21 Jul 2006 - Bryngwyn Matters 38 (July 2006)
School Inspection
Staff, pupils and governors were all delighted with the recent Estyn Inspection Report that was published on 11 May.
As expected, after the informal feedback, the school was praised for a number of outstanding features: our quality of care, support and guidance; teaching and learning in Maths and Music at both Key Stages: innovative approaches to teaching, the range and quality of after-school enrichment activities and the effectiveness of the partnerships with parents, carers and outside agencies.
24% of the lessons observed had outstanding features - well above the national average. The good pupil behaviour was noted together with very good relationships between teachers and pupils.
Quiz Champions Once Again
For the second year running, our quiz team made up of Morgan Thomas (Year 7), James Beckett (Year 8), Karim Bouleghlimat (Year 9) and Stephanie Saddington (Year 10) ran out winners in the annual Coleg Sir Gār inter-schools quiz. After the first round of ten we found ourselves in third place, but took the lead in the third round and never looked like being threatened for the remainder of the competition. Not only did each team member pick up a gift token for £10 they also earned the school a cheque for £100. Well done one and all.
World Debating Championships
Wales hosted the World Schools Debating Championships in July 2006 and Bryngwyn played host to 4 teams for round 7 and 8 on Monday 10 July. It was a pleasure and an honour to welcome pupils representing Sri Lanka, Hungary, Greece and current world champions, Australia. Our own debating team of Gareth Richards, Samantha Cooper and Nathaniel Williams, together with Kier Thompson were involved as chairpersons and timekeepers for the two rounds and pupils from Years 8, 9 and 10 made up the audience for the two debates. Coaches from the national teams ran workshops for some of our pupils during the day and hopefully at least one or two will have been inspired enough by the day's proceedings to take up the opportunity to participate in debating sometime in the future.
Tregwaith
The Careers Company put on their annual 'Tregwaith' activity for Year 9 pupils in June. Run over two days in the Sports Hall, pupils took on the roles of single, employed, 24 year olds living in a fictitious Welsh community. By the end of each day they had been involved in various decision making activities and realised that as tax paying adults their gross monthly income was not what they received in their pockets. Welcome to the adult world!
Year 11 Prom
A great night out was in store for our Year 11 leavers at Manor Park, Clydach. No expense was saved as pupils arrived at the school in their stretch-limos, dressed up in evening gowns and dinner jackets. As usual, for Bryngwyn pupils, they were impeccably behaved and at the end of the night we were invited back again next year to the venue by the owner. (see pictures in Events)
Army Cadets Weekend
As part of their 'Outreach' programme, the Army Cadet Force invited some of our Year 8 and 9 pupils to participate in 3 days of activities. The project aims to guide and help young people realise their potential by using adventurous and challenging activities to raise their self esteem and build confidence. The first day was based at the Drill Hall in Llanelli, followed by a weekend at the MOD base in Castle Martin, Pembrokeshire. The pupils had a wonderful time and a big thankyou is extended to the volunteer staff from the cadets and Mr Carl Thomas and his wife Emma from the Learning Support Department for giving so freely of their spare time.
Sporting Digest
Athletics
The girls' U'14 team won the Llanelli Schools competition and went on to represent the town in the Dyfed finals. However, the star athlete of 2006 must be Rhys Webb of Year 9. At both 80m hurdles and javelin, Rhys won both the Llanelli Schools and Dyfed Schools and then to cap a magnificent season went on to win a gold medal in his two chosen disciplines in the Welsh Schools Championships. The last person to achieve such a feat at this level was Colin Jackson. So we have big expectations of Rhys, who even picked up a silver medal at the Nationals as part of the county 4 × 100m relay team.
Cricket
The Year 8 cricket team made it through to the Dyfed final where they lost to Greenhill School, Tenby with Liam Samuel being the chief wicket taker and run maker in the final.
Nathan Richards, Robert Bowen, Rohan and Michael Nangalia have all been awarded county caps whilst Richard Sourbutts represented the South Wales League at U'12. Zain Ikram had a successful tour of the West Indies with the West of England team over Easter and is a regular member of the Welsh U'16 cricket XI.
Netball
Lia Roberts, Year 11 represented West Wales.
Boxing
Rhydian Davies won his first bout as an amateur boxer fighting for Trostre Boxing Club.
Triathlon
Nardia Davies, Year 7, came fourth in the Welsh Championships.
Tennis
Hayley Thomas, Year 9, has represented the Llanelli Ladies' team in Division 1 of the South Wales League this season.
Rugby
Luke Lewis our Year 10 captain has gained a place in the Scarlets Regional U'16 squad.
SATS Results
197 Year 9 pupils sat their National Curriculum Tests in English, Maths and Science at the beginning of May. In Science, 73% of the year group achieved level 5 or higher, in English, 71% and Maths, 66%. Congratulations are extended to all pupils and staff concerned.
UK Maths Olympiad
After gaining an outstanding result by achieving his gold award in the UK Maths Trust Challenge, Carl Turner (Year 10) qualified to sit the Maths Olympiad paper. His excellent performance was rewarded with a certificate of distinction.
Who's for breakfast?
A new breakfast club has recently been set up by the Learning Support Department in partnership with Asda stores in Llanelli. This pilot scheme hopes to promote healthy eating and improve punctuality as well as providing a tasty start to the school day.
Mixed Emotions
As the Summer term draws to a close we will be losing the services of several members of staff. Mr Kevin Beasley, who joined the Science department in January has secured a permanent post in Worcester. Ms Jo Grundy will be leaving to take up a full time post at Coedcae. Six members of staff will be retiring after many years of service. Mr Dennis Phillips, Head of Science, came to the school from Graig Comprehensive in 1993. Whilst the remaining five members of staff have been in Bryngwyn since its inception in September 1977. Mrs Jean Rees has been both a dinner lady and cleaner for the past 29 years. Mrs Betty Devereaux has been part of the MFL department. Mr Baden Jones, a member of the Technology department and both Mr Haydn Williams and Mr Robert Richards have been Heads of Year. We wish them all the very best of health and happiness and thank them sincerely for their various and varied contributions.
Staff, pupils and governors were all delighted with the recent Estyn Inspection Report that was published on 11 May.
As expected, after the informal feedback, the school was praised for a number of outstanding features: our quality of care, support and guidance; teaching and learning in Maths and Music at both Key Stages: innovative approaches to teaching, the range and quality of after-school enrichment activities and the effectiveness of the partnerships with parents, carers and outside agencies.
24% of the lessons observed had outstanding features - well above the national average. The good pupil behaviour was noted together with very good relationships between teachers and pupils.
Quiz Champions Once Again
For the second year running, our quiz team made up of Morgan Thomas (Year 7), James Beckett (Year 8), Karim Bouleghlimat (Year 9) and Stephanie Saddington (Year 10) ran out winners in the annual Coleg Sir Gār inter-schools quiz. After the first round of ten we found ourselves in third place, but took the lead in the third round and never looked like being threatened for the remainder of the competition. Not only did each team member pick up a gift token for £10 they also earned the school a cheque for £100. Well done one and all.
World Debating Championships
Wales hosted the World Schools Debating Championships in July 2006 and Bryngwyn played host to 4 teams for round 7 and 8 on Monday 10 July. It was a pleasure and an honour to welcome pupils representing Sri Lanka, Hungary, Greece and current world champions, Australia. Our own debating team of Gareth Richards, Samantha Cooper and Nathaniel Williams, together with Kier Thompson were involved as chairpersons and timekeepers for the two rounds and pupils from Years 8, 9 and 10 made up the audience for the two debates. Coaches from the national teams ran workshops for some of our pupils during the day and hopefully at least one or two will have been inspired enough by the day's proceedings to take up the opportunity to participate in debating sometime in the future.
Tregwaith
The Careers Company put on their annual 'Tregwaith' activity for Year 9 pupils in June. Run over two days in the Sports Hall, pupils took on the roles of single, employed, 24 year olds living in a fictitious Welsh community. By the end of each day they had been involved in various decision making activities and realised that as tax paying adults their gross monthly income was not what they received in their pockets. Welcome to the adult world!
Year 11 Prom
A great night out was in store for our Year 11 leavers at Manor Park, Clydach. No expense was saved as pupils arrived at the school in their stretch-limos, dressed up in evening gowns and dinner jackets. As usual, for Bryngwyn pupils, they were impeccably behaved and at the end of the night we were invited back again next year to the venue by the owner. (see pictures in Events)
Army Cadets Weekend
As part of their 'Outreach' programme, the Army Cadet Force invited some of our Year 8 and 9 pupils to participate in 3 days of activities. The project aims to guide and help young people realise their potential by using adventurous and challenging activities to raise their self esteem and build confidence. The first day was based at the Drill Hall in Llanelli, followed by a weekend at the MOD base in Castle Martin, Pembrokeshire. The pupils had a wonderful time and a big thankyou is extended to the volunteer staff from the cadets and Mr Carl Thomas and his wife Emma from the Learning Support Department for giving so freely of their spare time.
Sporting Digest
Athletics
The girls' U'14 team won the Llanelli Schools competition and went on to represent the town in the Dyfed finals. However, the star athlete of 2006 must be Rhys Webb of Year 9. At both 80m hurdles and javelin, Rhys won both the Llanelli Schools and Dyfed Schools and then to cap a magnificent season went on to win a gold medal in his two chosen disciplines in the Welsh Schools Championships. The last person to achieve such a feat at this level was Colin Jackson. So we have big expectations of Rhys, who even picked up a silver medal at the Nationals as part of the county 4 × 100m relay team.
Cricket
The Year 8 cricket team made it through to the Dyfed final where they lost to Greenhill School, Tenby with Liam Samuel being the chief wicket taker and run maker in the final.
Nathan Richards, Robert Bowen, Rohan and Michael Nangalia have all been awarded county caps whilst Richard Sourbutts represented the South Wales League at U'12. Zain Ikram had a successful tour of the West Indies with the West of England team over Easter and is a regular member of the Welsh U'16 cricket XI.
Netball
Lia Roberts, Year 11 represented West Wales.
Boxing
Rhydian Davies won his first bout as an amateur boxer fighting for Trostre Boxing Club.
Triathlon
Nardia Davies, Year 7, came fourth in the Welsh Championships.
Tennis
Hayley Thomas, Year 9, has represented the Llanelli Ladies' team in Division 1 of the South Wales League this season.
Rugby
Luke Lewis our Year 10 captain has gained a place in the Scarlets Regional U'16 squad.
SATS Results
197 Year 9 pupils sat their National Curriculum Tests in English, Maths and Science at the beginning of May. In Science, 73% of the year group achieved level 5 or higher, in English, 71% and Maths, 66%. Congratulations are extended to all pupils and staff concerned.
UK Maths Olympiad
After gaining an outstanding result by achieving his gold award in the UK Maths Trust Challenge, Carl Turner (Year 10) qualified to sit the Maths Olympiad paper. His excellent performance was rewarded with a certificate of distinction.
Who's for breakfast?
A new breakfast club has recently been set up by the Learning Support Department in partnership with Asda stores in Llanelli. This pilot scheme hopes to promote healthy eating and improve punctuality as well as providing a tasty start to the school day.
Mixed Emotions
As the Summer term draws to a close we will be losing the services of several members of staff. Mr Kevin Beasley, who joined the Science department in January has secured a permanent post in Worcester. Ms Jo Grundy will be leaving to take up a full time post at Coedcae. Six members of staff will be retiring after many years of service. Mr Dennis Phillips, Head of Science, came to the school from Graig Comprehensive in 1993. Whilst the remaining five members of staff have been in Bryngwyn since its inception in September 1977. Mrs Jean Rees has been both a dinner lady and cleaner for the past 29 years. Mrs Betty Devereaux has been part of the MFL department. Mr Baden Jones, a member of the Technology department and both Mr Haydn Williams and Mr Robert Richards have been Heads of Year. We wish them all the very best of health and happiness and thank them sincerely for their various and varied contributions.