Posted on: Thursday 7 December 2023
Pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw have told councillors how they are helping to shape their school’s core values.
Twenty-one members of the school’s Student Leadership team gave a presentation about how they are now focusing on specific issues, including the Welsh language, pupil engagement, inclusivity, and sustainability.
They were invited to attend the Full Council meeting at Civic Centre on Tuesday, by Jason O’Brien, Strategic Director Children and Families, to illustrate how the voice of the pupil is dominant in the activity and developments of the school.
The pupils explained how they devised their student leadership team into sub-committees to tackle important issues in the school.
For example, the sustainability committee spoke about how they identified a lack of recycling bins around the school, so researched prices and decided to use their skills in Design Technology to make their own.
The Welsh Language committee also spoke about how they have taken steps to engage with the local community by organising a Christmas Fayre, with a Santa experience in Welsh.
The inclusivity committee also told how they have been working hard to provide vegan and vegetarian options in the canteen.
Dewi Rees, Year 11, Member of School Council and Achievement Committee, expressed: "Attending the council meeting in the chamber at Pontypool was a privilege, not only for me but for everyone in the school council. We learned a lot about how the county operates and especially the Education Department. Pupils at Gwynllyw were given the opportunity to express opinions on pivotal issues and discuss the values established by the school at the beginning of the academic year.”
Jason O’Brien, Strategic Director Children and Families, said: “I recently visited the school, and it was clear how much the student voice impacts school business. I'm thrilled they were able to visit the chamber and present to the Council meeting today. The students were very engaging and raised some important issues for young people. Their presentation was as valuable to us as an education service as it was to the students.”
Councillor Richard Clark, Executive Member for Children, Families and Education, added: “It’s great to see the students taking a real interest and producing innovative ideas to promote the use of the Welsh Language. I was really impressed with how each sub-committee articulated their plan of action to tackle different issues throughout the school. The power of the people’s voices is undeniable, it is key that we listen to our learners so our education provisions in Torfaen can go from strength to strength.”