**Ambition for a Fourth Welsh-Medium Secondary School in Cardiff Remains Strong, Says Council Leader**
The leader of Cardiff Council has reaffirmed the city’s aspiration to establish a fourth Welsh-medium secondary school, offering fresh hope to parents and campaigners calling for more accessible Welsh-language education in the capital. However, Councillor Huw Thomas, speaking at a recent cabinet meeting, issued a note of caution, stressing that several important milestones must be achieved before the project can move forward.
At the heart of the issue is the demand from families in South Cardiff, many of whom face daily commutes across the city so their children can attend Welsh-medium secondary schools. Campaign groups have been vocal in their calls for a new school south of the current provision, arguing that the long travel distances place undue strain on students and families, and hinder the uptake of Welsh-medium education in those communities.
Responding to a question from Councillor Rodney Berman, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Cardiff Council, Cllr Thomas conceded that past geographical decisions had resulted in all three existing Welsh-medium secondary schools being located towards the north of Cardiff. This, he acknowledged, has unfortunately forced children in southern neighbourhoods to endure longer journeys to access Welsh-language education.
Despite these challenges, Cllr Thomas was emphatic about the council’s intentions. “There is absolutely the ambition to establish a fourth Welsh-medium secondary school,” he said, offering reassurance to campaigners gathered outside County Hall and to families waiting for progress. However, he was equally clear that careful planning would be essential to ensure any expansion did not negatively impact the city’s current secondary schools, highlighting the need for thoughtful site selection and careful management of funding.
The debate over Welsh-medium school provision in Cardiff must also be seen in the context of shifting demographic and educational data. According to figures released by the council, the proportion of pupils admitted to Welsh-medium education in the city has increased from 16.6% in 2014-15 to 17.7% in 2024-25. Notably, younger cohorts are showing even higher proportions, with 19.7% of four-year-olds now attending Welsh-medium nursery settings, up sharply from 13.8% in 2017-18.
Currently, Cardiff is served by three Welsh-medium secondary schools: Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern. All are situated in the northern half of the city, leaving families in southern Cardiff at a disadvantage. Campaigners have staged numerous protests and demonstrations outside the council’s headquarters in recent months, hoping to elevate the issue on the city’s political agenda.
Cllr Thomas told cabinet members that any plan for a new Welsh-medium secondary school must be designed so as not to “destabilise” or adversely affect existing schools. “Given current birth rates and trends in the primary sector, we can be confident that capacity at secondary level is being managed appropriately,” he explained. Nonetheless, the leader committed to ongoing dialogue, stating his intention to meet with campaigners and collaborate “to chart a way forward on this”.
The prospect of a fourth Welsh-medium secondary school in Cardiff is therefore still at the aspirational stage, with practical hurdles relating to funding, location, and demographics still to be overcome. Yet the direction of travel remains clear, with growing numbers of families expressing a desire for Welsh-language education and determined campaigners keeping the matter in the public eye.
From a broader perspective, this local debate reflects nationwide ambitions to expand Welsh-medium provision and support the Welsh Government’s long-term strategy for a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Cardiff’s evolving educational landscape could therefore play a pivotal role in advancing these goals, not just for the city, but for the future of the language across Wales.
For campaigners and parents, the wait for concrete commitment goes on, but the council’s leadership has at least renewed its public pledge to work towards a solution—one that, if achieved, could significantly broaden access to Welsh-medium education for future generations in Cardiff’s southern communities.