Flintshire
Welsh-medium Education in Flintshire
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. Many children attending Welsh-medium schools in Flintshire come from homes where Welsh is not spoken, and support is available for children and families throughout the journey.
On this page, you can find information about Welsh-medium schools, nursery provision, immersion support for children joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage, post-16 education, school transport and opportunities to use Welsh in Flintshire.
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Welsh-medium schools in Flintshire
There are 5 Welsh-medium primary schools and one Welsh-medium secondary school in Flintshire.
Ysgol Croes Atti – Flint and Shotton
Ysgol Croes Atti is a Welsh-medium primary school operating across two sites – Flint and Shotton.
The school provides education for children aged 3 to 11, with early years provision also available at both sites.
Visit the Ysgol Croes Atti website
Ysgol Glanrafon – Mold
Ysgol Glanrafon is a Welsh-medium primary school in Mold.
The school offers nursery provision as well as primary education through the medium of Welsh.
Visit the Ysgol Glanrafon website
Ysgol Gwenffrwd – Holywell
Ysgol Gwenffrwd is a Welsh-medium primary school in Holywell.
Visit the Ysgol Gwenffrwd website
Ysgol Terrig – Treuddyn
Ysgol Terrig is a Welsh-medium primary school in Treuddyn.
Visit the Ysgol Terrig website
Ysgol Gymraeg Mornant – Picton
Ysgol Gymraeg Mornant is a Welsh-medium primary school in Picton.
Visit the Ysgol Gymraeg Mornant website
Welsh-medium secondary education in Flintshire
Ysgol Maes Garmon – Mold
Ysgol Maes Garmon is the Welsh-medium secondary school in Mold, serving learners from across Flintshire.
The school also welcomes learners who have attended English-medium primary schools through its Welsh Immersion Programme.
Visit the Ysgol Maes Garmon website
Nursery and pre-school provision
Children have opportunities to use Welsh from an early age through Cymraeg i Blant, Ti a Fi groups, Cylchoedd Meithrin, nurseries and nursery provision within schools.
Ti a Fi groups give parents, carers and young children an opportunity to play and socialise in a Welsh-language environment, while Cylchoedd Meithrin provide opportunities for young children to play, learn and develop through the medium of Welsh.
Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam also provides information about the Welsh-medium education journey, beginning in the early years.
Find out more about Welsh-medium education from Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam
Search for a Cylch Meithrin or Ti a Fi group on the Mudiad Meithrin website
Joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage – primary school
A child can join Welsh-medium education at any age, even if they have not been educated through the medium of Welsh from the beginning.
All five Welsh-medium primary schools in Flintshire offer support for children who are new to Welsh.
Children joining in Year 3 or above can receive support through a 10-week Welsh-language immersion programme, funded by the Local Authority.
During the programme:
- children spend the morning in a small learning group with staff who specialise in teaching Welsh;
- in the afternoon, they return to their usual class and use the Welsh they have been learning; and
- after the 10 weeks, they remain in their class full-time with ongoing support from school staff.
The programme is also available as a digital resource, allowing parents and carers to access it and learn alongside their child if they wish.
Find out more about joining Welsh-medium education in Flintshire
Joining Welsh-medium education at a later stage – secondary school
The Ysgol Maes Garmon Welsh Immersion Programme enables learners who have attended an English-medium primary school to move into Welsh-medium secondary education.
The immersion process begins in Year 6, giving learners opportunities to prepare for Welsh-medium secondary education before beginning Year 7.
In Year 7, learners receive intensive language support, with the amount of Welsh used increasing as the year progresses.
In Year 8, learners begin integrating into mainstream classes for more subjects, with the aim of being fully integrated and following the curriculum through the medium of Welsh by Year 9.
Find out more about the Ysgol Maes Garmon Welsh Immersion Programme
I don’t speak Welsh – can I choose Welsh-medium education for my child?
Yes. Parents and carers do not need to speak Welsh to choose Welsh-medium education for their child.
Welsh-medium schools in Flintshire are experienced in supporting families where Welsh is not spoken at home.
School correspondence is provided bilingually, and school staff can help parents and carers support their child’s schoolwork.
The digital primary immersion programme also gives parents an opportunity to learn alongside their child.
Age 16 and beyond
The journey through Welsh-medium education does not have to end after completing GCSEs.
Ysgol Maes Garmon offers Sixth Form provision, giving learners an opportunity to continue their education and study A-level courses.
Find out more about Sixth Form at Ysgol Maes Garmon
Young people can also continue their education through Coleg Cambria, which offers a range of further education courses and apprenticeships.
A number of courses at the College give learners opportunities to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually, allowing them to continue developing their Welsh alongside their studies.
Visit the Coleg Cambria website
School transport in Flintshire
Support with transport to Welsh-medium education is available for children who meet Flintshire County Council’s eligibility criteria.
In general, free transport to the nearest suitable Welsh-medium school is available for children aged 5 to 16 who live:
- more than 2 miles from their primary school; or
- more than 3 miles from their secondary school.
Other circumstances may also affect eligibility, so it is important to check the policy and apply through Flintshire County Council.
Transport provision is also available for some learners aged 16 and over who continue into post-16 education, subject to specific eligibility criteria.
Find out more and apply for school transport
Learning Welsh for parents and carers
There are opportunities for parents and carers who would like to begin learning Welsh or develop the Welsh they already have.
Learn Welsh – North East provides courses across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, as well as online learning opportunities.
Visit Learn Welsh – North East
Using Welsh in the community
Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam works with communities across both counties to increase the use of Welsh.
The Menter runs activities, events and projects for children, young people and families, and helps people find opportunities to use Welsh in their everyday lives.
It also provides information about Welsh-medium education and can signpost families to local services, activities and opportunities.
Visit the Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam website
More information about Welsh-medium education in Flintshire
For more information about Welsh-medium schools, immersion support and choosing Welsh-medium education in Flintshire, visit Flintshire County Council’s Welsh-medium education page.
Welsh-medium Education in Flintshire – Flintshire County Council
You can also read Flintshire County Council’s information booklet about Welsh-medium education and the experiences of local families.