Welsh schools will be divided into categories about the level of Welsh they teach pupils, under new government plans. The Welsh Language and Education Bill is designed to help with the target for there to be a million Welsh speakers by 2050, something the education system is described as having a "key role" in.

That long-discussed target will become law, if the bill passes. Currently the government has said pupils' ability to speak Welsh varies significantly depending on which school they attend and the bill is aimed at closing the gap. The law would increase Welsh language skills and education taught in English-medium schools and see schools put into categories depending on whether they teach solely in Welsh, are bilingual, or hold lessons mainly in English.

The amount of Welsh language education will also be increased in schools taught solely through the medium of English under this proposed law.

It will:

• Make the target of a million Welsh speakers a statutory requirement
• Introduce a standard method for describing Welsh language ability

• Set up a system for categorising schools by the Welsh language education provided

• Setting Welsh language learning goals for schools to pursue through Welsh language education delivery plans

• Establishing a National Institute for Learning Welsh as a statutory body to support lifelong learning of Welsh

• The promotion of Welsh-medium education and the promotion and provision of late immersion education in Welsh

The bill says schools will have to make clear the amount of Welsh language education provided in the school, which cannot be lower than 10%, and that there will have to be Welsh language learning goals. The three categories schools can identify as are "primarily Welsh", "dual language" and "primarily English Language, partly Welsh”.

Primarily Welsh language schools are where pupils are proficient Welsh language users by the time they are of compulsory school age. Those at "dual language" should leave as independent Welsh language users, at least, by the time they cease to be of compulsory school age and reach a set level for oral interaction. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter

Those at "primarily English language, partly Welsh" schools will have basic Welsh language users by the time they finish school who can independently use the language.

It says all children should leave school able to understand sentences and use words to communicate about simple, day to day life, and able to take part in a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, for example, their family, where they live and can talk about themselves and list their personal details such as where they live, people they know.

School governing bodies will have to draw up a three-year delivery plan which sets out the category the school falls into, the amount of education provided in Welsh and how they will ensure the school meets its target. The bill says the creation of a national institute would provide "leadership and direction" to education providers and make arrangements for those who want to learn the language in education, workplace and for people over the compulsory school age.

Welsh economy minister Jeremy Miles, said: "The Welsh language belongs to us all, and these proposals are about giving children and young people a fairer chance to become Welsh speakers. There is widespread support for our vision of one million Welsh speakers, and today, we’re taking a crucial step towards realising that ambition.

"As a government, we’re committed to building a Wales where the Welsh language thrives in every community, and where all can be proud of their bilingual or multilingual heritage and skills."

Welsh education minister Lynne Neagle said: "Our approach to immersing learners in the Welsh language is unique to us in Wales, and I take pride in what our teachers and educational practitioners do every day. The Bill is a long-term project and we’ll continue to support our schools to introduce more Welsh into their activities."

Welsh Conservative Tom Giffard said: "The Welsh language is part of the history and heritage of not just Wales but the whole United Kingdom. The Labour Welsh Government have a track record of missing targets, so there is no reason why they will be able to achieve this one, just look at our PISA results.”