[lg policy] Wales: Parents' concern sparks call for simpler schools language policy

[Harold Schiffman]

 Parents' concern sparks call for simpler schools language policy

  Wednesday, May 22, 2013
 [image: Profile image for Carmarthen Journal]
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 Follow<http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Parents-concern-sparks-simpler-schools-language/story-19053934-detail/story.html#>

By Rebecca Jones

CARMARTHENSHIRE councillors have asked that information on the county
council's Welsh Education Strategy be simplified following concerns raised
parents.

A meeting held between county councillors and council education officers to
discuss the authority's new Welsh language strategy in schools took place
earlier this month.

The strategy states: "All pupils who have followed the Welsh first language
programme in the primary phase will be expected to continue with this
programme when transferring to the secondary phase."

This strategy will apply to the new category B2 bilingual school in
Ffairfach, called Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, which is expected to be completed in
2015.

But councillors from Dinefwr and the school's surrounding catchment areas
say this has caused confusion among parents.

Some parents have raised concerns that if their children attend a
Welsh-medium primary school they will not have a choice which language they
will be then be taught in when they reach secondary school.

The meeting was called at the request of local members because of the
concerns raised throughout the Dinefwr area and to clarify the new strategy.

Llandybie councillor Anthony Jones said: "In simple terms we are looking
for clarification so parents are fully aware of the changes."

Speculation

He said there has been a lot of speculation about the Welsh Education
Strategy and he said this needed to be cleared up.

"We want the council to come up with a form of words that will make things
clear to parents," added Mr Jones.

"Parents need to be fully informed of how the policy is working in each
area so they can make an informed choice."

Mr Jones said he and other councillors had received a lot of questions
about this new strategy.

"Questions are being asked within the local communities, which is why this
meeting was called," he added.

A spokeswoman for Carmarthenshire Council said as it was a private meeting
the authority would not comment.

Read more:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Parents-concern-sparks-simpler-schools-language/story-19053934-detail/story.html#ixzz2U7y1dwDB
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