Last month, we notified Welsh centres that Edexcel would not be offering a Welsh language version of the new GCE Music Technology specification for first teaching in September 2008.

The main reason that Edexcel came to this decision was due to the lack of bilingual examiners, markers and writers. This, coupled with the very low numbers of scripts submitted in the Welsh language during the lifetime of the current specification, made it very difficult for us to support the Welsh language version of the specification to the same high standards as our other GCE subjects.

After further dialogue with DCELLS, and taking into account the views of Welsh medium centres, we have decided to reverse this decision. We will therefore continue to offer a Welsh language version of this specification.

In order to help us continue to provide high-quality examining through Welsh, we are working with DCELLS to identify suitable bilingual Music Technology examiners and writers. We would also be grateful if you could recommend suitable bilingual examiners who would like to work on the GCE Music Technology specification and send their details to sally.stevenson@edexcel.org.uk.

We hope that this approach meets with the approval of our Welsh medium centres but also recognises the necessity to provide a high quality and robust award.