in mind.

Whatever language you speak at home, Welsh-medium education can give children additional skills and more opportunities for the future. So even if you don't speak Welsh yourself, why not consider Welsh-medium education for your child?

How can I help my child with homework if I don't speak Welsh?
As most children do not 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 writing in both English and Welsh. At a later age, children will be able to explain their work to their parents themselves. In fact, research suggests that dealing with their work in two languages can actually help children understand the subject that they are studying.

Can I learn Welsh alongside my child?
Some parents, after choosing a Welsh-medium school for their child, decide to learn Welsh as well. It is a great opportunity to learn together, to practice your language skills on each other and spend quality time together.

Welsh for Adults courses are available throughout Swansea and are suitable for learners at all levels. For further information, please visit: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/academi-hywel-teifi/units/learn-welsh/

What about their education after they leave school?
More than one in every five pupils in Wales now attends a Welsh-medium school. So, if you've studied in Welsh to date, how do you continue learning once you leave school?

Your Welsh language journey does not end when you complete your studies at GCSEs! Both our Welsh-medium secondary schools offer a breadth of A-level options or you might choose to go to college and study one of the number of courses that Gower College Swansea have available through the medium of Welsh: https://www.gcs.ac.uk/speaking-welsh

How do I apply for a place in a Welsh-medium school?
All Welsh-medium schools in Swansea are community schools, so the application procedure is exactly as it is for English-medium community schools - the child's home language or religion or national identity are not considered in the application process.

You should request a place at the Welsh-medium primary or secondary school using the processes detailed here: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/applyforaschoolplace