Teaching course provides opportunity to improve Welsh language skills

19 June 2025

For Ffion Cumberpatch, a Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) course led to an opportunity to improve her Welsh-medium skills with the intention of passing those skills on to her students.

Ffion Cumberpatch, who has improved her Welsh skills on a PCET course

Ffion Cumberpatch, who has studied the PCET programme at UWTSD

Ffion, originally from Merthyr Tydfil, is now a lecturer at the ��Ҵ�ý and manages employability skills programmes. Her journey at the University began when she joined to study the BA International Hotel Management course graduating in 2018. Since then, Ffion has completed a Higher Education Certificate in Counselling Skills, the AHO Course and is now studying for a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA).

A former pupil at Ysgol Santes Tudfil and Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun, Fion’s family did not speak Welsh and when she left school she felt that she had lost confidence in the language. She was encouraged to practise and develop her Welsh skills from her PCET personal tutor, Marion Phillips.

Ffion said: “During our first personal tutoring session I mentioned to Marion that I used to speak Welsh. I explained that I had lost some of the vocabulary and confidence to use it. She was very keen to help me practise and develop my Welsh and throughout our sessions I went from speaking mainly in English to speaking mainly in Welsh.

“I was able to remember words that I hadn’t used for years very quickly. So even though this wasn’t a direct part of the course, Marion saw an opportunity to help me develop further and supported me through the process”.

Regaining her skills in Welsh was one of the benefits of studying the PCET course according to Ffion. Said:

“I’ve been lecturing at UWTSD for almost four years and as part of my professional development I decided to do the Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) course to further improve my teaching skills. I wanted to learn more about lecturing methods, how to manage a class, how to help students who needed extra support and also understand more about pedagogy”.

“The highlights of the course were the lecturers, they are extremely knowledgeable, experienced and supportive. The modules were relevant, interesting and gave you the opportunity to challenge yourself and try new things within the class. Meeting other PCET students who were teaching at other colleges and universities was also interesting – we were able to compare employers, policies and student needs. The personal tutor meetings with Marion Philips, who also works for Estyn, were really great and I might not have been able to cope at times without her and the other lecturers”.

One of the biggest challenges for Ffion was time as she worked full time as a lecturer while studying part-time. She said:

“The course is very full-on, as it should be, but unlike other more theoretical qualifications the programme requires you to go and do things before you can write an assignment about it. For example, try a new technology in the classroom, implement a new classroom management technique, review the accessibility of your teaching materials. However, all of this is necessary to create great teachers and that’s what this course does – it makes great teachers, educators and lecturers.

“This course has made me more employable, it’s given me a toolkit that I can use in every classroom I venture into, and most of all, in an environment that can change very quickly, it’s given me the confidence to know that I can cope with whatever comes my way.

“I would highly recommend this course to anyone who teaches in post-16 education or wants to do it. I had been teaching for almost two years before I did this qualification and I have learned a lot. My teaching has changed a lot; I’ve changed a lot. I wouldn’t be the lecturer I am today without this course.

“I feel at home here at this university and I really believe in what it represents. I love lecturing and I love UWTSD so I can see myself here for a few years. While here, I’m still learning, still challenging myself in my teaching and still trying to make a difference to as many students as possible – and now I feel more confident in my ability to chat to students in Welsh too!”.

Marion Phillips said:

“It is well documented that the use of Welsh can decline significantly when learners leave statutory Welsh education and move into the post-16 sector, so developing post-16 practitioners who feel confident using their Welsh language skills and can model positive bilingual good practice within this sector is something I feel very passionately about. Confidence in their language choices is critical to achieving this, at whatever level, and creating safe environments where Ffion and others have the opportunity to take risks using their Welsh language skills has been key to our success here.

“Improvement has come from consistently modelling good practice for our learners and organically championing practice without fear as they develop their Welsh language skillset. Ffion’s considerable development over the last two years is testament to her dedication to engage so positively with this process, an experience which will hopefully equip her well as she moves forward to becoming a positive language role model for her own learners. Our very best wishes to her!”

Caroline Lewis, interim Head of the Centre for Professional Learning & Leadership added:

“The PGCE (PCET) programme is proud to support aspiring practitioners as they build their careers within the modern post compulsory education sector in Wales. We work closely with our students to build confidence, enhance skills, and support employability, all while nurturing strong, reflective professional practice. It has been a pleasure to see Ffion thrive during her time with us, particularly through the expert support and guidance provided by Marion. We’re incredibly proud of Ffion’s progress and delighted to see her become such a positive advocate for both the programme and UWTSD”.