welsh language scheme - nptc group
TRANSCRIPT
Welsh Language Scheme
Prepared under the Welsh Language Act 1993
Date of approval – 20 October 2014
CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1 Introduction 1 SECTION 2 College Profile 2 SECTION 3 Implementation and Monitoring/ 5 Service Planning and Delivery SECTION 4 the Development of a Welsh Ethos at the College 11 SECTION 5 The Development of Bilingual Communication Skills 17 to Augment an English-Medium Provision SECTION 6 The Development of Welsh-medium or 18 Bilingual Provision for Post-14 Students SECTION 7 Timetable/Action Plan 23 If you or someone you know would like this document in an alternative format, please contact the Senior Officer: Diversity at [email protected] or on 01639 648175
2
SECTION 1
Introduction 1.1 This is a revised version of Grŵp NPTC Group Welsh Language Scheme, prepared under
the Welsh Language Act 1993. This final version will be approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner under section 14(1) of the Welsh Language Act, following its approval by the Corporation Board on 3 July 2014. The original Welsh Language Scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board on 13 December 2004.
1.2 This updated language scheme has been compiled on the basis of the Welsh Language Board’s ‘Guidelines for Preparing Welsh Language Schemes’. The Scheme also functions as a formal response to the Colleges Wales ‘National Bilingual Strategy for FE’ and takes due account of the aims and objectives contained within the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy.
1.3 The Scheme concentrates on developing three key elements which are set out in Colleges Wales’ National Bilingual Strategy for FE, these being:
1. The development of a Welsh ethos at the College. 2. The development of bilingual communication skills to augment English medium
provision. 3. The development of Welsh-medium or bilingual provision for post 14 students.
1.4 Grŵp NPTC Group espouses a policy of equality of opportunity for all its students and staff
and strives to manage effectively the rich diversity which manifests itself in the community which the College serves. The College’s approach to the Welsh language is to be viewed in this context. The College will, therefore, continue to embrace and to promote the principle of treating the Welsh and English languages on a basis of equality and will continue to be as proactive as possible in raising the profile and in increasing the use of the Welsh language.
If you require assistance with understanding or implementing this policy, particularly where the reasons for this are related to disability, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, age or race, you should contact the Senior Officer: Diversity in the first instance for advice. SECTION 2 College Profile (ANNEX A) SECTION 3
Implementation and Monitoring/Service Planning and Delivery 3.1 Responsibilities for Implementation and Monitoring 3.1.1 In implementing its Welsh Language Scheme Grŵp NPTC Group will continue to create a
supportive environment that encourages Welsh speaking students, staff and members of the public to actively use the language both inside and out of the classroom. The College will continue to raise awareness and ensure that non Welsh speakers are introduced to, and encouraged to become involved with Welsh language and culture.
3.1.2 The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Scheme. The CEO will ensure that a senior manager is accountable for the Scheme’s implementation and monitoring. Line managers are accountable for implementing those aspects of the Scheme relevant to their areas of responsibility and for providing feedback on compliance in those areas with respect to the Scheme’s requirements.
3
3.1.3 The Corporation will identify a Member who will have the designated responsibility for championing bilingualism.
3.1.4 The Bilingual Development Management Group (BDMG), chaired by the Assistant Principal: Curriculum, has responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Scheme and for compiling reports with regard to the on-going impact of the Scheme for the scrutiny of the Learning and Performance Management Group, the Learning and Performance Committee of the Corporation Board and for the main Board of the Corporation.
3.1.5 A copy of this compliance report will be sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner following the approval of the Policy Management Team.
3.1.6 The senior post holder responsible for the College’s Welsh Language Scheme is the Principal, Powys Campuses
3.1.7 The current holder of this position at the College, to whom queries regarding the Scheme should be directed, is:
Mr Steve Doodson Principal Powys Campuses
NPTC Group Newtown Campus Llanidloes Rd, Newtown Powys SY16 4HU
Tel: 0845 4086 200 E-mail: [email protected]
3.2 Scheme’s Administrative Arrangements 3.2.1 The Scheme is compiled by the Assistant Principal: Curriculum in collaboration with, and
with the assistance of, the core group of the Bilingual Development Management Group, namely the Director of Bilingualism, Bilingual Development Coordinator, Welsh Development Officer, the College translator and the Business Support Officer to Assistant Principals.
3.2.2 Staff are made aware of the Scheme’s obligations initially during staff induction sessions
and this is reinforced by placing the Scheme on the staff intranet, on the College’s website and on the student intranet. The College has recently installed on-line policy management software which ensures that staff access and engage with College policies on a regular basis.
3.2.3 The requirements of the scheme will be considered as part of any specification for the
procurement of computer systems and software.
3.2.4 The College employs a translator on a part time basis and it also outsources major pieces of translation work whenever this is deemed necessary. The quality of translation services procured by the College will be monitored and evaluated against defined standards.
3.3 Policies and New Initiatives 3.3.1 The College has a Policies Management Group, which is chaired by the Principal Neath
Port Talbot Campuses. This group is charged with overseeing the development of all College policies, with undertaking equality impact assessments in relation to policy development and with monitoring and reviewing these policies on an on-going basis. Any
4
issue relating to the Welsh Language Scheme will be addressed in the equality impact assessment whenever this is undertaken.
3.3.2 Any member of College staff charged with developing a new policy or procedure is made aware of the need to take account of the requirements of the Welsh Language Scheme as it features in the template which has to be acknowledged when producing the policy initially. Production of this template was a target which was successfully achieved in the College’s previous Welsh Language Scheme. The policy is then scrutinised by the Policy Management Group before it is ratified as an official College policy.
3.3.3 Any new initiative or major change in policy which would materially affect the College’s Welsh Language Scheme or its operation will be the subject of consultation with the Welsh Language Commissioner and the Commissioner’s approval will be sought before initiating any such proposals.
3.4 Third Party Compliance 3.4.1 The College works in partnership with public bodies, private companies, organisations from
the voluntary sector and other agencies. The College works on many levels and when working with others within Wales:
when the College is the strategic and financial leader within a partnership, it will ensure that the public service provision in that contract is compliant with the Welsh Language Scheme
when the College joins a partnership in which any other body is leading, the College’s input will comply with the Welsh Language Scheme and the College will encourage other parties to comply
when the College is a partner in a consortium, it will encourage the consortium to adopt a bilingual policy. When acting publicly in the name of the consortium, the College will act in accordance with its Welsh Language Scheme, and
when the College joins or forms a partnership, it will ask prospective partners about their Welsh Language Schemes, language policies or the means by which they will operate bilingually. Within any partnership, the College will offer advice and support to the other partner organisations.
3.4.2 Various services provided on behalf of the College may be operated by other organisations
such as contractors, consultants, agencies, firms and individuals. All agreements and arrangements for external organisations of this nature to undertake the provision of services to the public in Wales on the College’s behalf will comply fully with the terms and requirements of the Welsh Language Scheme and with the advice outlined in the Welsh Language Board’s document ‘Contracting Out Public Service Contracts and the Welsh Language’.
3.4.3 Implementation of these commitments will be verified by:
producing written procedures for staff dealing with agents and contractors, and systems to ensure that staff are dealing with them
specifying the requirements as to the use of the Welsh language in tendering documents, contracts and grant or loan conditions
monitoring the implementation of the Scheme by agents and contractors
encouraging those contractors with their own Welsh Language Scheme to implement relevant aspects, and
obtaining regular performance reports. 3.5 Staffing
5
3.5.1 The College is committed to increasing the number of Welsh speakers who possess the appropriate skills to provide College services within Wales through the medium of Welsh. Its staff are central in ensuring that the intentions stated in the scheme are fulfilled. In order to achieve this, the College, through its Bilingual Development Management Group, recognises that it essential to develop the skills of the staff in terms of Welsh speaking and delivery.
3.5.2 The College will develop a linguistic skills framework which will be used to identify within its staffing structure those positions which require the ability to speak Welsh to varying degrees and will ensure that, where the ability to speak Welsh is essential or desirable for any post, this will be specified when recruiting to that post. The College will assess the linguistic skills and needs of all newly appointed staff in accordance with the implementation of the Scheme.
3.5.3 The College will determine the linguistic requirements of the posts referred to above and
will delineate these requirements in recruitment advertisements, in job descriptions and in person specifications.
3.5.4 The Corporation Board will endeavour to increase the number of Welsh speakers as
Members of the Board by including the ability to speak Welsh as a desirable criterion within the Search and Governance Committee’s selection process.
3.5.5 The College will seek to maintain the current profile of Welsh speakers within the Senior Management Team (SMT).
3.5.6 The College will encourage Welsh speakers to join the workforce by ensuring that advertisements, job descriptions, person specifications, job related literature and interviews are framed, presented and implemented in a bilingual format.
3.5.7 In cases where a non-Welsh speaker is appointed to a post for which Welsh is considered essential or desirable due to a lack of Welsh speaking applicants, a condition of employment will be that the person appointed will be required to learn the language to the level of skill identified as necessary to undertake the duties assigned to the post within an agreed timescale. The College, for its part, will provide support in this respect. This requirement will feature equally alongside all other performance criteria used to assess the appointee during the induction and probationary period.
3.5.8 The College is committed to updating its database on the staff’s linguistic proficiency on a regular basis. Currently, the database is fundamentally updated on a two yearly basis. However, as new staff are appointed their profile is added to the database.
3.5.9 The College will assess the linguistic skills and needs of all newly appointed staff in
accordance with the implementation of the Scheme. 3.5.10 A feature of the College’s Staff Induction Programme is that all newly employed staff are
given language awareness training. They are made aware of the College’s Welsh Language Scheme and of bilingual developments within the College. They are also asked to complete a questionnaire on language skills and preferred medium of communication and are given information about the College’s Welsh for Adults programme.
3.5.11 An ongoing programme of Welsh language staff development will be operational during the lifetime of this scheme. Training will be designed to take into account the specific linguistic needs of all those who train and will specifically be planned to help staff become more bilingually competent at work. To this end, learning materials will be designed to take account of a Grŵp NPTC Group working day.
6
3.5.12 During appraisals further staff training needs in relation to fulfilling the requirements of the Welsh Language Scheme will be identified and will inform future staff development plans.
3.5.13 The College will continue its programme of supporting and encouraging attendance at Welsh language classes organised by the South West Wales Welsh for Adults Centre.
3.5.14 The College is committed to involving members of staff in the Welsh Government’s
Sabbatical Scheme in order to develop further their linguistic skills to enable them to teach bilingually.
3.5.15 The College is fully supportive of the Sgiliaith ‘Mentoring Programme’ and has agreed a specific remission package for staff wishing to avail themselves of the opportunity to partake in this programme.
3.6 Monitoring and Reviewing Processes 3.6.1 The responsibility for monitoring and reviewing the Scheme will be held by the Principal
Powys Campuses, whose name will be made known to staff, agents or contractors employed the College as well as to the public.
3.6.2 As well as monitoring the complaints received, the College will monitor the opinion of Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers with regard to the implementation of the Scheme.
3.6.3 The implementation of the Scheme will be monitored within the College’s framework for
monitoring all of its operations and will feature within this monitoring process to the same degree as any other aspect of the College’s operations.
3.6.4 The College will welcome and record suggestions on how to improve the Scheme. 3.6.5 Monitoring exercises will be undertaken by members of the Bilingual Development
Management Group three times per year. The outcomes of these exercises will be addressed in formative terms by the group itself but they will also feature in the summative report which will be made to the Corporation Board of the College and to the Welsh Language Commissioner on an annual basis.
3.6.6 A range of methods will be employed for the purposes of monitoring the scheme. These
methods will range from desk exercises to assess the degree to which account is being taken of the Scheme in College related and third party documentation, to the sampling of schemes of work and assessment regimes undertaken by academic staff, to gaining feedback from one to one interviews with clients of the college and from questionnaires prepared specifically to gauge the degree to which attention is being paid to the commitments made within the Scheme.
3.6.7 Progress in terms of meeting targets set in the implementation/action plan will be reviewed
formally by the College’s Learning and Performance Management Group which is the College body responsible for monitoring and reviewing all action plans.
3.6.8 An Annual Monitoring Report will be submitted to Board Members of the Corporation. This
report will provide information to the Corporation Board on the following:
whether the College is complying with the Scheme; the degree to which it is achieving compliance;
the degree to which the implementation of the Scheme is being appropriately managed;
the performance of all academic and support sections in achieving the outcomes ascribed in the Scheme in relation to the delivery of Welsh medium curricular and administrative services;
7
any aspects for improvement, which will be included in an Action Plan with a defined timetable for implementation.
3.6.9 A copy of this compliance report will be sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner.
3.7 Quality 3.7.1 All issues relating to quality assurance and performance fall ultimately within the remit of
the Principal Neath Port Talbot Campuses. The College’s quality system is overseen by a senior manager, the Assistant Principal: Quality, who chairs monthly meetings of the Quality Group at which any quality related issues are discussed and actions are agreed for addressing the issues.
3.8 Comments and Complaints 3.8.1 The College has a Complaints Policy which explains how anyone engaged with the College
in any way can articulate concerns and complaints. Formal complaints must be submitted in writing and these are then forwarded to the Assistant Principal: Quality who will investigate the complaint and instigate appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.
3.8.2 An Annual Complaints Report is compiled each year by the Principal Neath Port Talbot Campuses and this report is presented to the Corporation Board.
3.8.3 Any complaint relating to the Welsh language or to any dimension of the Welsh Language Scheme would also be referred for information as a matter of course to the Bilingual Development Management Group.
3.8.4 The College will publish its Welsh Language Scheme on its website and in the section of the website which refers to the Welsh Language Scheme a statement will be made that the College welcomes any feedback and comments on the Scheme from students and staff as well as from members of the public.
3.9 Publication of Information and Publicity of the Scheme and the Bilingual and Welsh Medium Provision
3.9.1 The College will endeavour to publicise its Welsh Language Scheme within Wales as
widely as is possible to ensure that anyone seeking to avail him or herself of its services is aware of its Welsh medium provision and that the College’s employees, agents and contractors are aware of the need to operate in accordance with the requirements of the Scheme.
3.9.2 The College will promote its bilingual provision within its prospectuses, on its website and through any other relevant publicity materials such as pamphlets and also at its Open Evenings.
3.9.3 Students from all areas will be made aware of the range of the Welsh medium and bilingual provision in the College. The College will encourage students to undertake some aspects of their studies through the medium of Welsh.
3.9.4 A member of staff will be identified within each academic school to whom a student can refer for assistance and support with language issues.
SECTION 4 The Development of a Welsh Ethos at the College
8
4.1 Administrative Arrangements 4.1.1. Any e-mails sent out through the College’s ‘Messenger’ system regarding any Welsh
interest issues will always be in bilingual format.
4.1.2. The intranet includes a bilingual cross college area of Welsh language and culture that has a range of bilingual content, resources and guidelines.
4.1.3. The College will continue to ensure that forms and documents for administrative purposes are bilingual.
4.1.4. A new bilingual Staff Skills Survey has been developed. This survey will be located on the ‘Sharepoint’ site of the staff intranet. This will enable regular updating of the current database of staff bilingual skills. Once collected and sorted by the MIS section, this information will be made available to staff on the intranet so that everyone can access information regarding who speaks Welsh at the College. This information will also be used from a strategic perspective to identify staff for training if deemed appropriate.
4.1.5. The College will seek to extend the identification of bilingual ‘champions’ within all academic Schools of Study and operational units.
4.1.6. Fluent Welsh-speaking staff and Welsh students will be issued with appropriate badges or lanyards, so that they are clearly identified.
4.2 Developing a Welsh ethos within the curriculum 4.2.1 The College will make the best possible use of staff to enhance a Welsh language ethos
and at the same time increase students understanding and appreciation of their Welsh identity. Support provision through the medium of Welsh will be made available.
4.2.2 The College is committed to developing bilingual skills within its workforce and encourages
all staff to join one of the College’s Welsh for Adults classes which operate in partnership with the South West Wales Welsh for Adults Centre. Fees for staff accessing this provision are waived.
4.2.3 The College will ensure opportunities for informal social activities for staff and students through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
4.2.4 As part of its formal induction procedures, the College will include a language and cultural awareness element. This will be developed further within programme areas as appropriate. For example, where courses include elements of communication or customer care or any aspect of interpersonal interaction, the significance of the bilingual nature of Wales will be emphasised. Specific materials will be prepared for this purpose.
4.2.5 Welsh language and culture awareness elements will continue to be developed and delivered. During the lifetime of this scheme this will be extended to cover all full and significant part time students across all subject sector areas. Scheme of work templates will require tutors to identify appropriate Welsh language and cultural opportunities.
4.2.6 Course tutors will be required and supported to create a bilingual and Welsh cultural ethos within their learning environments. This could be achieved by providing bilingual greetings, including cultural references, using examples pertaining to Wales (as recommended by the Cwricwlwm Cymreig) and, depending upon the students’ ability, provide bilingual handouts/task sheets.
9
4.2.7 All Welsh language and Welsh interest events are publicised internally through the College’s staff and student intranets
4.3 Dealing with the Welsh Speaking Public 4.3.1 Written and email Communication
4.3.1.1 The College welcomes letters and other communication e.g. electronic communication in
Welsh as well as in English.
4.3.1.2 All written/electronic correspondence in Welsh will receive a signed reply in Welsh. The College will record the preferred language of communication and act accordingly. Where the preferred language of the recipient is not known the College will initiate bilingual correspondence.
4.3.1.3 The College will apply the same standards of speed of response to both Welsh and
English correspondence. The College is committed to ensuring that correspondence through the medium of Welsh will not lead to a delayed response.
4.3.1.4 The College will correspond in Welsh following a face- to-face or telephone
communication in Welsh.
4.3.1.5 Circular and standard letters to the public in Wales will be issued bilingually.
4.3.1.6 Procedures for dealing with Welsh communication are issued to staff, to new staff at induction and at staff briefings.
4.3.1.7 A footer explaining the opportunities for the public to communicate in Welsh will be added
to all outgoing email communication. In addition to this, all staff that use an electronic signature will be required to do so bilingually. During the life of this scheme support will be made available for staff to achieve this.
4.3.2 Telephone Communication
4.3.2.1 All staff are issued with detailed guidelines with regard to how to answer the phone bilingually. Training has been provided and the College is committed to delivering ‘refresher’ workshops, including the use of role play, on a regular basis.
4.3.2.2 When a caller wishes to speak to a Welsh speaker and the member of staff receiving the call is unable to respond in Welsh it will be made clear to the caller that this is not possible and the caller who will be given the option of:
Being transferred to a Welsh speaker
Have a Welsh speaker return their call
Continuing the call in English
Submitting the communication, in written form, in Welsh. 4.3.2.3 The College has compiled an internal directory of Welsh speakers to whom calls can be
transferred and this information is used by the staff at the Main Reception. This directory is to be updated on a regular basis.
4.3.2.4 The College’s switchboard service is bilingual and any emergency messages, e.g. the
College shutting because of adverse weather conditions, are recorded bilingually. All answer machines or initial voice-mail messages are bilingual
4.3.2.5 The College prioritises the appointment of Welsh-speaking staff to frontline positions, in
accordance with the principals outlined in section three.
10
4.3.3 Public Meetings
4.3.3.1 Participants in public meetings organised by the College will have the right to speak in
Welsh or English and will be informed accordingly prior to the event.
4.3.3.2 All written communication relating to the meeting will be in bilingual format with a supplementary note asking the attendees to state language preference beforehand. If Welsh is indicated as the preferred medium of communication, appropriate translation arrangements will be organised accordingly.
4.3.4 Non-public Meetings
4.3.4.1 Invitations to members of the public to attend a face-to-face meeting with College
representatives will encourage contributions through the medium of Welsh. This includes invitations to interview for a College place or discussions concerning the progress of a student.
4.3.4.2 From the response received and the Welsh language skills of the College representative to be involved in the meeting, an assessment will be made of the need for a translator to be present.
4.3.5 Dealing with the public in other ways
4.3.5.1 The College will follow the same guidelines as those in 4.3.3 and 4.3.4 above in situations
where other means of spoken communication, such as video links or public address systems, are used.
4.3.5.2 The core content of the College’s external web-site is bilingual. Work on developing a bilingual website will continue and we aim to establish a fully bilingual website by the end of the lifetime of the Welsh Language Scheme. The choice of language and navigation from one language to the other will be clear. The College will ensure that all information which will be incorporated onto the website within the life of the scheme will be available bilingually. The College will ensure systems are in place to monitor the updated presence of both languages.
4.4 The Public Face of the College 4.4.1 Corporate identity 4.4.1.1 The College is committed to presenting a bilingual corporate identity. All formal means of
conveying this identity publicly will, therefore, adopt a bilingual format within Wales. When the College is involved in international and/or commercial activities directed at audiences beyond Wales, the College will utilise languages appropriate for those audiences.
4.4.1.2 With respect to the College’s corporate identity, the College’s name is Grŵp NPTC Group.
4.4.1.3 The College’s name is incorporated into the College logo. Any amendments to the logo will ensure equal treatment for both the Welsh and English languages in terms of format, size, quality, legibility and prominence.
4.4.1.4 The following will appear bilingually with a commitment to equality:
Name; Logo; Letterheads; Business cards; Compliment slips;
11
Identity badges; Building signage; Corporate slogan; Fax paper header sheets; Publications; Vehicle signage; Email nomenclature; Standard College produced materials.
4.4.2 Signage 4.4.2.1 All new or replacement information signs within the boundaries of College property will be
bilingual. Where existing signage or notices do not adhere to this policy, the principle will apply as they are naturally replaced over time.
4.4.2.2 All public and information signs within the College, including those within internal areas, will be bilingual and will be equal in format, size, quality, legibility and prominence with preference given to “Welsh First”.
4.4.2.3 If separate signs are used, both languages will appear equal in all of the respects already
mentioned.
4.4.2.4 Information signs erected outside the boundaries of the College, but remaining the College’s responsibility, will also be bilingual and will conform to the commitments in this section.
4.4.3 Publishing and printing materials 4.4.3.1 All printed and publicity materials utilised within Wales will promote the Welsh language
and the bilingual ethos of the College. Full time and part time prospectuses are produced bilingually and a page on ‘Welsh at the College’ is included in the full time prospectus so that students can view and understand the College’s Welsh dimension before they commence their studies.
4.4.3.2 Official general correspondence and publications aimed at the general public in Wales shall be produced bilingually, usually within a single document.
4.4.3.3 When Welsh and English versions of a public document are produced separately they will
be issued simultaneously, distributed together and be equally accessible. Each version will indicate that the document is available in the other language.
4.4.3.4 All those services which the College can provide though the medium of Welsh will be
advertised in Welsh on the website and in all its major publications regardless of the main language used in the remainder of the publication. Details of provision will be advertised in the same language as the medium of instruction used for the delivery of the provision.
4.4.3.5 The College will ensure that staff, consultants, designers and printers receive written
instructions on how to deal with bilingual publications.
4.4.4 Forms and associated explanatory material 4.4.4.1 All forms and explanatory material produced by the College utilised within Wales will be
bilingual with the Welsh and English versions appearing together on the same document, these include:
Single Equality Scheme
Annual Report to the Welsh Language Commissioner
12
Student Initial Assessment Pack
Student Diaries
Appointment form for Corporation Board members
Student application forms
Individual Student Learning Agreements (ISLAs)
Access Fund Application forms
Student Parental Consent forms
4.4.4.2 When it is necessary to provide Welsh and English versions separately they will be issued simultaneously, be equally available, be distributed together and will carry a message confirming that the form is also available in the other language.
4.4.5 Press Notices 4.4.5.1 Press releases will be sent out in accordance with the receptors language choice. Press
releases sent to all schools, colleges and education establishments will be bilingual, regardless of the subject matter. Press releases on the College website will also be bilingual. Press releases in the Welsh language press will be issued bilingually or in Welsh only. Press releases in the non-Welsh medium press will be in English.
4.4.6 Advertising and publicity activities 4.4.6.1 All forms of College advertising to appear only in Wales shall be bilingual. This applies to
advertisements for students, staff and other college services. 4.4.6.2 For all notices and advertisements in the press which are bilingual, the Welsh and English
versions will be equal in format, size and prominence.
4.4.6.3 Generic publicity and marketing campaigns through the medium of television, radio and cinema will be bilingual and maintain equality for both languages
4.4.6.4 The system for dealing with responses to publicity and marketing events will include the
facility to communicate in the Welsh language. Named contacts will be identified for this purpose by the College.
4.4.6.5 Any corporate exhibition or public information stands, conference or seminar literature will
be presented bilingually within Wales.
4.4.6.6 Survey material for the purpose of promotional literature will be produced in bilingual format.
4.4.7 Official notices 4.4.6.7 All College-generated official and public notices, which appear in Wales, will be bilingual.
Both languages will be treated equally in terms of size, format, quality, legibility, and prominence.
Developmental Themes A Increased use and impact of visual/written Welsh on students and the public at large.
B Increased use and impact of spoken Welsh in public and College-wide events.
C The best use of staff to enhance a Welsh language ethos.
D Students’ understanding and appreciation of their Welsh identity.
E Provision of students support through the medium of Welsh.
F The role of key corporate activities in improving the use of Welsh at the College.
13
SECTION 5
The Development of Bilingual Communication Skills to Augment an English-medium Provision 5.1 Information regarding the students preference as to language of communication for different
course elements (e.g. tutorial, delivery, work experience, assessment etc.) will be obtained. Following the initial interview the College will gather information relating to the individual student in pre 16 education, in particular those students from schools where subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh. This information will enable the College to target students and plan ahead. All students will be made aware of the linguistic opportunities and support available to them during the induction period and will also be encouraged to consider the benefits of both better developed Welsh language skills and an enhanced understanding of national and local cultures.
5.2 The College’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP) documentation will continue to identify students’ Welsh language/bilingual needs. This data will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that effective planning takes place.
5.3 During the life of the second scheme the College will promote bilingual communication skills
amongst its students. College realises that the potential exists to deliver Welsh/bilingual communication skills provision across the College sites.
5.4 Delivery of this provision will enable and allow linguistic progression from the statutory
education phase into the post 16 phase, and will maintain and strengthen linguistic skills in Welsh.
5.5 Welsh Medium Communication Skills will be delivered to groups of vocational students who
will in the course of their employment be required to communicate with clients. The skills delivered will be related to their chosen vocational pathway.
5.6 In addition the College will establish a Welsh medium tutorial group for Welsh speaking
students. Given the relatively low numbers of fluent Welsh speaking students in the College it is recognised that the students who join this tutorial group will be following a range of provision.
5.7 The College is also aware of the fact that there are individuals amongst the student body
who are Welsh speakers but not pursuing any aspect of their course through the medium of Welsh. College, through its tracking processes will be able to identify these individuals and encourage them to join a Welsh medium tutorial group.
Developmental Themes
G Provision of Welsh language skills for students following identified courses.
SECTION 6
The development of Welsh-medium or Bilingual Provision for Post-14 Students 6.1 Planning and Management of the College Curriculum 6.1.1 Curriculum planning within the College is aligned with the College’s self assessment
process. Detailed Provisional Development Plans (PDPs) are produced for each curriculum area. Linkages with relevant Welsh Government documents relating to strategic curriculum developments and labour market intelligence all inform planning of the curriculum. Prior to submission to DfES the College curriculum plan is submitted to the Board of the Corporation. All new proposals for learning activities are discussed and are sanctioned, or otherwise, in the Curriculum Group. Managers in programme areas keep tight control over
14
the deployment of staff delivering the curriculum. A web based system for PDP planning has been developed (CDT) to track targets at School of Study and SSA levels.
6.1.2 The Bilingual Development Management Group co-ordinates the planning of the Welsh dimension of the College curriculum. This group includes the Assistant Principal: Curriculum, the Director of Bilingualism and the Bilingual Development Coordinator who work with the Heads of School to identify the opportunities for incorporating the Welsh dimension into course delivery and with course co-ordinators and designated Welsh-medium champions for developing materials which support this delivery. Course and subject co-ordinators are expected to identify in their schemes of work, opportunities within their qualification specifications to incorporate specific Welsh exemplars.
6.2 Current Provision at the College 6.2.1 The College offers an extensive range of opportunities for learning including FE provision
across all Subject Sector Areas, WBL, 14–16 school links and HE.
6.2.2 The College also provides a wide range of community learning opportunities, delivered at a number of small venues throughout the county.
6.2.3 To enable progress to be made towards increasing bilingual education and training services, it is helpful to identify six elements of the provision that generally apply across the curriculum offer:
• Information and Guidance • Tutorials • Resources (printed externally, produced internally, and electronic) • Delivery systems • Assessment (formative and summative) • Work Experience and Work Placements
6.2.4 During the lifetime of this Scheme, the College will guarantee access to one or more of the above curriculum elements through the medium of Welsh for any student that requires it.
6.3 Information and Guidance and Tutorials
6.3.1 Information, guidance and tutorial services are generally provided through the medium of English although the member of staff and the client will readily communicate in Welsh when appropriate. A Welsh medium tutorial programme and a personal tutor will be provided for those who express a choice for such a programme. Learning Coach services will also be made available through the medium of Welsh. The College will provide information and guidance through the medium of Welsh and will also organize Welsh medium tutorial groups for students who followed some subjects at pre 16 through the medium of Welsh.
6.3.2 Careers interviews will be arranged in Welsh for those students who express the preference for an interview in the Welsh language.
6.4 Resources
6.4.1 As flexible remote learning techniques become more prevalent, material can readily be provided in the language of choice. The College is a major provider of e-learning and has access to a wide range of materials in both English and Welsh. Consideration will be given to alternative means of offering and delivering bilingual provision, for example video conferencing or a partnership arrangement with other providers.
6.4.2 The College LRCs will keep catalogues of both printed and electronic resources that are available to support the education and training services of the College in both English and
15
in Welsh. This resource base will be available for use when selecting the appropriate materials for use by each student. Specialist material produced in the College as a course progresses will have regard to the language of choice of each student. Materials will be translated where necessary.
6.5 Delivery Systems 6.5.1 The delivery of education and training services is a highly diverse function that
encompasses a wide range of teaching and learning techniques. In selecting the programme of support for each student, the College will have regard for language preference. This will result in an appropriate package of lecture, tutorial, electronic and printed material appropriate to their individual needs. The availability of staff qualified professionally and linguistically to deliver in Welsh will enhance that learning delivery package. The College therefore aims to develop the linguistic skills of staff to increase capacity to teach bilingually or through the medium of Welsh. Where there is an absence of Welsh speaking teaching staff the WLDO will provide support and consideration will be given to alternative methods of delivery such as video conferencing and distance learning.
6.6 Assessments
6.6.1 Assessment can be as diverse an activity as the delivery of education and training. Students will be given the opportunity to present assignments and other pieces of work through the medium of Welsh for assessment. This will require staff to have the necessary language skills. Where these skills do not exist among the staff, the College will translate the work prior to assessment by a specialist.
6.7 Work Experience and Work Placements
6.7.1 Arrangements will be made for students who express an interest in a language specific work placement.
6.8 The College Curriculum
6.8.1 The College will prepare a three year college plan (or include in appropriate college plans and strategies) to include specific SMART objectives on:
Courses that will have an increased number of modules available through the medium of Welsh.
Increased number of complete courses available through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
Identifying and increasing the number of able and qualified tutors to assist with portfolio building, assessment and internal verifying in identified and targeted curricular areas.
Increased number of students following their courses through the medium of Welsh or bilingually year on year.
6.9 Collaboration and Partnership
6.9.1 The College is committed to work with partner organisations which include schools, training providers and voluntary sector organisations in ensuring equality of treatment for both languages.
6.9.2 The College will maintain close links with organisations such as Menter Iaith, Canolfan Cymraeg i Oedolion, Welsh medium schools in the Neath Port Talbot area, Prifysgol Aberystwyth, Gyrfa Cymru/Careers Wales in order to maximise opportunities for the promotion and use of the Welsh language.
16
6.9.3 The College will continue to develop collaborative initiatives with partners, schools and other FE colleges. It will aim to increase the percentage of learning materials (including notes, overheads, Power Point presentations and terminology) available in Welsh or bilingually and will respond to demand for Welsh language provision.
6.9.4 The College will continue to attend Sgiliaith meetings, conferences and workshops in order to network with other FE colleges and work towards sharing bilingual/Welsh medium resources. Welsh speaking tutors who are appointed to the College during the life of this scheme will be encouraged to attend the appropriate Sgiliaith’s subject panel meetings. These meetings will provide them with an opportunity to network with other FE colleges and work towards sharing bilingual resources.
6.9.5 Through its membership of CollegesWales, the College will make use of the services provided by Sgiliaith, the post-16 Welsh bilingual development centre based at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. The centre provides services and materials that will support the curriculum and other College activities through the medium of Welsh.
Developmental Themes
H Welsh-medium provision within the College; J Welsh-medium provision across the 14-19 Learning Network.
SECTION 7
Timetable and Annual Action Plan (ANNEX B) 7.1 The Welsh Language Scheme will cover a period of three years from the academic year
starting on the date of approval from the Welsh Language Commissioner. An action plan attached as an appendix to this Scheme illustrating identified targets, staff responsible for their implementation and progress within an agreed timescale. The implementation of the Scheme will be measured against this action plan and timetable.
7.2 The College will commence implementation of the Scheme from the date of its approval by the Welsh Language Commissioner
17
NPTC GROUP WELSH LANGUAGE SCHEME
SECTION 2 ANNEX A: COLLEGE PROFILE
Neath Port Talbot College came into existence in January 1999 as a result of the merger of the
former Neath and Afan Colleges. By 2011, the College had become one of the largest colleges in
Wales in terms of student numbers. NPTC Group, formerly Neath Port Talbot College, and Coleg
Powys merged on 1 August 2013. It is now one of the largest Further Education providers in Wales
covering 30 per cent of the country's landmass.
The College offers an exciting and varied programme of full- and part-time courses across its 12
campuses to more than 270,000 residents stretching across south to north Wales. A tertiary
institution in its constitution, the College provides post 16 education and training for the majority of
pupils from the local schools, delivers bespoke training for industry and business in the region and
plays a leading role in the provision of adult community-based learning.
Student Profile 2013-14
During 2013-14, there were 5028 full-time students enrolled by NPTC Group. Student profiles
across both Neath Port Talbot and Powys campuses indicate that 307 (6%) could be described as
fluent Welsh speakers.
Staff Profile 2013-14
During 2013-14, there were circa 1160 full-time salaried staff employed by NPTC Group. The most
recent audits of the bilingual skills of staff across both Neath Port Talbot and Powys campuses
indicate that between 5% and 7% were fluent Welsh speakers.
Neath Port Talbot Demographic Profile
With a population of 139,800, around 90% of Neath Port Talbot residents were born in Wales and
18% of people aged three or more can speak Welsh. The Neath Port Talbot local authority area
stretches from the coast to the borders of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The majority of land is
upland or semi-upland in character, and 43% is covered by forestry with major conifer plantations
in upland areas. Most of the lower lying flat land is near the coast around Port Talbot. Modern
settlement patterns reflect the industrial history of the area, with urban development along the flatter
areas of the valleys and some parts of the coast. The largest town is Neath with a population of
47,020, followed by Port Talbot (35,633), Briton Ferry (7,186), Pontardawe (5,035), and Glynneath
(4,368). The majority of the population live in the coastal plain around Port Talbot and the land
around the River Neath in the vicinity of Neath.
Powys Demographic Profile
With a population of 133,00, around 56% of Powys residents were born in Wales and 21% of people aged three or more can speak Welsh. Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire (Breconshire), and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area. It is bounded to the north by Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham; to the west by Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire; to the east by Shropshire and Herefordshire; and to the south by Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and Neath Port Talbot. Most of Powys is mountainous, with north-south transport being difficult. The majority of the Powys population lives in villages and small towns. The largest towns are Newtown, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, and Welshpool with populations of 12,783, 9,004, 7,901 and 6,269 respectively (2001). Powys has the lowest population density of all the principal areas of Wales.
18
NPTC GROUP WELSH LANGUAGE SCHEME ACTION PLAN 2014-15
@ 1 September 2014
RAG Status
Not started
25% Initial plan underway
50% Work in progress
75% Substantial progress made near completion
Completed
QDP & SAR
WLS Ref.
ACTIONS DURING 2014-15 WHO MONITOR BY CURRENT
STATUS/COMMENTS
RAG
1. IMPLEMENTATION &
MONITORING
3.1 1.1 Responsibilities for Implementation & Monitoring
Following formal approval of NPTC Group Welsh
Language Scheme by the Welsh Language Commissioner,
Bilingual Management Group (BMG) to implement and
monitor effectively
Principal Powys
Campuses
Steve Doodson
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Geraint Jones
Director of
Bilingualism
Robin Gwyn
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator Angharad Rees
Director of
Bilingualism
Robin Gwyn
Bilingual
Management
Group
(BMG)
July 2015 Draft NPTC Group Welsh
Language Scheme approved by
Corporation Board on 3 July
2014.
25%
3.3 1.3 Policies and New Initiatives
Implement Linguistic Impact Assessment (LIA) to enable
the new Group to ensure a consistent approach to both LIAs
and Diversity Impact Assessments (DIAs).
Policy Group
Assistant
Principal
Human
Resources
Eleanor Glew
BMG
Director of
Bilingualism
July 2015 LIA developed 25%
3.4 1.4 Monitoring Third Party Contracts VP Corporate BMG July 2015 Contractual clause developed 25%
19
Implement Group-wide contractual clause to enable the new
entity to ensure a stricter compliance with its new WLS,
once approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner
Services Catherine Lewis
Director of
Bilingualism
2. STAFFING
3.5 2.1 Administrative Staff Profile
Develop a strategic approach (HR Linguistic Skills
Strategy) to recruiting and training staff to close the skills
gap between current capacity and the requirements identified
in the new Welsh Language Scheme.
Assistant
Principal
Human
Resources
Principal Powys
DCEO/Principal
NPT Keith Booker
Director of
Bilingualism
BMG
July 2015 NPTC Group has committed
itself to use the WJEC
‘Workplace Welsh’ online tool
to analyse which posts within
the organisation should have a
requirement for the post-holder
to possess Welsh language
skills:
(Section 1 - Welsh in the
Workplace Management
Indicator, available in 2014)
and analyse the present Welsh
language skills of the workforce
(Section 2 - Welsh in the
Workplace Skills Indicator).
Unfortunately, formulating and
implementing a Linguistic
Skills Strategy has been delayed
partly as a result of staff
substantial
restructuring/voluntary
redundancies in the wake of the
merger process and partly as a
result of slow progress by the
WJEC in developing its
Workplace Welsh website
(Section 1 - Welsh in the
Workplace Management
Indicator).
Once this tool is available, the
college will be able to prepare
and progress its strategy.
25%
20
3.5 2.2 Academic Staff Profile
In addition to developing the HR Linguistic Skills Strategy
referred to above under Action 2.1, develop academic staff
capacity and skills (to reflect prioritised Welsh curriculum
provision), by taking advantage of both Welsh Government
Sabbatical Scheme and a range of training options offered
by the Sgiliaith Centre
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG
July 2015 See 2.1
Staff and opportunities to be
developed.
25%
3.5 2.3 All Staff Training
In addition to developing the HR Linguistic Skills Strategy
referred to above under Action 2.1, identify Welsh language
skills training needs and utilise a variety of training and
development opportunities, including Welsh for Adult
courses
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG July 2015 See 2.1
The college intends offering the
opportunity for all staff to learn
Welsh on-line at their own
speed through the Agored
Cymru/Say Something
Welsh/Learn Direct partnership
initiative.
25%
8.
SAR
1.1.5ii
3.5 2.4 Recruitment & Linguistic Skills Strategy
In addition to developing the HR Linguistic Skills Strategy
referred to above under Action 2.1, recruitment of more
Welsh speaking staff in key Curriculum Areas where
needed.
Assistant
Principal
Human
Resources
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Director of
Bilingualism
Assistant
Principal
Human
Resources
BMG
July 2015 See 2.1
25%
3. LANGUAGE AWARENESS
20.
SAR
2.1.3ii
3.5
3.1 Staff Language Awareness and Publicity for the WLS
Develop Welsh Language awareness training for all
Academic & non Academic staff through ensuring that all
front line staff and academic staff to have been offered
Welsh language training.
Assistant
Principal
Human
Resources
Director of
Bilingualism
Managers
BMG
July 2015
The college intends offering a
language awareness unit or
interactive DVD to all staff to
complete/view on-line.
Internal Publicity Strategy will
be required when new WLS is
approved by WLC.
25%
21
4. DEVELOPMENT OF WELSH
ETHOS
29.
SAR
2.4.2i
4.2 4.1 Developing a Welsh ethos within the
curriculum/classroom
Increase the number of bilingual wall displays and those
that celebrate Welsh language and culture; increase by
50% the number of displays that are in Welsh in
addition to posters
Bilingual
Champions
BMG
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
Director of
Bilingualism
July 2014 See 4.2 below 75%
4.3
4.4
4.2 Public facing service delivery
Review all current public facing policies, procedures,
signage, materials and communication tools to prepare for
the advent of the new ‘Standards’ investigation and regime
from November 2014 onwards.
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG
Principal Powys
Campuses
DCEO/Principal
NPT
December
2014 WLC Standards Investigation
into FE sector postponed until
November 2014
5. DEVELOPMENT OF BILINGUAL
SKILLS
5. 5.1 Methods for profiling and tracking the progress of
students
7.
SAR
1.1.5i
2.1.3i
5. 5.1.1 Neath Port Talbot Campuses
Better tracking of Welsh Second Language T&A pupils
from 11-16 schools; identify all learners on enrolment
that have GCSE second Welsh Language and target 10%
to further develop their linguistic skills
MIS
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
Assistant
Principal
Learners
Sian Jones
Curriculum
Directorate
BMG
Oct 2014 2014-15 Enrolment Form
amended to include more
comprehensive Welsh language
skills section
50%
Coleg
Powys
QDP
2.1.3.A
5. 5.1.2 Powys Campuses
Develop reliable materials and processes to assess Welsh
language capability promptly and effectively to facilitate
enrolment onto appropriate Welsh Language modules and
Language Awareness modules for all FT learners, from
January 2015.
MIS
Director of
Bilingualism
Assistant
Principal
Learners
Curriculum
Directorate
BMG
October
2014 2014-15 Enrolment Form
amended to include more
comprehensive Welsh language
skills section
50%
22
Sian Jones
5. 5.2 Opportunities to develop linguistic skills
21.
SAR
2.1.3iii
Coleg
Powys
QDP
1.1.5.A
5. 5.2.1 Develop appropriate Agored Cymru or WJEC units for
Welsh Dimension Tutorial
HoS BMG
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
Sept 2014 Comprehensive resources made
available on Moodle
New ‘STEP’ Tutorial model
consists of 12 topics to be
covered either through tutorial or
as part of their main programme:
These mandatory topics include
‘Wales, Our Country, History,
Traditions and Culture’ and
‘Welsh Language Skills Study
Skills’
Heads of Schools have identified
specific slots for Welsh language
awareness and/or Welsh language
skills enhancement dimension in
their Learning Programmes for
2014-15 – either within Core
(WBQ or STEP tutorial
programme) or as part of the
CLIF element.
In the majority of these cases, it is
likely that this will be language
awareness units in the form of
Agored Cymru Welsh
Language & Culture:
Traditions and Customs of
Wales, delivered over five weeks
by their main qualification tutors
in the run up to St David’s Day
week.
In a minority of cases, it could
mean Agored Cymru Welsh
language customer care skills (eg Early Years, Media and
23
Health & Social Care).
5. 5.3 Encourage informal and social use of Welsh
Organise an annual programme of events and activities
across college
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG July 2015 25%
6. DEVELOPMENT OF WELSH AND
BILINGUAL CURRICULUM
PROVISION
9. SAR
1.1.5iii
6. 1 6.1 At Neath Port Talbot campuses, offer First Language
Welsh AS from 2014; recruit additional staff if necessary
and advertise offer of new qualification
Df6th
Form Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Sept 2014 First Welsh AS cohort to
beginning 4 Sept 2014
19.
SAR
2.1.1iii
6.1
6.8
6.2 Ensure FT curriculum offer is aligned to proposed
Learning Programmes to be developed by September
2014, including consolidating the provision of language
awareness and Welsh skills enhancement for all students as
well as prioritising the future delivery of module options
bilingually or through the medium of Welsh.
HoS
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Director of
Bilingualism
Assistant
Principal
Curriculum
Director of
Bilingualism
BMG
Sept 2014 See 5.2.1 above
Comprehensive resources made
available on Moodle
New Tutorial model supports
Welsh awareness, skills and
curriculum provision
75%
6.9 6.3 Collaboration and Partnership
Continue to develop collaborative initiatives with partners
(schools, other FE colleges, Colleges Wales, Coleg Cymraeg
Cenedlaethol) as well as maintaining close links with
organisations such as the local Mentrau Iaith, Welsh for
Adults Centres and other cultural organisations in order to
maximise opportunities for the promotion and use of the
Welsh language.
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG July 2015 50%
7. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
Ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to deal with
complaints against the WLS and record and report on any
complaints received during the year
Director of
Bilingualism
Bilingual
Development
Coordinator
BMG July 2015