Thanks to over £100,000 of Welsh Government funding, researchers
at Cardiff Metropolitan University are developing a new set of
tests to improve the identification of literacy difficulties in
Welsh medium secondary school pupils.
Literacy difficulties, including dyslexia, are common, and mainly
affect reading, writing, and spelling skills.
Dyslexia is classified as a disability, and it's estimated that
around 1 in 10 people in the UK experience some level of
dyslexia.
It's important to identify literacy difficulties and provide
appropriate support as soon as possible. The new tests will fill
a gap in Welsh medium schools as the tests will be specifically
tailored to the Welsh language.
The new funding will enable researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan
University to conduct trials in a range of school settings over
the next two years and standardise the assessments with learners
from across Wales.
The tests will also comply with the Joint Council for
Qualifications (JCQ) regulations to offer suitable materials for
qualified assessors to identify learners for exam access
arrangements in Welsh. This is the first test of its kind
in Welsh.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, said:
“Assessment is crucial in providing support to learners with
dyslexia. This funding will enable researchers to create a
brand-new system, tailored to the needs of learners in Welsh
medium education, to create a fully inclusive learning
environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Rhian Dickenson, the Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator
(ALNCo) at Ysgol Cymraeg Gwynllyw in Pontypool, who participated
in the pilot phase of the project with a researcher from Cardiff
Metropolitan University, said:
“We are so grateful for the work the University is doing to
support schools with literacy. It is extremely important that our
young people get the support they need and piloting this project
has enabled us to work with our learners to identify exactly what
support is needed and how best for us to provide it.
“As well as enabling us to establish a method of tracking
progress, we have been given the tools to know that we are giving
learners the support they need. We are excited to continue to be
part of this trial and look forward to further developing our
interventions and support as a result of this important work”.
Dr Rhiannon Packer is part of the research team at Cardiff
Metropolitan University working to develop the diagnostic
assessment of literacy in Welsh. She said:
“Our initial research developed a suite of tests to help identify
literacy difficulties in young people aged 11-17 in Welsh medium
secondary schools, the first of its kind in Wales.
“We are thrilled to have received the funding from Welsh
Government which will now allow the team of researchers at
Cardiff Met to work closely with young people in secondary
schools and improve the access arrangements for GCSEs and A
levels, as well as supporting teachers in working with learners
with literacy difficulties, such as dyslexia. With this funding,
the team can complete a suite of assessments and standardise
them, so they can be used by practitioners in the future.”
In addition to the tests, a handbook will be produced with
training videos for the administration of the assessment,
interpretation of results and strategies for practitioners in
secondary schools.
These free resources will be made available online on the
learning platform, Hwb, from early 2026.
