Skip to main content

This website uses cookies to make the website simpler.

Find out more about our privacy policy. Ok

2021-2022 Statistics

Learn Welsh learner data

Learn Welsh Statistics 2021-2022

Learn Welsh programme data is managed by the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

A central database collates information on all learners as they register online to follow a course. This information includes details about the learner (e.g. name, address, date of birth) and the course (e.g. level, location, learning intensity).

The data collected by the Centre differs to the data collected for the sector in the past. The method of recording the data is also different. 

Since the pandemic in 2020-2022 the sector’s activity has developed significantly. There is now greater choice for learners in terms of learning methods and various schemes form part of the sector, including community learning, workplace learning and courses for specific audiences e.g. families. The data now reflects the breadth of this activity.

Publishing 2021-2022 Data

This data is for the 2021-2022 academic year. 

  • These statistics relate to all courses that ended between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022.
  • 2017-2018 was the national baseline, and so we can make year on year comparisons thereafter.
  • Work Welsh courses run from April to March. For the purpose of these statistics, only courses that have come to an end by July 2022 have been included.
  • The 2021-2022 data compared to 2020-2021 data includes more learners learning at higher levels.
  • There has been an increase in the number of learners year on year since 2017-2018, with the exception of 2019-2020 when there was a significant increase in the number of learners following the taster level self-study courses at the start of the pandemic.

 

Data Period
1 August 2021 - 31 July 2022

Publication Date
Friday 31 March 2023

Download 2021-2022 Data (Open Data Source)
Number of unique learners

The number of unique learners counts every learner only once, regardless of the number of courses they have attended during the year.

  • In 2017-2018, there were 12,680 unique learners.
  • In 2018-2019, there were 13,260 unique learners.
  • In 2019-2020, there were 17,505 unique learners, this is the exceptional year when the number of learners following the taster level self-study courses increased at the start of the pandemic.
  • In 2020-2021 there were 14,965 unique learners.
  • In 2021-2022, there were 15,260 unique learners, an increase of 2% in comparison to 2020-2021.
Number of learning activities

Learners can attend more than one learning activity at various levels and intensities. For example, a single learner can attend a 170 - 259 hour course at Entry level and an additional 'per hour' course at Foundation level during the period in question. This is considered as two learning activities.

  • 2021-2022 learners attended 27,345 learning activities, a reduction of 6% when compared to 2020-2021.
  • Learners continue to learn more intensively than in the period prior to the pandemic in 2020.
Learning Levels

Courses are offered at five levels within the Learn Welsh programme.

  • In 2019-2020 68%of learners were at Entry level. 11% were at Foundation level with 19% at Intermediate or Advanced levels (including Proficiency).
  • In 2020-202163% of learners were at Entry level. 14% were at Foundation level and 23% at Intermediate or Advanced levels (including Proficiency).
  • In 2021-2022 60% of learners were at Entry level. 15% were at Foundation level and 25% at Intermediate or Advanced levels (including Proficiency).  
  • In 2021-2022there was an increase in the number of learners learning at Intermediate or Advanced levels (including Proficiency). 
  • A programme of Raising Confidence and Using Welsh is currently categorised at Proficiency level, and this will be recorded separately for 2022-2023 as this programme grows.
  • There has been an increase in the number of learners attending ‘all level’ courses with the numbers increasing from 75 in 2020-2021 to 440 in 2021-2022. These include activities such as Sadyrnau Siarad Saturday workshops.  This is due to an increase in the ‘supporting learners’ programme, to ensure more opportunities for learners to use and practise their Welsh following a lack of this type of activity during the pandemic. 
Age of Learners

The age of learners is calculated from the first day of the academic year. For 2021-2022, the age of the learner is calculated from 1 August 2021. The learner is responsible for presenting their date of birth.

  • In 2021-2022 there are 12,955 learners within the working age group (16-64 years old), which is 85% of all learners.