**Cardiff Welsh Medium School Placed in Special Measures over Language Use**
A secondary school in Cardiff, intended to provide education through the medium of Welsh, has been placed under special measures following a critical inspection by Estyn, the education watchdog for Wales. Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern, located in the Pen-y-lan area, came under scrutiny after inspectors identified significant weaknesses in pupils’ use of the Welsh language both in class and on school grounds.
Despite its status as a Welsh medium school, Estyn reported that many Bro Edern pupils struggle to articulate themselves in Welsh and frequently choose to respond to staff in English. According to the inspectors, only a small number of children at the school demonstrate a high level of fluency and are able to express complex ideas effectively in Welsh. The situation is compounded by statistics revealing that fewer than a quarter of pupils speak Welsh at home, making the acquisition of the language outside school hours more challenging.
The Estyn report highlighted teaching methods as a key area of concern. While some lessons demonstrated successful strategies to encourage the use of Welsh, these were in the minority. Inspectors found that in too many classrooms, teachers were not rigorous enough in insisting on the use of Welsh, allowing students to default to English during discussions and activities. This, Estyn said, was hindering pupils’ linguistic development and meant they were not making sufficient progress in oracy, reading, and writing through the medium of Welsh.
On literacy in general, while the majority of pupils were able to write fluently and accurately, the report flagged that a substantial minority displayed recurring mistakes in spelling, grammar, and language mutation. The sixth form at Bro Edern counts 127 students among a total roll of 936, with rates of pupils eligible for free school meals and those requiring additional educational support lying below the national average. Nonetheless, concerns remain that not enough pupils are building the necessary skills to thrive in a Welsh medium environment.
There were, however, positives noted by the inspection team. Bro Edern was praised for fostering a welcoming and nurturing school community, supportive of pupil well-being. The provision of extra-curricular activities was commended, alongside the school’s concerted efforts to promote diversity, mutual respect, and a strong sense of belonging. National successes in sports were also highlighted, providing a counterbalance to the academic concerns raised elsewhere in the report.
Behaviour and attendance, two issues that have become more prevalent since the Covid-19 pandemic, featured in the inspection’s findings. Although many pupils were described as well-behaved and respectful, attendance rates have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels—a trend mirrored in schools across the country. Inspectors also noted that while a majority of lessons are characterised by positive attitudes and good conduct, lapses in behaviour and lateness among a minority of pupils persist, usually in lessons where teaching falls short.
The leadership at Bro Edern came in for both praise and critique. The headteacher was acknowledged as a thoughtful leader with a genuine commitment to both pupils and staff. Despite this, Estyn concluded that leadership had not made a broad enough impact on key areas such as teaching quality and language provision, highlighting the need for stronger accountability and clearer strategic direction at all levels and clearer roles for governors in challenging and supporting school leaders.
In response to these concerns, Estyn called for urgent improvements in several areas: including strengthening the quality of teaching, improving oversight and planning, enhancing pupils’ literacy and commitment to using Welsh, and addressing attendance and punctuality. The school’s governing body and Cardiff Council stated that measures are already being implemented, including plans to broaden opportunities for pupils to develop literacy and Welsh language skills, alongside targeted strategies to improve overall teaching and learning.
A new leadership partnership has also been announced between Ysgol Bro Edern and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, set to begin in September. This collaborative arrangement aims to share best practice and raise standards over a two-year period, with Matthew Evans (headteacher of Glantaf) taking a strategic role across both schools.
Responding to the report, Mr Evans said that Bro Edern is preparing to work closely with Estyn, local partners, and Cardiff Council to address the recommendations swiftly. Stakeholders hope that this new collaborative approach will strengthen leadership, enhance the quality of education, and help pupils – both now and in future years – to flourish in a truly Welsh medium environment.