WQ88341 (e) Tabled on 25/05/2023

What action is the Welsh Government taking to bring teachers currently working in England or Scotland who are capable of teaching through the medium of Welsh back to Wales, to boost the number of Welsh-speaking teachers?

Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language | Answered on 02/06/2023

The Cynllun Pontio is open to teachers working outside of Wales to return to teach in Welsh-medium secondary schools and has attracted 2 individuals back to date. The programme provides support for teachers to either change sectors or change medium of teaching.

We have also funded Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to establish the ‘Cadw Cyswllt’ project to keep in touch with Welsh-speaking students studying in England to provide information about opportunities to return to Wales to undertake further study, including training to become teachers. This has been operational since January this year.

Through our Welsh-medium workforce capacity grant we funded a cluster of Welsh-medium schools in south Wales to deliver sessions for teachers working outside of Wales to share information on opportunities to return to Wales to teach through the medium of Welsh.

We will continue to work with the sector to consider further measures to attract Welsh-speaking teachers back to Wales.