Denbighshire
Welsh-medium Education in Denbighshire
Are you considering Welsh-medium education in Denbighshire for your child?
Welsh-medium education gives children the opportunity to learn, play and develop through the Welsh language, using Welsh naturally as part of their education and everyday life.
Parents and carers do not need to speak Welsh to choose Welsh-medium education for their child. Support is available for children and families throughout the journey.
On this page, you can find information about Welsh-medium schools, nursery and childcare provision, support for children joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage, post-16 education, school transport and opportunities to use Welsh in Denbighshire.
Welsh-medium primary schools in Denbighshire
There are 14 Welsh-medium primary schools in Denbighshire, as well as Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, which is a dual-language school.
The Welsh-medium primary schools are:
- Ysgol Betws Gwerfil Goch – Betws Gwerfil Goch
- Ysgol Carreg Emlyn – Clocaenog and Cyffylliog
- Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy – Cynwyd
- Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch – Denbigh area
- Ysgol Pant Pastynog – Denbigh area
- Ysgol Twm o’r Nant – Denbigh
- Ysgol Bro Elwern – Gwyddelwern
- Ysgol Henllan – Henllan
- Ysgol Tremeirchion – St Asaph area
- Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant – Llangollen
- Ysgol Pentrecelyn – Pentrecelyn
- Ysgol y Llys – Prestatyn
- Ysgol Pen Barras – Ruthin
- Ysgol Dewi Sant – Rhyl
Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd
Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd is a dual-language school where pupils can follow their education through the medium of Welsh or English.
View Welsh-medium schools in Denbighshire
Welsh-medium secondary education in Denbighshire
There are three main routes into secondary education through the medium of Welsh in Denbighshire.
Ysgol Glan Clwyd – St Asaph
Ysgol Glan Clwyd is a Welsh-medium secondary school in St Asaph.
Welsh is the medium of education at the school, and the school also offers a Welsh Immersion Programme for learners who have not received their primary education through the medium of Welsh.
Visit the Ysgol Glan Clwyd website
Ysgol Brynhyfryd – Ruthin
Ysgol Brynhyfryd is a bilingual 11–18 secondary school in Ruthin.
Learners can follow their education through a Welsh-medium or English-medium stream, and the school also offers Sixth Form provision.
Visit the Ysgol Brynhyfryd website
Ysgol Dinas Brân – Llangollen
Ysgol Dinas Brân is a bilingual secondary school in Llangollen.
Parents and learners can choose the language of their education, with the Welsh-medium stream enabling pupils to study their subjects through the medium of Welsh.
The school also offers Sixth Form provision.
Visit the Ysgol Dinas Brân website
Nursery, pre-school and childcare provision
Children have opportunities to use Welsh from an early age through Cymraeg i Blant, Ti a Fi groups, Cylchoedd Meithrin, nurseries and childcare providers.
You can search for childcare provision in Denbighshire and find information about local providers through the Childcare Information Wales service.
Search for childcare provision in Denbighshire
You can also search for a Cylch Meithrin or Ti a Fi group through the Mudiad Meithrin website.
Search for a Cylch Meithrin or Ti a Fi group
Joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage – primary school
Children can join Welsh-medium education at a later stage, even if they have not received their education through the medium of Welsh from the beginning.
Denbighshire County Council provides support for newcomers in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 who have enrolled at a primary school to receive their education through the medium of Welsh.
A specialist teacher and senior teaching assistant provide a structured programme to help children develop their spoken Welsh and enable them to integrate fully into Welsh-medium school life.
Newcomers usually:
- attend a Welsh Language Centre three days a week;
- follow the provision for a full school term; and
- receive free school transport to the Welsh Language Centre.
Where there are not enough children to run a group at a Welsh Language Centre, outreach support may be provided within the school.
Find out more about support for newcomers
Joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage – secondary school
It is not too late to choose Welsh-medium secondary education if a child has received their primary education through the medium of English.
The Ysgol Glan Clwyd Welsh Immersion Programme is designed specifically for learners who are new to Welsh.
The journey begins during the final half term of Year 6, when learners attend an intensive introductory course to develop their Welsh-language skills.
If they choose to continue to Ysgol Glan Clwyd, they follow an accelerated programme during Years 7 and 8, with the aim of being able to study through the medium of Welsh alongside other pupils.
Visit the Ysgol Glan Clwyd Welsh Immersion Programme page
The page also includes videos about the Welsh Immersion Programme, including learners’ experiences and information from school staff.
I don’t speak Welsh – can I choose Welsh-medium education for my child?
Yes. Parents and carers do not need to speak Welsh for their child to receive Welsh-medium education.
Schools and services in Denbighshire support children who are new to Welsh, and specific pathways are available for children moving into Welsh-medium education during either the primary or secondary phase.
There are also opportunities for parents and carers to learn Welsh or use more Welsh with their children.
Age 16 and beyond
The journey through Welsh-medium education does not have to end after completing GCSEs.
Ysgol Glan Clwyd offers Sixth Form provision, with opportunities to continue studying through the medium of Welsh.
Find out more about Sixth Form at Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Ysgol Brynhyfryd also offers Sixth Form provision, with a number of courses available through Welsh or English depending on the subject and demand.
Visit the Ysgol Brynhyfryd Sixth Form Centre
Ysgol Dinas Brân also offers Sixth Form provision.
Visit the Ysgol Dinas Brân website
Learners can also choose to continue their education at college, including provision at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhyl, and Coleg Cambria Llysfasi.
Opportunities to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually are available on some courses, so it is worth checking the language options with the provider when applying.
Visit the Grŵp Llandrillo Menai website
Visit the Coleg Cambria website
School transport in Denbighshire
Pupils may be eligible for free school transport if they live in Denbighshire and meet the Council’s criteria.
For primary school pupils, free transport may be available if the home is more than two miles from the nearest suitable school, or where there is no safe walking route.
When deciding which is the nearest suitable school, the Council takes the child’s language preference into account. This means the nearest school providing education through the medium of Welsh may be considered when assessing eligibility.
Information is also available about:
- secondary school transport;
- Sixth Form transport;
- college transport; and
- transport for some learners with Additional Learning Needs.
Find out more about free transport to school and college
Learning Welsh for parents and carers
There are opportunities for parents and carers to begin learning Welsh or develop the Welsh they already have.
Learn Welsh North East provides courses for adults in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, as well as online courses.
Using Welsh in the community
Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych works to increase and normalise the use of Welsh across the county.
The Menter works with children, young people, families, learners and communities, running activities and projects that give people opportunities to use Welsh naturally outside school.
Its work includes activities for families, events for children and young people, opportunities for learners to use Welsh and community projects across Denbighshire.
Visit the Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych website
More information about Welsh-medium education in Denbighshire
Denbighshire County Council provides further information about the Welsh-medium education journey from the early years through to secondary education.