Developing pupils’ Welsh oracy skills
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Information about the school
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn is a Welsh-medium school that provides education for 335 pupils between 3 and 11 years old. The school is situated in Porth in the Rhondda valley. The percentage of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is 18% and the percentage of pupils with additional learning needs is 2.1%.
The headteacher and deputy were appointed in 2023. The school’s vision, ‘Acen. Atgofion. Cred’, is embedded in the school’s daily life as pupils take pride in their identity, their Welshness and their local area, while enjoying the wide and exciting range of stimulating learning experiences that expand their horizons beyond their local area.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
The strong sense of Welshness and pupils’ understanding of Welsh heritage and culture are a strong feature of school life. Fostering Welsh people who are proud of their language, history and culture is something about which the whole school community is passionate.
Since the school was established, this vision has informed educational efforts and continues to be central as the school develops and grows. Pupils are immersed in the Welsh language and the culture of their nation as staff plan and work together to provide a wide range of valuable experiences that foster a sense of pride in their county and their Welshness among our pupils both inside and outside the classroom.
We believe that pride and a variety of opportunities to use the Welsh language are at the heart of the positive development in terms of our pupils’ oracy skills. Our children speak Welsh completely naturally from day to day and do so with pride and enjoyment. Our language drilling scheme also ensures that there is purposeful development in pupils’ syntax and vocabulary as they move through the school. All of this contributes to ensuring confident and skilful Welsh speakers.
Description of the nature of the strategy or activity
Planning and teaching
In order to develop our pupils’ Welsh oracy skills skilfully, a clear language drilling scheme has been embedded and is in place across the school. Together, the school community has agreed on the unconditional elements in terms of syntax and vocabulary that should be introduced and drilled in all classes on a daily basis to ensure clear progression and development as our pupils move through the school. These are displayed in the classrooms, in the corridors and in public places to reinforce what is learned in the classrooms. Teachers are excellent language models and take advantage of every opportunity to correct pupils’ linguistic errors in a sensitive and fun manner.
Learning about the history of Wales, its people, its legends and traditions are at the heart of our curriculum. This develops our children’s sound awareness of their country’s culture and deepens their understanding of their identity.
Experiences
We provide a rich range of extra-curricular experiences for our pupils and we believe fully that these experiences play a key part in the development of their oral skills and have a positive influence on their motivation to use the Welsh language naturally and confidently.
Pupils are given numerous opportunities to use the Welsh language in a variety of contexts and locations both inside and outside the school. Every year, they travel to different parts of Wales and meet people and children at festivals and events across the country. The focal point of the school’s annual calendar is the Cerdd Dant Festival, the Urdd Eisteddfod, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the Hay Festival and opportunities to perform and compete at musical, sports and literary events that promote the Welsh language.
Celebrating our Welshness as we travel beyond Wales is also a source of great pride for us and our pupils. As Year 6 pupils travel to Amsterdam, for example, hearing our pupils speaking Welsh so naturally while socialising and having fun gives the school’s staff and local residents great pleasure. They are always keen to teach a little Welsh to anyone who cannot speak it and their pride in achieving that is clear.
We take advantage of every opportunity to work with partnerships, such as Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf, to promote new learners and boost the confidence of members of the local community who want to speak Welsh. With so many opportunities for pupils to use the Welsh language outside the school, our pupils’ oracy skills develop naturally as they gain confidence by speaking in different formal and informal situations, both socially and publicly.
By providing varied and extensive opportunities such as this, we develop pupils who are confident communicators who have strong Welsh oracy skills by the end of their time at the school.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
The commitment of the whole school community to ensuring that the Welsh language is a living and relevant language for our pupils has a significant impact on their oral skills and their desire and enthusiasm to use the language completely naturally in all aspects of their everyday lives. Without a doubt, experience, opportunities and careful and purposeful planning are at the heart of the positive developing in our pupils’ oral skills, along with the conviction of the headteacher and staff that this is one of the school’s main necessities.
By working together closely to ensure experiences and opportunities for our pupils, the relationship between the community, parents and the school’s families is strong as they share the same vision. We have now seen an increase in the number of our parents who use the Welsh language with their children, with many attending local Welsh classes themselves to support their children on their journey through Welsh-medium education.
How have you shared your good practice?
The school is now recognised as a leader in promoting the development of pupils’ oral Welsh skills. The school acts as a lead school that supports other schools on their journey towards receiving the Welsh Language Charter gold award.
Leaders have hosted workshops and visits from other schools. The school has also developed partnerships with schools all over Wales to develop this area further.