Wales education system

Education in Wales differs in certain respects from the systems used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. A significant number of students all over Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of Welsh; lessons in the language are compulsory for all until the age of 16. Welsh medium education is available to all age groups through nurseries, schools, colleges and universities and in adult education. There are also plans to increase the number of Welsh medium schools.

Currently, demand has passed supply for education through the medium of Welsh especially in Cardiff and the surrounding South Wales Valleys. Some schools in South Wales are now having to turn Welsh students away as there are no spaces in the schools compared to the English schools where in some cases pupil levels are only reaching 50% capacity. In Cardiff, there are plans to close two English Schools and open two large Welsh schools. In Newport, there are now plans for the city to have its first Welsh medium secondary school, and there are also plans for Swansea and Llanelli to have more Welsh schools. This is in line with Welsh Assembly policy of having a totally bilingual Wales.