Welsh language schools 'start hiring ENGLISH-speaking teachers'

Welsh language schools have started hiring English-speaking teachers due to a staffing crisis, a council has heard.

Welsh medium schools have strict language rules and traditionally ban the use of the English language from classrooms and playgrounds.

However now officials are having to change their rules due to a shortage of staff who are qualified to teach Welsh.

According to the 2021 census, just 17.8 per cent of Wales' population are able to speak and understand Welsh, however in Gwynedd this stands at 76.3 per cent. 

Earlier this year Gwynedd Council announced plans to reduce the amount of lessons taught in English to 'bolster' the Welsh language.

The plans included scrapping English language lessons in the county.

Cllr Dewi Owen told a Gwynedd Council meeting there was a 'huge problem' of recruiting staff in the county in the Welsh-speaking heartlands.

Independent Cllr Owen, who serves as a high school governor, said: 'There are a lot of challenges to recruit teachers in the county's secondary schools. Having enough teachers in our schools is a huge problem.

'I am talking here as someone from south Meirionnydd - it is a challenge to get teachers into our secondary schools.

'I know it is contrary to Cyngor Gwynedd's policy - but what else can you do?

'If we have someone living locally and they have the resources to teach, maybe they've been retired but have been teachers in secondary schools before.

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'Sometimes we have had to bend the rules and bring in somebody who is only English speaking.'

The council's head of education Gwern ap Rhisiart, said: 'I know some schools have been forced into situations to appoint staff who are not necessarily Welsh speakers.

'But they are committed to follow enrichment courses to promote use of the language,

'But it does worry me, moving forward, I know it is something that worries a lot of you.

'But there are plans to support the language and teachers and to promote greater use of the Welsh language.'

In 2023 a Welsh-speaking school was put into special measures for letting children speak too much English.

Inspectors told teachers at Ysgol Pen-y-Garth in Penarth, South Wales, to put more focus on speaking the native language in and out of class.

They found many of the 331 pupils at the primary 'turn to English naturally' when chatting and were not given enough chances to 'celebrate their Welshness'. 

Gwynedd Council has been contacted for comment.