Welsh-medium School

6 replies

Rocky1989 · 07/10/2025 22:28

Potentially thinking of sending our 2 children to a New Welsh-medium comprehensive school within the catchment area but we are a non-welsh speaking family.Any advice appreciated.
The reason for this is there is only 1 other English speaking school within the catchment area which is actually quite far away but it does not have the best reputation. It's mad because the other English speaking school which is a very good school is actually closer for us and ideal but apparently it's not classed as being in the catchment area.
Spoke to the council with regards to school transport and they can't tell me if there is a school transport bus to the good English speaking comprehensive! (checked already online) the cost of bus passes for both of my children per month is expensive. Do you know if you meet the councils requirements will they pay for a general bus ticket/train ticket for your kids if it's not the " actual school bus" there's also a train station opposite for the faction of the price but putting my children on a train apposed to a bus makes me feel uneasy.

OP posts:

WelshBookWitch · 07/10/2025 22:37

You say you're a non Welsh speaking family but have your DC been to a Welsh primary or do they have no Welsh at all? Starting from scratch in Y7 might be tough.

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 07/10/2025 22:41

Surely you can’t sent your eleven year old to a school where they can’t speak the language. How are they going to access the curriculum?

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 07/10/2025 22:46

You usually pay for out of area transport so find out how much the out of area (but closer to you) is. I wound choose a Welsh Medium secondary without good knowledge of Welsh. Unless they do an immersive course?

justasking111 · 07/10/2025 22:46

Will they be doing an immersion course beforehand?

Are you going to be learning the language?

OwlBeThere · 07/10/2025 22:55

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 07/10/2025 22:41

Surely you can’t sent your eleven year old to a school where they can’t speak the language. How are they going to access the curriculum?

Many children start secondary school being unable to speak fluent English, they learn very quickly on the whole.

nw80 · 07/10/2025 23:04

My son goes to a Welsh medium primary school. He's picked it up really quickly. We are English speaking, but trying to learn Welsh alongside him.
How comfortable are your children with Welsh? How would the school deal with them catching up?

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