Posted on: Tuesday 25 June 2024
More than 300 year six pupils from Welsh language primary schools across Torfaen have held the first joint event to celebrate their move to secondary school.
The concert at Pontypool Active Living Centre, included individual school performances that covered Brazilian samba, Taiko drumming from Japan and traditional Welsh folk and clog dancing.
Among the highlights was a performance by Up Beat Music and Arts, accompanied by pupils who had taken part in a six-week drumming project with them in the lead-up to the concert.
Pupils and parents also got chance to meet teachers and pupils from Ysgol Gwmraeg Gywnllyw, in Pontypool, where the year six pupils will be starting in September.
Year 6 pupil Harrison, from Ysgol Bro Helyg, expressed his enjoyment, saying: "The best bit was learning to march and play the drums at the same time. It a lot harder than it looks.”
Ffion, a pupil from Ysgol Bryn Onnen. added “It sounded fantastic in the hall when everyone was drumming together.”
Head Teacher, Catrin Evans said: "We regularly get together as a group of Welsh language primary school teachers but this is the first time we've come together as a Welsh language community.
"We are committed to unity, growth and cultural enrichment for all our pupils and we're already planning another concert at Christmas."
Other schools that took part were; Ysgol Panteg and Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni, as well as year 7 pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw.
The council's #NotInMissOut campaign aims to highlight the benefits of attending school regularly.
The concert is just one of the ways the school provides a diverse learning experience to ensure pupils to enjoy attending school.
Parents who are seeking to transition their children from an English medium school to a Welsh medium school can do so by applying for a placement at Carreg Lam.
Carreg Lam is a late immersion unit set up to help learners, between the ages of 7 to 11. enter Welsh-medium education at a later stage.
Students will be taught over an intense learning period of approximately 12 weeks before transitioning into Welsh-language main stream setting within Torfaen. For more information, visit:
https://www.carreg-lam.com/