Pupils can’t attend Welsh school as no places are available
CHILDREN in one area of Wales are unable to get into their closest Welsh-medium school, despite the Welsh Government’s language goal.
Pupils on Anglesey can’t join their nearest Welsh-medium high school, Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern, due to there not being enough places available.
Historically, Bodedern has been the go-to for Welsh-speakers in Holyhead, while Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi (Holyhead High School) offers a “Transitional Welsh Medium”, where some parts of the curriculum are taught in Welsh. However, demand has exceeded supply at Bodedern this year.
Because Holyhead is further away from the high school – about seven miles – than Bodedern and its neighbouring villages, some of its pupils are missing out. It is understood 14 children from the town were turned down for a place.
This comes when the government in Wales aims to achieve one million Welsh-speakers across the nation by 2050.
Parents aren’t taking the situation lying down, however. They are appealing against the rejections and are hopeful they can find a solution.
Carl Edwards, a parent of one affected student, said: “We understand there are 14 pupils who have missed out – including 10 from Ysgol Cybi.
“The school is the furthest away from Bodedern due to its location in Holyhead, so more pupils have missed out from here than other schools in town.
“We want our children to go to the nearest Welsh-medium school. At the moment the Welsh Government is pushing for one million Welsh-speakers but this doesn’t fit with that target.
“They do teach modules in Welsh at
Holyhead High School but that is not the same as a Welsh-medium school, where everything is taught through Welsh, apart from English.
“They have mentioned providing school transport to other Welsh-medium schools on the island but then you lose out on being part of the local Welsh community, with friends nearby. We think they need to rethink this decision and find space for the extra children.”
A letter says that there are 165 places for Year 7 learners for September 2024 at Bodedern – but at least 179 applicants. Carl was told the criterion of nearest walking distance from the child’s home address to the school gate was used to determine the allocation of places.
An Anglesey County Council spokesman said: “We have been contacted by a number of parents who were disappointed they had been unsuccessful in applying for a place at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern – an out-ofcatchment-area school – with regards the National School Offer of place made on 01.03.24.
“A school’s published Pupil Admission Number reflects the school’s ability to accommodate pupils in order to avoid overcrowding. Parents whose children have been refused a place at their preferred school were notified of the decision by our admission officer.
“This correspondence outlined the reasons for the decision and the options available to them, this includes the right to appeal to an independent panel.
“While every effort is made to meet the needs of learners/parents/guardians, school places outside catchment areas cannot be guaranteed.”