HC Deb 07 May 1991 vol 190 cc436-8W
Mr. Gwilym Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the outcome of his recent consultation on exemptions from, and implementation timetable for, teaching Welsh in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt

The implementation of the national curriculum and any exemption from it must be considered in the context of my overall policy for the teaching of Welsh in schools. The Education Reform Act 1988 provided that Welsh is an integral part of the curriculum for schools in Wales. I reaffirm the general policy aim, which I announced to the House on 22 January, that Welsh should be studied by all pupils in schools in Wales between the ages of five and 16, though not necessarily to full GCSE level.

The consultation document on exemptions which I issued last November set out specific criteria and circumstances under which I was prepared to consider a limited range of exemptions from the national curriculum requirements to teach Welsh.

I propose that there should be an exemption of incoming pupils who transfer late in their school careers to schools in Wales and who had little or no opportunity for studying the language in school in the previous three years. These draft regulations were widely supported. The regulations will also apply to pupils who meet these criteria and who transfer between schools in Wales. All pupils to whom this exemption will apply, will retain the right to study the language if they wish and schools will be encouraged to offer them this option. I now intend to proceed to make the relevant regulations.

There was general approval for my proposals to allow an extended implementation timetable for some schools in four LEAs—Dyfed, Gwent, Powys and South Glamorgan. Two of the schools in Dyfed—Tasker-Millward and Pembroke—have now indicated that they will introduce the national curriculum requirements for Welsh earlier than proposed. I welcome this positive approach. Six other schools requested deferment. Each case has been carefully considered and of these, Fitzalan high school, Cardiff, will be added to the draft order which I am now issuing for consultation.

My proposals set out two very specific sets of criteria for the exemptions of a small number of schools from the key stage 4 requirements for Welsh. The Curriculum Council for Wales and a number of organisations, including some teacher associations, were opposed o any exemption in key stage 4. In view of this response, and the advice received from the Curriculum Council for Wales I have reviewed both sets of proposals strictly in line with the criteria set out in my consultation document.

The first of the exemption proposals related to the five secondary schools in the South Pembrokeshire area covering the period up to 1996–97 by which time all of these schools, in line with the agreement with the LEA, will be expected to introduce fully the key stage 3 requirements. A further 12 schools sought deferment on grounds of similar area characteristics. None was supported by their LEAs and since my proposals applied only to the schools in South Pembrokeshire, the exemptions to he included in a draft order will be limited to these schools.

Secondly, in the consultation document of November 1990, exemption from the key stage 4 requirements was also proposed for a group of seven schools—six in Clwyd and one in Gwent—with catchment areas or potential catchment areas for pupils across the English border. These proposals reflected the concerns expressed by the headteachers and governing bodies of the schools about the potential loss of pupil numbers. Subsequently a further 11 schools requested similar consideration.

I have carefully considered the position in the light of the review to which I referred above. I have taken into account the significant number of requests for further exemptions on grounds of catchment areas and the impact such exemptions would have on Welsh education in these areas and on my overall policy for teaching Welsh in schools. As a result of the representations made and by consideration of all the factors, I have decided to reduce the number of exemptions in this category. It will be limited to three schools in Clwyd and two in Gwent. These schools are: Darland high school; St. David's high school, Saltney; the Maelor school, Penley; Chepstow and Monmouth comprehensive schools. They will be included in the draft order which I am now issuing for consultation. I should stress that all exempted schools will be encouraged to make arrangements for Welsh to be an option at key stage 4 for those pupils who choose it.

Some secondary schools also requested exemption from the key stage 3 requirements. I made no proposals for such exemption and do not intend to do so. All secondary schools in Wales will be required to introduce the key stage 3 requirements for the teaching of Welsh.

The Curriculum Council for Wales and other bodies expressed the view that all exemptions should be subject to review. I accept that advice. A review will be carried out in the 1996–97 academic year to consider all exemptions. By that time I will expect all schools and LEAs to have established implementation plans to introduce the teaching of the language in all key stages in line with my overall policy for Welsh which I outlined earlier.