MAESTEG School is the latest school from across Bridgend County Borough to receive the much-coveted Siarter Iaith Gold Award. The school has earned the honour for its efforts in following the Siarter Iaith Cymraeg Campus Charter, a Welsh Government programme designed to inspire children and young people to use Welsh in all aspects of their lives.
Throughout the last 12 months, the dedicated members of the school’s Criw Cymraeg have achieved the spectrum of awards available, from bronze through to the gold award. Their work has reached out to the wider community, not least through a Christmas card competition aimed at local primary schools. Winning cards were sold to staff, parents, and the local community, with all proceeds donated to Special Families Maesteg, a charity group offering support to families and children with additional needs.
The Criw Cymraeg also coordinated donations for the Noddfa Food Bank based at the community centre in Caerau. The group carefully labelled each item with its Welsh name, highlighting not only their commitment to supporting the community, but also their dedication to embedding the Welsh language into everyday life.
Additionally, community coffee mornings, drop-in Welsh language sessions for staff, Welsh podcasts, TikToks created to help pupils with basic Welsh rules, workshops set up in the local Welsh-medium primary school, participation in traditional Welsh music and dance, have all contributed to securing the much sought-after gold award.
Thomas, a Year 9 member of the Criw Cymraeg, said: “Being a part of the Criw Cymraeg has boosted my confidence and leadership skills. We have worked with many people across the community. Not only have I developed my Welsh language skills, but I have also learnt more about our culture, and this has inspired me to use more Welsh outside of school. These experiences have made me a prouder Welsh citizen.”
Phoebe Lewis, Welsh lead for the initiative, said: “I am extremely proud of the group’s hard work this year. The pupils have demonstrated excellent leadership skills and have had a positive impact on how the Welsh language is celebrated across the school and local community.
“As a group, we will continue to raise the profile of the Welsh language both within the school and the wider community. Maesteg has a rich history of Welsh culture and language, and it is important to celebrate and commemorate the unique traditions and heritage that we have here in the valley.”
Looking ahead, the Welsh department has exciting plans for the coming months, including a trip to Belgium and Paris in March. Year 9 pupils will have the opportunity to visit significant historical sites, including the grave of Hedd Wyn, the Welsh-language poet who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I, as well as the Welsh World War I Memorial Park in Belgium.
Sian Melbourne, Head of Welsh at the school, said: “It has been such a joy to see Miss Lewis and the Criw Cymraeg develop bilingualism in Maesteg School, they have worked so hard and had a lot of fun along the way! From bronze to gold, Criw have worked with staff and the community to really enhance Cymraeg in Maesteg School – Arbennig, we are all so proud of you all.”
Cllr Martyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services, said: “It is wonderful to learn of the superb efforts of Maesteg School and the deserved recognition that they have received through gaining the Siarter Iaith Gold Award.
“In particular, supporting their local community through their promotion of Welsh language and culture is especially admirable. Congratulations!
“I am inspired by schools across the county borough that are collectively assisting Welsh Government to achieve their goal of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 – I am sure we will reach this target!”
