Parents defend schools Welsh language policy (From Western Telegraph)

Parents defend schools Welsh language policy

Parents have come out strongly in defence of Ysgol y Preseli, Crymych.

The school headmaster and governors had been accused by a parent of trying to introduce Welsh medium education through the back door.

But Liam Connelly, of Narberth, whose daughter is at Ysgol y Preseli, hit out at both the Western Telegraph and the parent, saying: I feel your article is very biased against the school. One anonymous person has made this complaint. This is the only predominantly Welsh speaking school in Pembrokeshire. What happens in Preseli School happens in every other predominantly English speaking school in the county, but in reverse. You could say they are bringing in English by the back door.

He added: Ysgol y Preseli is the best performing school in Pembrokeshire and this is endorsed by the exam results.

Julie Wickland, of Haverfordwest, whose children moved on from Ysgol Glan Cleddau to Ysgol y Preseli, said: The rules at the school have always been that the children should speak Welsh in the playground. We knew that from day one. It is, after all, a Welsh-speaking school. The teachers know I dont speak Welsh so if there is anything I need to know it is always sent in English.

The school is brilliant and the teachers are fabulous. I dont think the parent should have commented like that. If they had wanted their children to speak English they should have sent them to an English-speaking school in the first place.

In a letter to the Western Telegraph, David Bullock, of Haverfordwest, said: Surely no conscientious parent can think that their childrens ability to speak, read and write English fluently, across a broad range of subjects, is threatened by them being encouraged to use their Welsh a little bit more outside lessons?

And in another letter, Mr. K. R. Rees of Narberth, who wholly supports the efforts of teachers at the countys only bilingual school, said: I condemn your papers blatant use of the language card.

Mrs Joy Solov, of Newport, said she had wanted her children to go to Ysgol y Preseli but was told they would not be accepted as they did not speak Welsh. They were sent to Fishguard High School instead and she has been delighted with the results.

Fishguard High School has an excellent multi-cultural mix of Welsh, English and Irish pupils. It is a lovely school and it would be a shame if that were to change, she said.