Coleg Gwent

Welsh Language Scheme 2011 – 2014

Contents

Item / Page Number
1 / INTRODUCTION / 2
2 / COLLEGE PROFILE / 2
3 / IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING / SERVICE PLANNING AND DELIVERY
  • Responsibilities for Implementation and Monitoring
  • Scheme’s Administrative Arrangements
  • Policies and New Initiatives
  • Third Party Compliance
  • Staffing Issues – including recruitment / training / information regarding linguistic skills of staff
  • Monitoring and Reviewing Processes
  • Quality
  • Comments and Complaints
  • Publication of Information and Publicity of the Scheme
/ 5
4 / THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WELSH ETHOS AT THE COLLEGE (Strand 1 of the Strategy)
  • Administrative Arrangements
  • Developing a Welsh Ethos within the curriculum
  • Dealing with the Welsh Speaking Public
  • The Public Face of the College
  • Marketing and promotion of services available in Welsh/bilingual (including promotion and publicity of Welsh medium communication units / courses and of bilingual and Welsh-medium provision).
/ 14
5 / THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILINGUAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO AUGMENT AN ENGLISH MEDIUM PROVISION (Strand 2 of the Strategy)
  • Planning and Management of College Curriculum
  • Current Provision at the College
  • The College Curriculum
/ 22
6 / THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELSH-MEDIUM OR BILINGUAL PROVISION FOR POST-14 LEARNERS (Strand 3 of the Strategy)
  • Planning and Management of College Curriculum
  • Current Provision at the College
  • The College Curriculum
  • Collaboration and Partnership
/ 22
7 / TIMETABLE / ACTION PLAN / 27
  1. INTRODUCTION

1.1

This is a Welsh Language Scheme prepared under the Welsh Language Act 1993.

1.2

Coleg Gwent’s Welsh Language Scheme received the approval of the Welsh Language Board under section 14 of the Welsh Language Act on 14 January 2005. This document is the successor to the first.

1.3

Coleg Gwent has adopted the principle that in the conduct of public business in Wales, it will treat the English and Welsh languages on a basis of equality. This scheme sets out how the College will give effect to that principle when providing services to the public in Wales.

  1. COLLEGE PROFILE

Serving the community formerly known as Greater Gwent, the College is the largest in Wales and one of the largest in the UK, and enrolledaround29,000 learnersand employed an average of 948 full time equivalent staff in 2009/10.

Operating from five main Campuses and serving a local population of over half a million, the College provides a wide range of general education courses and vocational education and training programmes across all Programme Areas.

The Campus at Pontypool (in the middle of the catchment) offers a wide range of provision from entry level to Level 3. The location of the popular Learn-IT Centre in Cwmbran has helped to continue to widen participation and encourage Lifelong Learning.The Welsh for Adults Centre was moved to the Campus in September 2009 following the closure of The Hill Campus. A Welsh Medium secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllywis located in the catchment area.

Crosskeys Campus, also tertiary in nature, is the largest in the College, and is in fact larger than many colleges. It has over 1000 full time learners mainly undertaking AS/A2 levels. It also has a successful Engineering Department and a vibrant Performing Arts Department. The Campus has recently opened a new £13 million block for A levels, Performing Arts, and Sport.

In the north of the catchment area, Ebbw Vale Campus, in one of the least prosperous areas in Wales, is a typical further education campus. It is working with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, University of Wales Newport, and the Welsh Government in the development of The Learning Zone which will be a state of the art learning venue for all post 16 education in the Borough. It is planned that the new Campus will open in 2012.

Newport Campus, close to the M4, is also a typical further education Campus, in an area of entirely 11 to 18 comprehensive schools. The Campus continues to develop the “Newport Family of Schools” and is adding to the range of partnership arrangements that it has with a number of 11 to 18 comprehensive schools in the Newport Unitary Authority.

At the Usk Campus in the east of the catchment, the provision is based around Landbased Studies including Farming, Horticulture, Agriculture and Equine Studies, and also provides Sport & Leisure, Health & Caring, and Business & Management. The Campus works closely with Monmouthshire County Council on a number of fronts including 14-16 programmes. The Campus is planning for a move to new premises alongside the Equine Centre following agreement with Monmouthshire County council to build their new HQ at the Usk site. The Monmouth Learn-It that provides a range of courses for the local community is managed from Usk Campus. The College’s headquarters building is located at this Campus.

All the Campuses strive to work closely with secondary schools in their areas. In relation to Welsh medium education, links have been established with Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, and these will be further built upon in the light of the implementation of this Scheme.

Welsh Provision

The 5 local authorities in the College’s catchment area are amongst those with the lowest level of incidence of Welsh speakers in Wales. At the 2001 census, Caerphilly had 16% of its population (aged over 3) with one or more skills in the Welsh language, whilst Torfaen had 14%, Newport had 13%, Blaenau Gwent had 13%, and Monmouthshire had 13%. It is against this background of low levels of Welsh speaking population that the College is attempting to develop its Welsh Language provision.

From a staff survey carried out in 2006, only around 3% of staff felt they had quite good or fluent skills in Welsh. Since then all new staff are asked to assess their Welsh language skills and this shows that less than 1% of staff have intermediate or advanced Welsh language skills. Data from enrolment forms for 2010/11indicate 2.6 % of learners consider themselves to be a fluent Welsh speaker whilst a further 10.3% consider themselves to be a non-fluent Welsh speaker. Only 0.2% of learners stated their preferred language for correspondence was Welsh. The number of learners coming from Welsh medium secondary schools is measured and the numbers who proceed with Welsh medium courses, will be established as part of a survey to extend our understanding of the level of Welsh Language skills amongst learners.

With the publication of Iaith Pawb – the Welsh Assembly Government’s (WAG) Action Plan for a bilingual Wales – the National Council for Education and Training Wales (ELWa) established 6 new regional Welsh for Adults Centres. From 1 April 2006 Coleg Gwent was one of the originally designated Regional Welsh Language Centres, now known as the Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre.

The primary remit of the Gwent Welsh for Adults from WAG is to lead the change agenda for the teaching of Welsh for Adults within the Gwent region.

The Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre is responsible for planning and operating the effective delivery of all Welsh for Adults provision and establishing third party agreements where necessary throughout the 5 Unitary Authorities. The Centre is also responsible for improving the quality of all the Welsh for Adults provision in the region, providing a wide range of flexible learning opportunities in order to increase participation and improve progression opportunities to enable more learners to achieve fluency.

Welsh language classes are provided from Mynediad to Hyfedredd levels throughout each authority including provision offered directly by Coleg Gwent. The majority of courses continued to be offered at level Mynediad and Sylfaen, but with an increasing number now being offered at Canolradd and Uwch with the improvement in retention rates since 07/08. A small number of Proficiency level classes are offered, but this is being systematically developed to ensure provision in every area.

The Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre received a Grade 2 from the Estyn inspection of its provision in Monmouthshire, Newport and Blaenau Gwent, “Good features with no important shortcomings” in February 2009. There are good opportunities for progression with courses available from basic to advanced learners with a wide ranging extra-curricular programme to enable learners to practice their oral skills outside the classroom.

The Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre is based at the Pontypool Campus of Coleg Gwent and continues to develop Welsh Language courses in line with the Welsh Language Act for public bodies with a statutory duty to provide a service in Welsh for their customers. The Centre is also actively offering Welsh language provision for those private businesses and companies who do not fall under the remit of the Welsh Language Act. This Welsh in the Workplace provision has seen a major increase in its numbers during the last few years. It is foreseen that this will continue to grow as the use of Welsh in business increases in all areas in Wales.

The demand for Welsh classes at the Centre, both through Coleg Gwent’s own provision and its franchised provision through its six partners in all areas is continuing to grow with an increasing number of students progressing to higher levels, gaining accreditation and obtaining fluency. The problems of tutor shortages especially at the higher levels, remains; but a continuing recruitment and training campaign funded by DfES will hopefully alleviate this problem. The Centre is continuing to develop its provision in the area in order to ensure that a full range of provision is available in the area. This, together with the highly popular Welsh Weekends, Summer School and Saturday Welsh Day Schools, has ensured increased participation.

Despite the low level of demand at the College for learning through the medium of Welsh, the situation continues to be monitored in the light of possible modules or units for delivery or assessment through the medium of Welsh. It is envisaged that the demand for this will increase with the progression and development of Welsh in the National Curriculum in all schools. The College is strongly committed to respond actively to Welsh medium delivery in accordance with demand.

There has been excellent collaboration within the Gwent Welsh for Adults Partnership Board which leads the Centre strategically through the cooperation between the College and its six partners ensuring that the Centre’s aims and objectives are fully enacted. This enables the Centre to focus its resources and effectively evaluate its achievements in accordance with the sea-change agenda set byDfES and continue to provide a widening programme of classes and language support. The Centre will continue to build on an already very strong programme to ensure that further learners can progress to full fluency.

Welsh Language Aims and Objectives

The College demonstrates its commitment to the development of the Welsh Language through its Vision, Mission, Core Values (ETHOS) & Overarching Strategy statements that are detailed in its Strategic Planning Document.

Specifically the Strategic Planning Document2011/12 includes the following Strategic Objectives and Target:

3.1aIntroduce more Welsh language culture and curriculum through the implementation of the Colegau Cymru Bilingual Strategy for FE by 2013/14.

Target: 3.1aImplement the Welsh Language Scheme 3 year action plan by 2013/14

  1. IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING / SERVICE PLANNING AND DELIVERY

3.1Implementation

3.3.1As the Welsh Language Scheme is implemented the College will ensure that it keeps to the principle of equality contained in the requirements of the Language Act of 1993.

3.2Responsibilities for Implementation and Monitoring

3.2.1The Welsh Language Steering Group is made up of senior managers, and is chaired by a Welsh-speaking Vice Principal. It’s remit includes monitoring the implementation of the College’s Welsh Language Scheme, as well as the development of Welsh language services in the College

3.2.2The Principal/Chief Executive has overall responsibility for the College’s Welsh Language Scheme. The Director (Marketing, Communications and Planning), a member of the College Senior Management Team, is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the College’s Welsh Language Scheme on a day to day basis.

3.2.3For further information on this scheme contact:

Mr Robert Gilvear

Director (Marketing, Communications & Planning),

Coleg Gwent,

The Rhadyr,

Usk,

Mons

NP15 1XJ

Tel 01495 333333

E mail:

3.3Administrative Arrangements for Facilitating the Scheme

3.3.1Authority:The College will ensure that the arrangements noted in the scheme are approved at the highest level, and carry the full authority of the College.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.3.2Responsibility: The Director (Marketing, Communications & Planning) will be responsible for implementing the scheme on behalf of the College in generaland on a day to day basis.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.3.3Instruction and Guidance: The College will ensure that itsstaff are familiar with the scheme, in addition to those responsibilities which form part of its implementation, by providing verbal and written instructions to new staffvia briefing sessions undertaken by the Director (Marketing, Communications & Planning) during staff induction.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.3.4The College will integrate administrative functions related to the Welsh Language Scheme into its standard administrative procedures, including specifications for new or modified computer programs. Where current computer systems cannot be modified the College will consider cost-effective alternative systems

(Target: 2011/12)

3.3.5Wherever translation work is required, the College will make use of translators with valid qualifications, or approved translation agencies.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.4Assessing the Linguistic Impact of New Developments

3.4.1The College will consult with the Welsh Language Board concerning any new developments likely to affect the Scheme, and will not amend the contents of the Scheme without the prior agreement of the Board. All new or updated policies and initiatives will be consistent with the Scheme and will not undermine it.

3.4.2The College will ensure that new or updated developments will move the College closer to implementing the principle of equality at every opportunity.

3.4.3The College will assess the linguistic consequences of any new or updated policies or ventures with a view to promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh wherever possible. This is monitored by the Welsh Language Steering Group.

3.4.4The College will ensure that any consultants or members of staff responsible for the formation or updating of policy will be aware of the Language Scheme and the College’s responsibilities under the Welsh Language Act. Existing staff have received sessions to raise their awareness of the Scheme and inform them of their responsibilities.All new staff are made aware of the Scheme as part of their induction programme. Information on the scheme is placed on the staff intranet pages.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.4.5The College will continue to ensure that every measure contained in the scheme will be applied to new or updated policies and initiatives when they are implemented.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.5Third Party Arrangements

3.5.1The College works in partnership with public bodies, organisations from the voluntary sector and other agencies. The College works on many levels when working with others:

i)When the College is the strategic and financial leader within a partnership, it will ensure that the public service provision is compliant with the Welsh Language Scheme.

ii)When the College joins a partnership in which any other body is leading, the College’s input will comply with the Welsh Language Scheme and the College will encourage other parties to comply.

iii)When the College is a partner in a consortium, it will encourage the consortium to adopt a bilingual policy. When acting publicly in the name of the consortium, the College will act in accordance with its Welsh Language Scheme.

iv)When the College joins or forms a partnership, it will ask prospective partners about their Welsh Language Schemes, Language Policies or the means by which they will operate bilingually. Within any partnership, the College will offer advice and support to the other partner organisations.

3.5.2Various services provided on behalf of the College may be operated by other organisations such as contractors, consultants, agencies, firms and individuals. All agreements and arrangements for external organisations of this nature to undertake the provision of services to the public in Wales on its behalf will comply fully with the term and requirements of this Scheme.

(Target: 2011/12)

3.5.3The chief officer responsible for the Scheme will supervise and facilitate the implementation of these commitments by:

  • providing written procedures to staff for dealing with agents and contractors, and processes for ensuring staff are dealing with them
  • specifying the requirements as to the use of the Welsh language in tendering documents, contracts and grant or loan conditions
  • monitoring the implementation of the Scheme by agents and contractors
  • encouraging those contractors with their own Welsh language Scheme to implement relevant aspects
  • obtaining regular performance reports from contractors and agents

(Target: 2011/12)

3.6Enabling the workforce to provide a complete service through the medium of Welsh

3.6.1In order to ensure over a period of time that the College is able to deliver its services in Welsh to a high quality, effectively and efficiently, it will continue to implement its Linguistic Skills Strategy as part of its human resource planning. This Strategy has enabled the College to maintain an overview of its linguistic skills needs and resources, and co-ordinate training and recruitment activities to facilitate the Scheme’s objectives. The College encourage appropriate staff to participate in the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sabbatical Scheme, and 1 member of staff has participated in the Scheme so far in 2010/11. The College has committed to ensuring 6 staff undertake the Sabbatical Scheme in 2013/14.

(Target: 2013/14)

In addition staff are encouraged to improve their Welsh language skills in a number of different ways. The measures that follow will form part of that strategy:

Following an audit of staff Welsh Language skills in 2006, the College now records staff’s own assessment of their Welsh language skills on its management information system.This information is updated when new staff join the College. This will be supplemented by a new audit to more fully ascertain staff Welsh language skills.