Explanatory note

Section 4(2) of the Education Reform Act 1988 places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish the National Curriculum by specifying appropriate attainment targets, programmes of study and assessment arrangements for each of the foundation subjects.

Section 4(4) allows for such an Order, instead of containing the provisions to be made, to refer to them in a Document published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and to direct that those provisions shall have effect according to the Order.

This Order refers to “Welsh in the National Curriculum” “Cymraeg yn y Cwricwlwm Cenedlaethol” and provides for the attainment targets and programmes of study set out in it to have effect for the four key stages of a pupil’s compulsory schooling. Depending on the various dates on which the Order is brought into force, at every key stage a school must offer a pupil either Welsh or Welsh Second Language. As regards Welsh Second Language at Key Stage 4 a school may offer a further choice of Programme of Study A or Programme of Study B. The Order allows for a separate programme of study in the third key stage of Welsh Second Language which may be offered by a school to a pupil in the third key stage who has not previously studied either Welsh or Welsh Second Language.

These provisions reflect the present varied and complex patterns of development in the teaching of Welsh in schools in Wales. It is also against this background that the Order is brought into operation over a period of time.

The Document sets out up to ten levels in respect of attainment targets to cover the full range of abilities and maturities of pupils of compulsory school age; the Order accordingly specifies as part of each attainment target the appropriate range of attainment levels.

The Order further provides that any examples printed in italics in the Document are for illustrative purposes only, and do not form part of the Order.