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Welsh Language national body brings benefits to adult learners

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Setting up a National Centre for Learning Welsh to streamline the provision of Welsh language courses for adults across Wales has been successful, according to a report published today by Estyn. Since 2016, the National Centre has helped to provide a clear strategic direction to all centres that provide Welsh language training courses and it has made progress in bringing more consistency in approaches to curriculum development, data collection and assessment.

Estyn’s report, A review of the work of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, examines how the National Centre is influencing, leading and managing the developments in the Welsh for Adults education sector following a national re-organisation. In 2016, the National Centre replaced the previous six regional centres and their 20 plus sub-contractors with just 11 providers.

Chief Inspector, Meilyr Rowlands said,

“I’m pleased that the National Centre has effectively re-organised the Welsh for Adults sector and is addressing the key challenges the sector faces, such as the wide variation in approach to the curriculum.
 

"The strategic work of the National Centre is an important step in creating a bilingual nation and supporting adults to improve their Welsh language skills at home and in the workplace."
 

Inspectors found that while the National Centre has clearly defined and communicated its objectives, not all providers of Welsh for Adults are fully aware of governance arrangements for the National Centre and in some instances they are slow to react to proposed changes.  The report recommends that providers fully implement the policies and practices introduced by the National Centre and improve their understanding of these practices and of the structure of the National Centre."

Two further recommendations are outlined in the report for the National Centre to help it hold providers of Welsh for Adults to account for their performance and to refine the National Centre’s marketing strategy to target more potential learners.

        Notes to Editors:

        About the report

  • In May 2015, the Welsh Government awarded the grant to establish the national entity to the University of Wales Trinity St. David (UWTSD).  The grant is for a period of seven years from 2015-2022. In January 2016, UWTSD created a company limited by guarantee, ‘Y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol / The National Centre for Learning Welsh’, as the national entity. 
  • The evidence base for the report includes questionnaires and other documents from the 11 Welsh for Adults providers and interviews with staff from a representative sample of six providers.
     
  • Welsh for Adults providers and their geographical areas:
    • Bangor University / Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (Gwynedd / Ynys Môn / Conwy)
    • Coleg Cambria / ‘Popeth Cymraeg’ (Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham)
    • Nant Gwrtheyrn (residential courses based in Llithfaen, Gwynedd)
    • Aberystwyth University (Ceredigion / Powys and intensive courses in Carmarthenshire)
    • Carmarthenshire County Council (Carmarthenshire-non-intensive courses only)
    • Pembrokeshire County Council (Pembrokeshire)
    • Swansea University (Academi Hywel Teifi) (Swansea, Neath Port Talbot)
    • University of South Wales (Rhondda Cynon Taf / Merthyr Tydfil / Bridgend)
    • Vale of Glamorgan Council (Vale of Glamorgan)
    • Cardiff University (City and County of Cardiff)
    • Coleg Gwent (counties in Gwent)