"Well as we all know Welsh is a growing language in a country right next door to England, and that many English nationals take holidays and come to live in Cymru (Wales) So it would be great if they had knowledge of what to say and to respect the Welsh language. This way, hopefully, we wont lose the beautiful language of Welsh."
My first sarcastic impulse is to suggest to the petitioner that he look at the log in his own eye; his use of English grammar is distinctly ... interesting.
However. A brief examination of the National Curriculum website makes it clear that "Modern Foreign Languages" may be offered by schools in Key Stage 2 (ages seven to eleven) and Key Stage 4 (ages fourteen to sixteen); and must be offered at Key Stage 3 (ages eleven to fourteen). At Key Stage 3, and when a Modern Foreign Language is offered at Key Stage 4, the site says
"Schools must offer one or more of the official languages of the European Union (Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, modern Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish). Schools may, in addition, offer any other modern foreign language. Non-EU languages count as a foundation subject only when offered to pupils alongside the possibility of studying an official language of the EU. A pupil may, therefore, study any modern foreign language that the school offers, but the offer must include an EU language."
The Entitlement Statement for Key Stage 4 adds that
"The importance of other languages including community languages is recognised. Schools are encouraged to offer courses in other languages in addition to EU languages, whether or not these have been offered at key stage 3."
In other words, any English school may already teach Welsh if they so wish. For all I know, they may do so.
So what is the petitioner asking for? Something which is already possible and can clearly be found to be so by quickly looking at the internet. Why one earth bother?
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