The Gwynedd schools Welsh language Charter was launched in 2011 in order to increase the use of Welsh by children in a social context. The simple objective of the language Charter is to provide a clear framework, which can be used to promote, encourage and inspire children to speak Welsh.

The worrying results of the report written in 2008 showed that only 30% of Gwynedd school’s primary aged children made voluntary use of their Welsh language within a social context. A clear strategy with an appropriate method of setting a baseline and of evaluating success was essential so as to reach the objective of increasing children’s use of the Welsh language

To ensure that all efforts are rewarded, the Charter is based on the principle that every individual school may set its own challenging and attainable vision in connection with promoting the use of the Welsh language. This recognizes that circumstances may vary from school to school and provides an opportunity for every school to implement its own programme.

The initial section of the Bronze programme is based on steps that are simply deemed to be good practice and that every school should be able to implement. Achieving these initial goals in the first year will ensure a Bronze Award for the school.

Each school will then have an opportunity to create its own bespoke set of challenging and achievable targets whilst working towards the Silver Award. The same pattern applies whilst working towards the Gold Award. The aim is to achieve the Gold Award over a three year period. Maintaining the requirements of the Gold Award and measuring the effects of its’ implantation by means of the Language Web is the objective after that.