Ysgol Aberconwy becomes a silver Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Uwchradd in a first for North Wales

Ysgol Aberconwy becomes a silver Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Uwchradd in a first for North Wales

Ysgol Aberconwy has become the first secondary school in North Wales to achieve the silver Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Uwchradd award.

The new Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Award for secondary schools was launched by Welsh Government at the Urdd Eisteddfod earlier this year. It recognises the efforts and ways that secondary schools can inspire and encourage learners to use Welsh in school and in all other aspects of their lives.

The scheme has been running in Primary schools since 2014, and from September secondary schools can achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

On Tuesday, 25 June Ysgol Aberconwy opened its doors for a special Welsh Language Open Day to celebrate and showcase the work done to improve and promote the Welsh ethos and Welsh language in school over the last few years.

During the event the school was presented with their Silver Award by Meinir Thomson and Heledd Morgan from the Welsh Government.

In another coup for Ysgol Aberconwy, year 12 student, Angharad Brookes, was the winner of the nationwide Siarter Iaith Uwchradd logo design competition. She was presented with her prize at the open day.

Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Julie Fallon, congratulated the school on its Award. She said “I’m delighted that Ysgol Aberconwy has achieved this award. It’s a reflection of the hard work of everyone at the school to help young people benefit by increasing their use of Welsh.”

 Mrs Luned Davies Parry, Deputy Head of Welsh at Ysgol Aberconwy, and Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Uwchradd co-ordinator said, “It’s been a privilege to be piloting the new Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Uwchradd Award for Conwy schools as well as other secondary schools in North Wales. We opened our doors to our neighbouring secondary schools, secondary schools from further afield, our cluster primary schools and to outside agencies like the Urdd, Menter Iaith, Mudiad Meithrin to name but a few. We have showcased all we have done to raise the profile of Cymraeg at Ysgol Aberconwy and gave a tour of the school!”

Ysgol Aberconwy has initiatives like ‘Gwobrau Iaith Adrannol/Departmental Language Awards’, a bespoke scheme that provides a clear framework for teachers to promote and increase the use of the Welsh language day to day with learners. The school also holds an annual School Eisteddfod in March every year and learners of all ages can meet at lunchtimes in ‘Y Caban’, a unique colourful and modern room, to participate in Welsh activities beyond the classroom.

Ysgol Aberconwy’s Welshness and Bilingualism Coordinator, Elen Môn Williams said, “I would like to thank the students who make up ‘Criw Cymraeg’ for all their efforts, with their support and encouragement Welsh is now flourishing in school.”

Mr Ian Gerrard, Headteacher said, “We’re really proud of this award, which builds on the Bronze award we gained in September 2023. It’s a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of pupils in increasing their use of Welsh day-to-day. We’re now putting plans in place to work towards the Gold Award!”