After section 116A of the Education Act 2002 (c. 32) insert—
(1)Each local education authority must exercise their functions in relation to local curricula so as to promote access to and availability of courses of study which are taught through the medium of the Welsh language.
(2)In the discharge of its duty under subsection (1), a local education authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.
(3)Guidance under subsection (2) may be given to a particular authority, or to authorities of a particular class or to authorities generally.
(4)Within two months of the end of each academic year, a local education authority must, in accordance with any instructions given by the Welsh Ministers, provide the Welsh Ministers with a report which—
(a)describes the courses of study included within local curricula established by the authority for that academic year which were to be taught through the medium of Welsh;
(b)describes how many pupils elected to follow such courses under section 116D and how many pupils were entitled to follow such courses under section 116E;
(c)explains what the authority plans to do in academic years following that to which the report relates so that registered pupils of schools maintained by the authority are given the opportunity to follow local curricula courses of study which are taught through the medium of Welsh.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (4), “academic year” means the period of 12 months beginning on 1 September.”