- £900,000 available to secondary schools to expand Welsh-speaking teaching staff.
- Schools use grants for training, subject expansion, and collaboration.
- Part of a wider mission to reach one million Welsh speakers.
The Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium capacity building grant has become a key tool in addressing the shortage of Welsh-speaking teachers. It not only funds innovative school-led solutions to staffing issues but also promotes curriculum diversity through the Welsh language.
Past recipients like Ysgol Rhydywaun have seen tangible benefits. They used the grant to train existing staff in new subject areas and expand A-level options.
Building a Bilingual Future: Welsh Schools Empowered by Targeted Grants
The Welsh-medium capacity building grant supports Welsh-medium and bilingual secondary schools in developing their teaching staff. This helps to deliver a broader curriculum in Welsh. This initiative directly aligns with the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
By allowing schools to use the grant creatively—such as retraining staff or forming teaching partnerships—educators are better equipped to provide high-quality education in the Welsh language. These efforts are particularly impactful in shortage subject areas like STEM and humanities.
The grant complements wider efforts like Cynllun Pontio, which helps Welsh-speaking teachers transition to secondary education. Additionally, the Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive offers £5,000 to trainee teachers. These layered schemes reflect a holistic strategy for growing the Welsh-medium education sector.
Importantly, the grant is not just about workforce numbers—it’s about cultivating a thriving ecosystem of Welsh-medium teaching. This is achieved through mentorship, career pathways, and retention strategies. As a result, more learners can pursue their education in Welsh. They have access to a broader selection of subjects and better teacher support.
With continued government support and school innovation, schemes like the Welsh-medium capacity building grant are paving the way for a bilingual future. These schemes ensure students can thrive academically while embracing the Welsh language.
“We want to build a Wales where all learners have a fair opportunity to speak Welsh.” – Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
