Commentary on Sections School language categories Section 9 - School language categories
36.This section establishes a system to categorise all schools (except community special schools) according to the school’s Welsh language education provision. There are three language categories for schools in Wales:
37.Section 9(1) states that the language category designated to a school determines the minimum amount of Welsh language education that must be provided in the school (in accordance with section 10) and the school’s Welsh language learning goals (in accordance with section 11). A category is designated to a school when its delivery plan (which includes its category) is approved (sections 15(5), 18(3) and 19(3)).
38.When a language category is designated to a school, the school must provide a sum of Welsh language education in line with the minimum amount, or above the minimum amount, set for that category in section 10(2).
39.In accordance with section 9(3), a school may have more than one language category. An example might be a primary school with two different language streams.
40.Section 9(3) also gives the Welsh Ministers a power to make regulations in relation to schools with more than one language category.
41.A language category is not designated for community special schools but see section 20 for a specific provision for community special schools, which includes the option of voluntarily designating a language category. The term “community special school” is defined in section 51(2).