Will local authorities still have the ability to propose changing a school's language category under the provisions of the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, and if so, does the Cabinet Secretary believe it is necessary to expand the scope of section 17 of the Bill to include local authorities and governing bodies?
The Bill states that a school delivery plan must identify the school language category and set out the proposals intended to be taken by the school to change the school language category, if the governing body so wishes.
Once a delivery plan has been submitted to the local authority, the authority will approve the plan, approve it with modifications agreed with the school's governing body, or reject it and direct the governing body to reconsider the plan. If the plan is rejected, the direction given must state the reasons for the decision and specify by when the governing body must submit a further draft to the local authority.
In accordance with the clear line of accountability put forward by the Bill, the local authority must take all reasonable steps to achieve the targets imposed by Welsh Ministers in the National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh, and an approval role facilitates this.