Council shifts stance after backlash over Welsh education survey
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has revised its position following mounting criticism over its handling of Welsh-medium education policy, agreeing to broaden the scope of its planned parental survey.
The move comes after a political and public backlash to comments made during the Council Cabinet's April meeting, where Deputy Leader Paul Miller suggested that some parents were choosing Welsh-medium schools not for the language but for newer facilities. His remarks, and the nature of the Cabinet debate, drew sharp criticism from opposition leader Cllr Huw Murphy, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and Cabinet Secretary for the Welsh Language and Culture, Mark Drakeford.
Critics accused the Cabinet of taking an 'anti-Welsh' tone and of singling out parents who chose Welsh-medium education. The row escalated after Mr Drakeford told BBC Cymru: 'I can't see why we would ask parents why they choose Welsh or why they choose English… Local authorities should be making the case for choosing Welsh-medium education, not questioning those who do.'
Now, in an apparent attempt to address those concerns and reset the debate, the Council has issued a fresh statement following its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 21). It confirms that data collection will be considered for all parents, not just those opting for Welsh-medium education.
A Council spokesperson said: 'Cabinet has today agreed to explore the collection of information from all parents, regardless of language preference, in order to better understand school choice across the county.'
The updated resolution now asks the Director of Education to explore methods for capturing data on the relative importance of different factors influencing school choice. These include language preference, learning outcomes, quality of facilities, transport provision, and support for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).
The Council says the data will help inform future decisions on modernising the school estate, ensuring they reflect the priorities of a broad and representative sample of parents.
Despite the softened stance, the issue remains politically sensitive. Cllr Huw Murphy, whose formal 'call-in' prompted the Council to revisit its earlier decision, has argued that any perception of bias against Welsh-medium provision risks undermining public trust and the Council's obligations under the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).
The Welsh Language Commissioner had also expressed concern over the original approach, stating that questioning only parents choosing Welsh-medium schools was 'not compatible' with the Council's statutory duties.
The revised position may go some way toward cooling tensions, but the debate has already highlighted deeper divisions over language policy, school choice, and how local authorities should approach data collection in the context of bilingual education.
The Herald will continue to follow developments closely as the Council works through the next phase of its data-gathering plans.
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