Language At Work At Denbighshire Schools

Denbighshire is the latest North Wales authority to launch a Language Charter for its schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The original Language Charter was adopted in Gwynedd and following the success of the initiative there, the Welsh Government has allocated funding to extend the Charter to the remainder of the authorities in the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Charter aims to increase the social use of Welsh amongst children. It asks for participation from the whole school community – the School Council, pupils, workforce, parents, governors and the wider community, to ensure full ownership of the scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Language Charter was launched in an event held in Ruthin on Monday, 14 March, attended by 30 children and teachers from the county’s Welsh medium schools and one bilingual school (Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A presentation was given by Gwenan Ellis Jones, Gwynedd Council’s Welsh Language Charter Co-ordinator during the launch, which focussed on the importance of being proud to be Welsh and the opportunities that come from knowing two languages. Examples of initiatives from Gwynedd schools were shared at the event, such as the use of Welsh language apps, the use of flash cards to encourage people to speak Welsh, Welsh is Cool Week, Welsh language playground games and a school radio. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Eryl Williams, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, said: “Denbighshire County Council has adopted an action plan county wide, with all participating schools having a more local action plan to deliver. The aim of the Charter is to increase the use of Welsh in schools and encourage children to have more responsibility over the development of the language in their day to day education, as well as in the wider community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nerys Davies, Headteacher of Ysgol Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh said: “ This is a great opportunity for us to promote the use of Welsh in our schools and to make a real difference to the language. We have seen the success of the Charter in Gwynedd and are eager to see the Charter being adopted fully in Denbighshire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our children have already completed a questionnaire on a wide range of issues relating to the Welsh language and the intention is to repeat the questionnaire in the coming months, to see what kind of impact the Charter is having in Denbighshire”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, the Urdd and the Council’s Welsh Advisory Team in Education are working in partnership to promote the Language Charter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​