High school delight after award

Governors at Welshpool High School have expressed delight after the school was recognised for outstanding commitment to a national initiative designed to embed the Welsh language into the everyday life of schools.

The school has been given the Bronze Award under the Siarter Iaith initiative, recognising its efforts to promote and strengthen the use of the Welsh language within the school community.

The Siarter Iaith/Welsh Language Charter encourages pupils to use Welsh naturally – not just in the classroom, but in the playground, corridors, and even at home. It supports schools in creating a whole-school ethos where Welsh is a living, vibrant language shared by pupils, staff, families, and the wider community.

The accolade comes shortly after a critical Estyn inspection report in May which claimed shortcomings in the promotion and use of the Welsh language across the school.

“Receiving the Bronze Award is a positive step forward and reflects the hard work of our staff, pupils and families,” said Mr Jeff Johnson, Chairman of the Governing Body.

“And while this award does conflict with the findings of the Estyn report the recognition gives us momentum to continue to improve and embed the Welsh language more deeply into school life and remain committed to addressing the issues raised by Estyn.”

The Siarter Iaith/Welsh Language Charter operates through a three-tier award system - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - which recognises schools’ progress in developing a strong Welsh language culture. The bronze award recognises ongoing efforts to strengthen the use of the Welsh language.

The organisers said this year’s award-winning schools had gone above and beyond in creating vibrant Welsh-speaking environments, from daily Welsh assemblies and playground games to community events and digital projects.