Happiness for all the youngsters (From Barry And District News)

Happiness for all the youngsters

YSGOL Sant Curig is a very happy school where children are brought up to respect both themselves and others.

The College Road-based Welsh establishment opened in 1992 with just the reception class and year 1. The beautiful large building formerly housed Bryn Hafren's Lower Girls School.

Since the early nineties, Ysgol Sant Curig has come a long way. It has 397 children including 54 in a recently opened nursery. And nowadays, there are 14 classes, two in each of the seven years, with 17 teachers and four non-teaching support teachers.

The school is predominantly Welsh-speaking, meaning the catchment area is quite large to cater for those specifically wanting to go to a Welsh school. There are pupils from as far away as Rhoose, Wenvoe, St Athans, Penmark and even Bridgend.

Pupils leaving year 6 for high school tend to go to the nearby Welsh school Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg, which opened last year.

Eleri Hourahane has been headteacher since the school opened. She says there are many advantages to children learning Welsh.

She said: "Around 96 percent of our pupils come from English non-Welsh speaking families. Children can definitely benefit from being in a Welsh school."

Children at Ysgol Sant Curig do exactly the same curriculum as in all other schools, but they get an added bonus by learning Welsh.

Mrs Hourahane said: "When the children start school, they are still acquiring English. But because this is a Welsh school, it means they can acquire two languages side-by-side. They accept them both.

"Because they learn to speak another language, a lot of children go to secondary school and do three or four languages."

Teachers at the school spend a lot of time translating work in readiness for lessons. Mrs Hourahane said: "They are very dedicated. They go the extra miles necessary for teachers in a Welsh medium school. We haven't got all the resources available to English medium schools, so the teachers have to translate.

"They are in here evenings and weekends doing work because they want the children to achieve the best of their ability."

Youngsters at the school have many different facilities to help them develop.

After school clubs such as drama, choir, dance, netball, rugby and chess ensure the children learn vital team skills and self reliance.

And a computer room opened in June last year allows to develop crucial technology skills, so important in today's world.

The latest addition to the school is a nursery, which was opened by Jane Hutt AM in June this year.

It's a fantastic environment for the children, all aged three, where staff have worked extremely hard to paint it in bright, bold colours, and decorate it with inspiring pictures and charts.

Delyth Francis, head of nursery, said: "We've got 26 children in the morning, and 26 in the afternoon and it's really lovely for them."

But before children even start at the nursery, mums often attend a 'mother and baby' group at the school, enabling youngsters to get used to the environment.

These are just some of the facilities that make Ysgol Sant Curig so special. It's already well-known for brilliant academic and sporting achievement and successful fund-raising, but it just seems to be getting better and better.

Mrs Hourahane said: "It's a very happy school with a happy environment. Every child gets the best chance whatever level of attainment. They can fulfil their potential.

"We promote quality of life and strong moral values."

She added: "I enjoy being with the children. It's the security that children have here. If they have got worries they know they can share them with us and trust us. The children come first."

Contact Ysgol Sant Curig on 01446 420109.