‘You can’t stop the English coming to Wales’, says parent behind petition against school switch to Welsh medium
A parent behind a petition against switching a school to the Welsh medium has suggested you “cannot stop” English people from coming to Wales.
Dai Holt, 53, has claimed that Powys County Council’s decision to change Machynlleth’s Ysgol Bro Hyddgen from dual stream, does not “represent the community”, and claimed it was a “draconian” policy.
This is despite a public consultation having found the majority of respondents backing the phased transition from dual-stream to Welsh-medium schooling at the bilingual school for pupils aged between four and 18.
The consultation found that just over 61 per cent were in favour, 37.5 per cent were against and 1.3 per cent ‘didn’t know’.
Holt, who has a daughter, 8, studying in the English stream, helped organise more than 1,200 signatures in opposition to the plans.
Plaid Cymru councillor Elwyn Vaughan has previously told the County Times: “This matter shouldn’t be seen as a ‘Welsh vs English’ thing, and I deplore those that try to make it such.”
Holt told the Sunday Times: “The school we cherish should represent the community”.
He added: “More English people are going to come to Wales. You cannot stop them with more draconian policies on schooling and houses.
“Schools run on numbers, not language. If you do not have bottoms on seats, you will not have a school to run. People have been verbally and even physically abused over this.”
‘Fear of the unknown’
In response to opposition to the plans, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan who represents nearby Glantwymyn and is chairman of the school governors, has previously said: “Whenever any changes are proposed it is inevitable that some are opposed to such changes, fear of the unknown is understandable.
“Bilingualism is the norm in the world – monolingualism is not – and that is what an English stream is – fluency in one language.
“Bilingualism provides the basis to learn other languages and become truly multilingual – a important asset for the future.”
“Only three pupils have started in the English stream this September – that is totally unsustainable and not fair on them.”
Language campaigners Cymdeithas yr Iaith have welcomed the move to change the school to Welsh medium.
Osian Rhys, from Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Education Group said: “This is very encouraging news, and gives hope to so many other people and communities. Many thanks to the school governors, campaigners and politicians who have supported this very positive change.
“Welsh-medium schools are the only way of ensuring that children are able to communicate fluently in both Welsh and English. Moving schools along the language continuum is one of the main ways in which we as a society will reach one million Welsh speakers and more.
“This is why we are calling for a Welsh-medium Education for All Act that will encourage and facilitate the conversion of schools across the country into Welsh medium schools, with much easier new processes and statutory targets for all county councils.”
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We’re not going to stop Welsh people moving to England either but we can certainly teach Cymraeg to our new friends, neighbours and colleagues.
It matters.
There will always be the occasional crackpot in the basket. Perhaps he doesn’t understand that Welsh language education = bilingualism, fluency in both languages.
Spot on, Arwyn. Maybe they should start teaching a bit of Welsh in English schools – it might foster better relationships between the Welsh and the English.
I moved to Wales from England over 25 years ago and learned Welsh within the first few years via a great Wlpan course run by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Caerdydd. My daughters are both now in Welsh medium education, one in school and one in university studying to be a Welsh medium primary school teacher. This has been 100% gain and no loss for all of us.
Bendigedig a diolch i ti.
The consultation had a clear result. End of story.
Only 3 pupils are in the English stream. What does that tell that absolute clown? Parents want to give their kids a headstart in life and listening to morons like him will never get you anywhere. Guess how I manage to pick up and understand other languages way quicker than any of my friends. I was speaking two languages by the age of four and three by the age of six. Monoglots who criticise this don’t have a clue and it’s their own ignorance on the matter that is to blame.But their ignorance and arrogance will always tell them they… Read more »
The man clearly has a problem with his math’s. 61% of people in favour of a change to a Welsh medium school, only 3 pupils starting in the English stream. If he thinks this does not represent the community, I would suggest he join his daughters math’s class.
It’s Llangennech all over again, when a tiny group of reactionaries & ukippers thought the world will end if children are taught Welsh. Guess what it didn’t. What on earth is he talking about? Nobody has suggested stopping English people moving to Wales, which is impossible anyway, it’s about ensuring all our children are bilingual which is beneficial to the child. Dai Holt comes across as an absolute idiot with a view based on ignorance and fear.
The English are forever going on about how immigrants change the fabric of their communities, refuse to integrate and steal their jobs etc etc . If this is the case then they should lead by example and practice what they preach when they emigrate to Cymru. To be fair, a small percentage of incomers realise they’re moving into a different country and make an effort to integrate, but the majority think they’re moving into an extended part of England and believe we should bend to their will. Stand firm Elwyn Vaughan and co, you’re doing good, this should be the… Read more »
Absolutely. If people arrive in England from other countries/cultures the English demand they “integrate”. This is no different.
The irony escapes him. This is classic colonialism straight out of the 19th Century.
Not once have I met a parent who regrets sending their child to a Welsh language school. The only regret they mention is that they weren’t offered the same opportunities as their kids.
I’m very suspicious of Dai Holt’s agenda. By him using this highly inflammatory language , ” it won’t stop English people from coming to Wales” raises alarm bells.
This is our birthright. To be educated in the medium of Welsh. It’s not prohibiting anyone. It’s about respecting Wales and the Welsh language.
I think Holt’s using this to mask his own prejudice towards the teaching of Welsh., So wants to whip up anti-Welsh hysteria in the press and no doubt on social media
Correct. Mr Holt is either an Anglo Brit supremacist or a mere pawn in their game. Either way he needs to pop up and realise what is going on around him.
I bet those people who object to Welsh (Cymraeg) being taught in schools and therefore want Wales to conform to an England culture ARE exactly those who refused to be part of the European Union.
The European Union respects Wales and Welsh culture – Let’s join the EU.
Remove ourselves from this monolithic UK.
We cannot stop English people coming to Wales, no. But it is reasonable to require them to show respect for our language, culture and identity. This is something about which the Sais are often quite blind. Their attitudes too often reek of entitlement. There is a village I know which is roughly half-and-half local and incomer. I recall one incomer lady (who had all the sensitivity of a tank, quite honestly) saying the relationship between the two halves of the community was good, except they had once had a nationalist in the village who had to be “put down”. I… Read more »
We cannot stop the Saes coming to our country certainly, but an independent Cymru will see the end of the English medium choice of education completely erased. It’s only this dated Union that has created the tensions over language that presently exist in some but reducing places. Mr. Holt seems unable to accept that his is a lost cause demonstrated not by mere speculation, as is his ‘argument’, but by facts supported by empirical science! Behind his gross campaign there lurks a fear that, like all colonialists, his day is done and the comforts and advantages he has enjoyed as… Read more »
It goes without saying that a school with only three students ought to close once three becomes zero.
Stop all second homes in wales 🏴 take all second homes of them and give them to young welsh people who can’t get on the housing market because of incomers we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴 it’s time for a new wales 🏴 kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴 welsh is the first language in wales 🏴
“Perhaps Mr Holt has come from the South Wales valleys like some of my family where Welsh was just not spoken.” My dad grew up in the Gwendraeth and learned English as a foreign language when he went to school. Welsh was his native language. However, he was ambitious and in the era he grew up in Welsh was a definite disadvantage in job-hunting anywhere outside Wales. So I was raised to speak English and that was what we spoke at home. This is how a language dies. Deliberate policy may be caricatured by some as “daft Welshification” but if… Read more »
>No more immigration! >No you can’t make the school Welsh because the English may want to come here!
Stop the count levels, result is the result
Nation. cymru, pam dileu fy sylw diweddaraf? Mae pwy bynnag sy’n cadw llygad ar/golygu y sylwadau yn chwerthinllyd. Dim byd ond sensoriaeth pathetig
Ymmdiheuriadau Nation.cymru, mi ddaeth fy sylw i’r golwg maes o law. Sori am fod yn fyrbwyll!
Mae’n digwydd bob hyn a hyn heb unryw esboniad
Don’t come to Wales if you don’t like our way of doing things stay in England where you belong
It’s always fun to change the nationalities, race and language and then play it and and think of the outrage it would cause.
But as its only Wales we are being over sensitive.
Everyone on this forum seem to be missing the point by a country mile. Scandalously, Ysgol Bro Hyddgen will not be a Welsh Medium School until well into the next decade! Under this latest capitulation by the governers/ Cyngor Sir Powys, the english language stream will remain until the mid 2030’s.
A’n harwr gwâr dan ddaearen – ni wêl
gywilydd Bro Hyddgen;
ei henwyr, dewr drwy’r gynnen,
ni wŷr iau gwyd faner wen.
Gai ofyn yn gwrtais i ti beidio defnyddio’r union un enw ar dy sylwadau a finnau OGYDd?
It’s flattering to know that many English families like Wales so much, that they might someday move here to live. If the families in question have school-age children, then before buying a house in Wales, they would be well advised to first investigate thoroughly how education in Wales differs from education in England. If they take the time do that and then realise that they DON’T wish their children to attend any degree (it varies) of Welsh-medium education, then allow me to make a helpful suggestion; go house-hunting in school catchment areas in the English counties of Cheshire, Shropshire and… Read more »
Choice is of course important across Education and should be maintained- — the choice of pupils of course so they can access ALL jobs and ALL services in either or both our national languages….as they so desire. As a former Chair Governors of a large Welsh Medium school in Clwyd, i rejoiced in seeing that choice offer hundreds of young people from English or other first language backgrounds an enhanced future and increased life opportunities. Those seeking to block that choice of increase opportunities should not seek to equate their own political or prejudiced views on the country they have… Read more »
I worked in London, Brussels, Solihull and Dublin my friend.
Yes it’s a hard slog your right but found the international experience widened my view of life and understanding of others – and found fellow folk from home in each pasture.
Both my sons the same – Manchester and aLondon but again helped them widen job experience and one is back now in Cymru fach.
The Irish ☘️ seem to have this down to a fine art 😁
One thing you are right about is the low wages we have here. That is mainly down to an over-reliance on the tourism industry which invariably offers low paid jobs to the people who work in the industry. It’s high time we moved away from the high level of tourism we have here and looked towards businesses from other sectors who require higher level skills and offer better wages to move here instead.
What a strange idea this parent has! The new policy will make it easier for people moving from England to settle in and feel at home.
Unfortunately it is the Dic Sion Dafydds who persist in west Wales at undermining their own language. This happened in Carms with Education First led by a NATIVE welsh speaker and before that by Dr Alan Williams, and there was some similar campaign in Ceredigion. Funny how the monoglot parents of the eastern counties want to send their kids to Welsh medium school and even have them teach chemistry and maths to them in Welsh. Honestly Dai bach you and the rest of your ilk are just twp and school vertainly never did you any good or enlightened your sort
If I remember rightly, the bone of contention there was the teaching of maths and science in Welsh. I attended WM schools in the 1990s and even the Welsh-speaking teachers at the schools refused to teach them in Welsh. We were given a choice of maths in Welsh and most children opted for English.
I think you might find things have moved on and up mate. 😄
Wales is a more confident place now in this new century – a fact which I’m sure we both celebrate
It’s so good to hear you sharing your thoughts and experience. I too am
a product of the Grammar system and it certainly did have plus points – but like most educational systems it was not perfect and my classics Latin and Greek were unable to offer me the Benefits of modern Italian which my younger son was able to master in his educational pathway through job focused training and internships there.
Aside from the fact that I live in England but my mum was born in Wales, I have lived abroad and my daughter is trilingual. I am English, her mum is Greek and she went to a school that was Francohellenic. It only helped her to get on in life and I firmly believe that it helped her in all her subjects and it goes without saying that she now picks up foreign languages very easily as a result of her education. She also now goes to a Russel Group university. It’s parents that disagree because they are ignorant and… Read more »