English vs Welsh education?

[Thisandthat2017]

We are considering moving to Swansea. My children are currently in Ofsted outstanding schools in England, yr 5 and yr 7. The school in wales that we would send them to is Estyn Excellent. However, I am told the education in Wales is not as good as England and that the children will leave school with a sub standard education. Is there any truth to this? Does anyone have any evidence either way that can help me make this tough decision? Tia.x

Giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you aren’t an anti welsh troll Well I’m sure that there are many people who would find what you have said totally offensive and vehemently disagree.
Who “told you” this fact about the sub standard Welsh education system? What evidence did they provide to back it up?
If this were true there would be no welsh students being admitted to oxbridge or Russel group unis, no welsh educated doctors lawyers accountants dentists pharmacists etc.
It’s a totally ridiculous thing to say with no evidence or grounding.
Yes welsh education is different, and is getting more different with respect to ks4 and post 16. Yes there’s no grammar schools, yes there’s compulsory welsh. Yes there are poor schools but there are outstanding schools too. But those differences are not necessarily bad or give lower standards it’s just different.

Chose your schools carefully - with the age your children are I wouldn’t delay moving if you are going to do it.

I was educated in a Welsh secondary school, the only thing I found frustrating was learning Welsh, I wasn't particularly fussed about languages and I kept on dreaming of the textiles lessons or arty things I could have been doing if I were in England! Welsh may not be part of the curriculum in Swansea mind.

i think there is less money spent per student in Wales than in England. This is not anti Welsh trollery I promise.
I have had two children go through school in Wales and I cant say that I was impressed.
On the other hand, I don't suppose anyone was impressed with my children either..

oh and the time spent pushing Welsh as a subject.
My daughter was told she was too stupid to learn French or Spanish but had to do Welsh. At the end of five years all she could say was 'dwin hoffi ceffalau'. ( I like horses).

"the children will leave school with a sub standard education." is an overgeneralization. Of course every school is different.

However, Wales is consistently the most underperforming country in the UK, and is about to bring in a wishy-washy-looking curriculum based on Scotland's (dire) Curriculum for Excellence.

I personally would delay the move as long as possible and consider private schools if that is an affordable option and if there are any with a decent and rigorous curriculum (it's likely to be cheaper in Wales than in most parts of England). If not, I'd be prepared to do some tutoring.

Welsh medium done well and from a reasonably early age can be great, but if your kids are already Yr 5 and Yr 7, I'd stick to English medium.

I've heard similar. I don't want a 20 min drive to an English school when there is one walking distance. DD is only reception age in a Welsh primary school. If we can afford it, I'd like my DD to have a tutor from year 4 onwards.

I think there are plenty of welsh professionals, that went to welsh schools and now have a solid profession and income.
The issue is more with finding said professional career opportunities in Wales.

If you can go to an Estyn excellent school then you should grab the opportunity with both hands and to hell with all the people who know Welsh education is vastly inferior. There are a range of schools, just like everywhere else and if you've found a good one and like it then ignore everyone else and go.

Just spotted the Swansea bit, there are some fantastic secondary schools in that area if you research also it is a CRACKING place to live for quality of life, go now and make sure you enrol your children in the surf lifesaving club the second you get there. Climb mountains, swim in the sea and go out to eat in the amazing restaurants, you've got everything there. You'll be living the dream in no time!

Mine went through school in Wales, they will have to learn Welsh to GCSE level

They both went off to uni in England though , and graduated so they didn’t suffer too much 😀

And the Welsh government subsidies the uni fees , so it’s not all bad

Thanks for the reassurances.