Phasing out English in schools 'could see more teachers leave profession'

PHASING out English medium education could worsen a “crisis” in recruiting and retaining teachers.

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

A Cyngor Gwynedd meeting heard it was already “difficult” to attract staff to the county and that nationally teachers were already leaving the profession “in droves”.

The comments were made during a debate over the Draft Revised Education Language Policy, during the council's Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee meeting, last week.

In a proposed shake up of its language policy Cyngor Gwynedd has an ambition for 70% of lessons to be taught in Welsh.

The branch secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), Elise Poulter, voiced teachers’ concerns over training, funding and the impact on the county's Welsh language immersion system. Welsh is already the predominant medium of teaching for the majority of Gwynedd’s educational establishments.

But some schools, including Bangor's Ysgol Friars and Our Lady's School, Catholic primary, and Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn are “transitioning” towards full Welsh medium provision.

Elise Poulter had asked if there was “provision” for those teachers who do not at the moment teach through the medium of Welsh to go on courses or dayrelease courses, to “upskill themselves”.