Welsh Language and Culture within Work Based Learning
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Information about the school/provider
Coleg Cambria is a large further education college in north-east Wales. It has five campuses across Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire. The campuses that Coleg Cambria use are in Deeside, Yale in Wrexham, Bersham Road in Wrexham, Llysfasi and Northop. The College is fully committed to promoting the Welsh language and puts Welsh language at the heart of its strategy across the college. Improving Welsh language provision is a mandatory target within the Continuous Improvement Plans for all areas across the college.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
Leaders at the college recognised that its geographical location near the English border presented a clear need for innovative strategies to embed the Welsh language and culture fully into apprenticeship provision.
Many fluent Welsh-speaking apprentices were previously hesitant to undertake their assessments in Welsh, and a significant number of learners did not perceive the Welsh language as relevant to their apprenticeship career progression.
Staff with limited or no Welsh language skills lacked confidence in supporting bilingual learning and embedding the Welsh language and culture within their practice. Fluent Welsh-speaking staff often lacked the confidence to deliver learning or conduct assessments in Welsh.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
The college has developed a Welsh Language and culture course that all apprentices are required to complete. The course raises awareness and understanding of how Welsh is a valuable skill for employment and contextualises the benefits of bilingualism. It also provides an important foundation for learners to develop their knowledge further and signposts them to additional opportunities to enhance their skills, including ‘Prentis iaith’ and ‘Learn Welsh’ courses.
The provider has introduced a detailed tracking system to monitor the progress of fluent Welsh-speaking learners from enrolment, ensuring they are encouraged and supported to continue studying in Welsh or bilingually. Health and care learners who have previously studied in Welsh are required to complete at least 50% of their assessments in Welsh by default and have to ‘opt-out’ of bilingual learning.
College leaders have fully integrated staff training needs relating to the Welsh language are fully i into the college’s Professional Learning Programme. These needs are identified through Welsh language assessments, session observations and discussed during one-to-one meetings. The Welsh language department delivers tailored sessions on embedding Welsh language and culture as part of the professional learning offer. This provides staff with the tools to support bilingual learning and fully integrate Welsh language and culture into their practice including signposting to subject specific resources. Staff also have access to the college’s Learn Welsh provision and follow weekly courses at a range of levels.
The provider has introduced an incentive pilot scheme’ Addysgwr Dwyieithog’, to support assessors and teachers to achieve the necessary Welsh language proficiency levels to deliver bilingually. This scheme includes an incentive payment for staff who are already confident and delivering bilingually, as well as weekly Welsh courses for staff looking to build their confidence, with remission provided to attend.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
- Nearly all learners develop an improved understanding of the Welsh language and culture
- 95% of learners in the provider learner survey confirmed that they are given the opportunity to develop their Welsh language skills
- Increased opportunities for all learners in health and care, childcare, horticulture and agriculture to undertake assessments in Welsh or follow their programme bilingually.
- Learners are supported to develop greater confidence in using Welsh in the workplace with 84% of employers in the employer survey agreeing that the college offers Welsh language training opportunities for their apprentices.
How have you shared your good practice?
Coleg Cambria share their practice through meetings with other apprenticeships providers and key stakeholders, including the regional skills partnerships.