History
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd is a designated Welsh-medium school for boys and girls aged 11 to 19 maintained by Bridgend Unitary Authority. This is the only Welsh medium comprehensive school for the Unitary Authority. The school is located in the historic village of Llangynwyd and serves the whole Unitary Authority catchment area.
Since opening its doors in 2008, the school has grown and now supports learners from all across the county to thrive from year 7 to year 13.
Ethos
The aims and objectives of the school are:
- To promote the ethos of Team Llan as learners, staff, parents and governors working effectively with each other to ensure success for all learners and to honour the good name of the school.
- To create a living community / society where moral and spiritual values are appreciated and where virtues such as justice, honesty, trust, tolerance and a feeling of duty are emphasised.
- To give every learner the opportunity to master the craft/skill of communicating in both Welsh and English, emphasising the fact that the Welsh language is the natural and educational language of the school.
- To develop the ethos of Team Llan, by assisting the learner in developing work place skills so enabling them to work both independently and as a team member.
- To prepare every learner to live as a responsible and valuable member of society, to develop a strong relationship with others and to develop self-respect whilst respecting other people, property and the environment.
- To help the learner to appreciate the heritage and culture of Wales and to be able to contribute to a multilingual society in Wales, Europe and the world.
- To ensure that all members of staff are accessible to appropriate opportunities in order to develop professionally.
The Use of Welsh
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Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd was created to provide a Welsh learning environment and Welsh medium education for the children of Bridgend. One of the school’s principal aims is to be a Welsh
community and the Welsh language and Welsh culture is given a high profile.
This is not done within an insular, inward-looking environment but within a whole school framework and a range of activities that broaden learners’ horizons far beyond the boundaries of this county and Wales. Learning foreign languages and providing visits that give learners experiences of Europe and beyond are given a prominent place in the school’s activities. Every
effort is made to develop learners’ understanding of other cultures and the ways of life of other people.
More than half of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd’s learners come from homes where little or no Welsh is spoken. The school day is the main opportunity that they have to practise their Welsh. The school therefore expects learners to speak Welsh in all their school activities and urges parents to give them every encouragement.
Increasingly, the Welsh language and bilingualism are an economic asset in their own right. The demand for bilingual services and employees has increased dramatically and continues to rise. Therefore, acquiring a command of Welsh and attaining a high degree of bilingualism and, indeed, multi-lingualism, are valuable and life-enhancing opportunities.
Every learner is encouraged to become a member of the Urdd as very many activities are organised under the Urdd banner every year. These include sports competitions, the Urdd Eisteddfod homework and stage competitions, visits to the Urdd’s camps, excursions to support Welsh football and rugby teams, and other visits including foreign trips.