Wales is a bilingual nation and as an organisation we are proud to support Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 ambition, to achieve a million Welsh speakers. We are committed to increasing the range and availability of Welsh-medium qualifications so that our learners can take qualifications in the language of their choice. 

 

Cymraeg Strategy 2025-2030

Our Cymraeg Strategy 2025–2030 brings together all of our Welsh language-related activities under one cohesive framework.

It marks a significant milestone in our commitment to embedding Cymraeg and bilingualism at the core of the qualifications system.

Our Cymraeg Strategy 2025-2030 builds on the foundations laid by our previous Choice for All Strategy. It reflects our evolving role as a regulator and reformer of qualifications in a bilingual nation.

The strategy is structured around five strategic pillars:

  • Reforming and regulating Welsh-medium qualifications
  • Embedding the Welsh language in communications and engagement
  • Integrating Cymraeg into organisational culture and operations
  • Using research, data, and technology to support the language
  • Monitoring and evaluating progress with transparency and accountability 

The strategy also outlines how we will work with key partners such as Medr, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and awarding bodies to deliver on these ambitions.

 

Welsh-medium availability on our QiW database

As part of our commitment to promoting and facilitating the use of Cymraeg, we require awarding bodies to provide information on the availability of qualifications, whether this is partially or fully in Welsh. This information is available on our QiW database.

Search QiW database

 

Cynnig Cymraeg

As part of our work to strengthen support for awarding bodies and improve the information available to learners, schools, and colleges on the availability of Welsh-medium qualifications, we have produced an interactive resource pack to support all awarding bodies to provide Cynnig Cymraeg - an active Welsh medium offer in a proactive way.

The pack encourages awarding bodies to provide specific information to learners about Welsh-medium and bilingual qualifications, and to actively promote and advertise Welsh-medium qualifications to learners in Wales. 

 

Welsh language support grant

We also support awarding bodies by offering grants to help them increase the availability of Welsh-medium qualifications and assessment.

Recognised awarding bodies can apply to us for financial support to help with the cost of making regulated qualifications available to learners through the medium of Welsh.

 

Welsh-speaking assessors

We also recognise that appointing and training high-quality Welsh-speaking assessors is key to ensuring valid and reliable qualifications can be awarded to Welsh-medium learners.

This is why we are supporting the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) with their work to create a database of Welsh-speaking assessors.

If you’re a practitioner with confident Cymraeg skills and an interest in undertaking a paid role as a Welsh-speaking assessor, you can join the database.

If you’re an awarding body looking to appoint Welsh-speaking assessors to roles within your organisation, you can get in touch with FAB.

 

Regulatory requirements

Condition D9 of our Standard Conditions of Recognition outlines our Conditions and requirements on recognised awarding bodies regarding Welsh-medium qualifications. 

In particular, we will require awarding bodies to: 

  • make approved qualifications available in Welsh 
  • make designated qualifications available to pre-16 learners available in Welsh, in accordance with our Designation Policy, from September 2027 (or any date specified by us)  
  • publish a policy statement setting out the extent to which they make qualifications available in Welsh 
  • promote the availability of any Welsh-medium qualifications they offer and facilitate access to these qualifications

To support compliance with these regulatory requirements, we have published Guidance for awarding bodies on Condition D9: Welsh-medium qualifications.

 

Advisory groups

Cymraeg Stakeholder Group

To support our work in relation to Cymraeg and Welsh-medium qualifications, we regularly engage with our Cymraeg Stakeholder Group. The purpose of this group is to act as a ‘critical friend’, by providing advice and guidance on our work. We also share relevant updates with this group and seek their feedback where appropriate.

Awarding Body Welsh Language Support Group

We also hold our Awarding Body Welsh Language Support Group. The purpose of this group is to support awarding bodies with the development, delivery and award of Welsh-medium and bilingual qualifications and assessment.

Join us

If you are an awarding body interested in joining, please contact: welshsupportgroup@qualifications.wales