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What’s different in Wales to England?

122 replies

ItsMyLasagna · 07/04/2025 15:06

Apologises if I’m being stupid here, I have googled but I’m getting myself confused.

Myself and DH are moving to Wales imminently to be with his family. I’m English and have only ever lived here. DH is Welsh and lived there until 12 when his parents divorced and his Mum took him back to his home town.

As he didn’t spend any of his adult life there he has no idea what’s different. I know prescriptions are free but is there anything I need to be aware of? I know Scotland has many things different to England but is Wales?

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 07/04/2025 16:53

ItTook9Years · 07/04/2025 16:49

It’s a national policy. Not just Cardiff.

Erm I know - that's why I quoted the Curriculum for Wales!

BlumminFreezin · 07/04/2025 16:56

Some schools Welsh only, some dual, some English

Not really.

Some schools are taught through the medium of Welsh, so dc are fluent.

Some are taught through the medium of English - but all dc in English medium schools will still learn Welsh, from age 3. Welsh will then be a timetabled lesson at Comp and they'll sit a GCSE in it. Not to a very high level, certainly not fluent - but they'll learn the pronunciation and the basics - colours, numbers, simple phrases.

I don't think there are any schools that are 'English only'.

QueenofLouisiana · 07/04/2025 17:00

DS is at uni in Wales while we live in England. We’ve all learned some basic Welsh phrases as he is in a bit where many have Welsh as a first language.

Free prescriptions, easier to get a physio appointment or GP appointment in Wales.

He loves being there, we love visiting. He’s in a beautiful part of the country.

BlumminFreezin · 07/04/2025 17:02

You also need to watch out for the wild Araf.

They're bloody everywhere in some areas and you need to be careful when driving - you'll see signs painted on the road warning you of their presence and telling you to go slow.

EarlofShrewsbury · 07/04/2025 17:05

I'm not sure if it's all Wales, but we can have to to 10 days off school per year without a fine.

Lurkingandlearning · 07/04/2025 17:07

The accent. I think there should be a national helpline for grumpy people to call to be soothed by a beautiful Welsh accent.

Clearinguptheclutter · 07/04/2025 17:08

BlumminFreezin · 07/04/2025 16:56

Some schools Welsh only, some dual, some English

Not really.

Some schools are taught through the medium of Welsh, so dc are fluent.

Some are taught through the medium of English - but all dc in English medium schools will still learn Welsh, from age 3. Welsh will then be a timetabled lesson at Comp and they'll sit a GCSE in it. Not to a very high level, certainly not fluent - but they'll learn the pronunciation and the basics - colours, numbers, simple phrases.

I don't think there are any schools that are 'English only'.

there are def some private schools catering to international students in particular that do minimal, or possibly zero Welsh.
But yes you're right that the vast majority of children wil either join a welsh medium school, or English where they will learn Welsh to a degree.

Certainly its a good idea to learn some Welsh!

menopausalfart · 07/04/2025 17:08

You will be obligated to wear our Welsh costume on the last Saturday of every month.

piefacedClique · 07/04/2025 17:10

spiderlight · 07/04/2025 15:44

Joe's ice-cream.

Had one on my way home from school today! Lush!

NancyJoan · 07/04/2025 17:11

Student Finance Wales: Good
NHS Wales: bit crap

Beyond that, I don’t see a huge structural/societal difference between living in the Welsh capital and the English one, but if we lived rurally I might feel it more.

foreverbasil · 07/04/2025 17:16

ItTook9Years · 07/04/2025 16:49

GP appointments are NOT easier to get here.

And try getting a NHS dentist!

😂

I don’t know about NHS dentistry but just describing my own experience with GP surgeries. I did say “easier” not “easy”

Simplelobsterhat · 07/04/2025 17:17

Where in Wales?

Main differences as far as I can tell:
Education -letter grades for gcse, AS levels still exist. No SATs but there are literacy and numeracy tests every year I think from year 2 to 9. But they are done online and most schools don't make a big thing of them or revise, so a very different experience. Education compulsory to 16 not 18. Free lunch and often breakfast clubs in primary schools. As others have said student loan structure a little different. Welsh compulsory to 16, but experience of that will vary massively by area and school.

All documents, signs etc bilingual. But far more non Welsh speakers nationally than Welsh speakers. However, in certain areas, mostly rural north and west, Welsh speakers are majority and not many English medium schools. In the south and cities far more English medium than Welsh medium though.

Extra layer of government with Senedd, so more voting to do, and Senedd elections can vote from 16. Health and education devolved, not sure what else. But I think most home office and economic policies still come from Westminster.

Like England, it's very much not one homogenised block, so will depend where you live. One reason I'm not a Welsh nationalist is that, living in Cardiff, I really don't feel I have more in common with someone in north Wales than I do with someone in say, Bristol or Birmingham, culturally or politically. Yes I like some of the history and traditions, and feel a sense of belonging, but then if you moved to Cornwall or Yorkshire from London you'd have a similar change of culture, traditions etc id imagine.

Hedgesgalore · 07/04/2025 17:28

After Bridgend you'll have no chance of being able to get a rissole.

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags.

Jenkins pasties are only for locals

Waitrose stops at Cowbridge, seriously is there another in S Wales?

Whatever you do, don't buy in Pembrokeshire (highest council tax) and heaven forbid you buy a 2nd property they'll drain your bank account for such a crime.

There is no lunch, its dinner and tea

Bring a proper waterproof coat, wellies, gale tested umbrella that's just for the summer, we are currently experiencing unusually dry weather for this time of year, been told several times "this is our summer". Infact "make the most of it" when we have nice weather is a mantra😂

Loamyearth · 07/04/2025 17:35

A few come to mind…

My HMRC tax code changed when living in Wales.

I knew about the language but was nevertheless surprised when I called a public telephone helpline and the recorded message was delivered first in Welsh and then English.

The aisles in my superstore supermarket display overhead signage in Welsh in a super large size font and English in a much smaller size font.

Lots of ruins of castles to explore. Membership of Cadw much more useful than membership of NT.

mumonthehill · 07/04/2025 17:40

Re the schools and language, our village school is welsh language, the schools in our nearest town for primary one is English with a significant amount of welsh spoken, one is Catholic and very little welsh is spoken or taught. Secondary we have a welsh language school and a school with a Welsh and English stream. I agree all schools teach Welsh to GCSE but with varying degrees of levels.

IKnowAristotle · 07/04/2025 17:46

The main areas of devolution are Educational, Health, Housing & Transport so there is where you'll see the main differences.

I think politically pp is correct that the landscape is much more left wing here. Although I think there will be a uptick in right wing populism as we move towards the Senedd Elections next year. A lot of the stuff the UK government is now talking about we've already done.

Tax code is different (starts with C for Cymru) but the rate is the same.

Obviously we hate English people but we'll give you a free pass.

MollyButton · 07/04/2025 17:47

It’s not compulsory for any Public Sector roles (or very rare ones) to speak Welsh.
But it is compulsory for the Public Sector to offer services in Welsh. So having fluent Welsh could be an advantage (I know we struggle to have enough Welsh speakers).

Arlanymor · 07/04/2025 17:49

Hedgesgalore · 07/04/2025 17:28

After Bridgend you'll have no chance of being able to get a rissole.

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags.

Jenkins pasties are only for locals

Waitrose stops at Cowbridge, seriously is there another in S Wales?

Whatever you do, don't buy in Pembrokeshire (highest council tax) and heaven forbid you buy a 2nd property they'll drain your bank account for such a crime.

There is no lunch, its dinner and tea

Bring a proper waterproof coat, wellies, gale tested umbrella that's just for the summer, we are currently experiencing unusually dry weather for this time of year, been told several times "this is our summer". Infact "make the most of it" when we have nice weather is a mantra😂

Rissoles aplenty in Swansea, thank you! Both in Tesco and on the menu in local restaurants.

There's a mini Waitrose in Cardiff Gate and two big Waitroses in Monmouth and Abergavenny.

Back to Welsh school for you! 😉

spiderlight · 07/04/2025 18:06

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags

Not true - you can also use Welsh Brew!!

Arlanymor · 07/04/2025 18:07

spiderlight · 07/04/2025 18:06

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags

Not true - you can also use Welsh Brew!!

Amen!

marshmallowfinder · 07/04/2025 18:24

Hedgesgalore · 07/04/2025 17:28

After Bridgend you'll have no chance of being able to get a rissole.

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags.

Jenkins pasties are only for locals

Waitrose stops at Cowbridge, seriously is there another in S Wales?

Whatever you do, don't buy in Pembrokeshire (highest council tax) and heaven forbid you buy a 2nd property they'll drain your bank account for such a crime.

There is no lunch, its dinner and tea

Bring a proper waterproof coat, wellies, gale tested umbrella that's just for the summer, we are currently experiencing unusually dry weather for this time of year, been told several times "this is our summer". Infact "make the most of it" when we have nice weather is a mantra😂

Waitrose in Monmouth and Abergavenny.

Titasaducksarse · 07/04/2025 18:26

Arlanymor · 07/04/2025 15:50

Well now I have to go and get some!

Oh my....

Titasaducksarse · 07/04/2025 18:27

Hedgesgalore · 07/04/2025 17:28

After Bridgend you'll have no chance of being able to get a rissole.

Only allowed to use Glengettie teabags.

Jenkins pasties are only for locals

Waitrose stops at Cowbridge, seriously is there another in S Wales?

Whatever you do, don't buy in Pembrokeshire (highest council tax) and heaven forbid you buy a 2nd property they'll drain your bank account for such a crime.

There is no lunch, its dinner and tea

Bring a proper waterproof coat, wellies, gale tested umbrella that's just for the summer, we are currently experiencing unusually dry weather for this time of year, been told several times "this is our summer". Infact "make the most of it" when we have nice weather is a mantra😂

Far superior IMO, Marks and Spencers food halls are growing. The one outside of Cardiff is fab...and even a new one in Mumbles recently opened.

Titasaducksarse · 07/04/2025 18:30

As an English person with Welsh partner I cannot tell you how the phrase 'I'll be there now, in a minute' confused me greatly at work!

I was also racially abused at work for being English but that's another story and probably no different to my Welsh partner being called a sheep shagger at work by the English!!! The irony is I also made more effort to learn Welsh than native Welsh people at work!

Arlanymor · 07/04/2025 18:32

Titasaducksarse · 07/04/2025 18:26

Oh my....

It’s delicious, soooo delicious!