Cymraeg

Welsh in the School Curriculum

Welsh is taught as a subject to all pupils up to the end of Year 11. The subject is taught in groupings determined by the natural language background and ability of pupils, either as a first or second language. Pupils from an EAL (English as an Additional Language) will be exempted from studying Welsh if it is deemed appropriate for them to have additional English language lessons.

On admission to the school, pupils are allocated to Welsh or English medium classes based on their primary education background. Pupils who are in Welsh medium classes will be taught through the medium Welsh, which will be the medium of instruction in all subjects apart from English and Science. Parents of children in Welsh medium classes can choose for them to study Mathematics through Welsh or English mediums. 

Pupils who wish to study subjects through the medium of Welsh will have a range of subjects from which to choose, namely: Modern Languages, Maths, Geography, History, RE, Drama, Art, Music, PE, Games, Technology and Information Technology. 

It is intended that the majority of these subjects be offered for study through the medium of Welsh to Advanced Level.

The pastoral (PSE) programme provided for pupils following Welsh-medium subjects will also be in Welsh.

A bilingual school promoting our Welsh heritage

The School seeks to reflect and enhance the bilingual character of the area. As part of this, the School is working towards the Welsh Government’s Siarter Iaith accreditation. The aim of the Siarter Iaith is to increase the use of Welsh by young people in school and in the community. The School is committed to ensuring that:

• there is a clear Welsh ethos in every part of school life, for example: in assemblies, extra-curricular activities and in formal and informal contacts between staff and pupils, where this is appropriate.
• all the School's stakeholders work together to promote the Welsh language and implement the Siarter Iaith.
• there is a clear awareness by pupils of the cultural identity and heritage of Wales.
• developing Cymreictod plays a central part in our pupil leadership system so that pupils are at the heart of decisions made.

Assemblies and other school activities are regularly bilingual in form. The language is the basis of a number of extra-curricular activities and is also used extensively in the informal contacts between staff and pupils, where this is appropriate. All communications from the school to parents will be bilingual.