Welsh language education law receives royal assent

The Welsh government has revealed that a new legislation designed to help all children in Wales become confident Welsh speakers has become law after receiving royal assent this week.

The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act aims to strengthen the role of the language in schools and move towards the government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. It requires maintained schools in Wales to ensure pupils can use Welsh independently when they leave.

The Act also establishes a statutory framework for describing and measuring pupils’ Welsh language ability and obliges schools to produce Welsh language education delivery plans. 

A national framework for Welsh language education and a statutory National Institute for Learning Welsh will also be created under the legislation.

At the bill’s sealing ceremony, first minister Eluned Morgan said: “The Welsh language belongs to us all. This Act builds on the excellent work already happening across Wales. It gives children and young people a better chance to become Welsh speakers, bringing us closer to our aim of one million Welsh speakers in Wales.”

The law forms part of the Welsh government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy, which also seeks to double the proportion of people using Welsh daily from 10% to 20%. The government has pledged support measures such as free Welsh lessons for school staff and grants to train more Welsh-speaking teachers.