Early Access
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This is an Early Access article which is being posted online to provide early visibility before copyediting, typesetting and inclusion in the Focus on Practice collection.
This article reports on a qualitative study conducted within a multi-provider apprenticeship network delivering health and care qualifications across Wales. Despite many apprentices entering with Welsh-language skills, internal monitoring found that only a minority completed their apprenticeship bilingually or in Welsh, reflecting the national completion rate of just 32% (Stats Wales, 2025). This was a significant concern given Welsh Government priorities, Cymraeg 2050, and the need for the health and care workforce to meet Welsh Language Standards and provide the Active Offer. The study was therefore undertaken to understand how bilingual apprenticeships were interpreted within the network and to investigate the factors influencing apprentices’ language choices.
Semi-structured interviews with practitioners and Welsh-speaking apprentices were analysed thematically. Findings revealed learner-led interpretations of bilingual provision, inconsistencies in organisational definitions, and substantial influence from staff confidence, workplace language cultures, and apprentices’ fears around written Welsh. The article identifies implications for organisational improvement and contributes sector-wide insights into strengthening Welsh-medium apprenticeship pathways.
Keywords: billingualism, billingual apprenticeships, further education, apprenticeships, welsh-medium, welsh, health and social care, learner choice, education
How to Cite: Beckett, J. & Ayres, J. A. (2026) “Towards consistency: Exploring Welsh-medium and bilingual apprenticeship delivery across a provider network”, Wales Journal of Education. 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.16922/focus20