Local schools celebrated for Welsh language excellence

Schools in the Welshpool area have been recognised for their outstanding work in promoting the Welsh language, as part of a county-wide celebration of 25 Powys schools achieving national awards.

Carreghofa and Arddleen primary schools and Llansantffraid Church in Wales School have been awarded the prestigious Gold Award under the Siarter Iaith: Cymraeg Campus programme, whilst four other local schools - Berriew, Ysgol Llanfyllin, Meifod and Llanfechain - have all achieved Silver Awards. Welshpool High School won the Bronze Award.

The Siarter Iaith (Welsh Language Charter) initiative encourages pupils to use Welsh naturally throughout their school day, extending beyond the classroom into playgrounds, corridors, and even at home. The programme aims to create a whole-school culture where Welsh becomes a living, vibrant language shared by pupils, staff, families, and the wider community.

The Gold Award reflects excellent work in creating an environment where the Welsh language is used naturally by pupils and staff, whilst the Silver Awards achieved by the other local schools recognise their ongoing efforts to strengthen Welsh language use.

The award-winning schools have implemented innovative approaches to Welsh language learning, including daily Welsh assemblies, playground games conducted in Welsh, community events, and digital projects that bring the language to life for pupils.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, praised the dedication shown by local schools: "We are incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our schools in nurturing a love for the Welsh language. These Siarter Iaith awards are a testament to the hard work of pupils, staff, and families who are helping to ensure that Cymraeg thrives in Powys."

The recognition comes at a particularly significant time, with the National Eisteddfod heading to Wrexham next month. Cllr Roberts noted: "With the National Eisteddfod coming to Wrexham next month, it's a timely reminder of the richness of our language and culture. Events like the Eisteddfod inspire communities across Wales to celebrate and embrace Cymraeg, and it's heartening to see our schools leading the way."

The Siarter Iaith: Cymraeg Campus programme was originally developed by Powys and Pembrokeshire councils specifically for English-medium schools and has now been adopted nationally. It operates through a three-tier award system of Bronze, Silver, and Gold, recognising schools' progress in developing a strong Welsh language culture.

These achievements contribute to the Welsh Government's ambitious vision of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050, with school-based initiatives playing a crucial role in this goal.

The success of the North Powys schools demonstrates the strong commitment to Welsh language education in the local community and sets an excellent example for other schools across the region.