More than £100,000 has been given to help identify literacy difficulties in Welsh secondary schools.

Researchers from Cardiff Metropolitan University have been given the funding from the Welsh Government to develop a new set of tests specifically tailored for Welsh language students.

These tests aim to improve the identification of literacy difficulties, including dyslexia, which mainly affect reading, writing, and spelling skills.

Dyslexia is classified as a disability, and it's estimated that around one in 10 people in the UK experience some level of dyslexia.

The new tests will fill a gap in Welsh medium schools, being the first of their kind in the Welsh language.

The funding will permit the researchers to conduct trials in various school settings over the next two years, and standardise the assessments with learners from across Wales.

They 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.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, 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."

Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw's Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo), Rhian Dickenson, who participated in the project's pilot phase, expressed gratitude for the university's work in supporting schools with literacy.

Ms Dickenson said: "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."

Dr Rhiannon Packer, part of the research team at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: "Our initial research developed a suite of tests to help identify literacy difficulties in young people aged 11 to 17 in Welsh medium secondary schools, the first of its kind in Wales.

"We are thrilled to have received the funding from the 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."

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.