Reversing language shift: impacting on an all-Wales strategy to increase pupils' use of Welsh

Description of impact

Our research in bilingualism has influenced language policy and language planning initiatives in relation to bilingual education within various local education authorities. One piece of research led to media coverage (BBC news webpage story and radio current affairs item topic on Radio Cymru – Post Prynhawn) and led to the formation of a steering group to try to apply our policy implications in practice followed by a one-day conference organized in Nant Gwrtheyrn (9.6.11) to discuss the implications of the report. All this led to the establishment of the Welsh Language Charter which is now active in all schools throughout the county and is currently being adopted (by request of the Welsh Government) to be rolled out throughout north Wales. Thomas was also invited as a keynote to address audience at a conference in Galway based on this publication. Following the research.

Impact Summary for the General Public

Following the publication of a list of recommendations arising from a study commissioned by Hunaniaith and the Welsh Language Board the Siarter Iaith Gymraeg Ysgolion Gwynedd

Description of the underpinning research

Grant funding:
Hunaniaith and Welsh Language Board: “Arolwg o ddefnydd cymdeithasol plant cynradd o’r Gymraeg” (Roberts & Thomas, £20,000).

Publication:
Thomas, E. M. & Roberts, D. B. (2011). Exploring bilinguals’ social use of Welsh inside and out of the minority language classroom. Language and Education, 25 (2), 89-108.

Grant report:
Roberts, D. B. & Thomas, E. M. (2010). Adroddiad Arolwg Defnydd Cymdeithasolo’r Gymraeg gan Blant Sector Cynradd Gwynedd. http://moodle.cynnal.co.uk/mod/folder/view.php?id=23536

Beneficiaries and reach of impact

All pupils attending government maintained schools in Wales

General Notes

Sources to corroborate the impact:

Background to the central role of the initial research in leading to the development of the Siarter Iaith (Gwynedd):
http://moodle.cynnal.co.uk/course/view.php?id=397

The recommendations and the research report that led to the Siarter Iaith:
http://moodle.cynnal.co.uk/mod/folder/view.php?id=23536

Appendix 12 was added to Gwynedd County’s Welsh Language Scheme 2011, which offered recommendations for supporting the use of Welsh in extended contexts.

Specific references to the underpinning research (page 31) in the Strategic Welsh in Education Scheme 2014 document: https://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/cy/Cyngor/Dogfennau-Cyngor/Strategaethau-a-pholisiau/Cynllun-Strategol-Y-Gymraeg-mewn-Addysg.pdf

News report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11523249

Reference to the adoption of the Siarter Iaith (Gwynedd) to be rolled-out to all schools in Wales p. 12 of Welsh in Education: Action Plan 2017-2021:
http://gov.wales/docs/dcells/publications/171212-welsh-in-education-action-plan-2017-21-en.pdf

Impact status	Ongoing
Category of impact	Cultural, Policy and Public Services, Cultural
Impact level	Adoption