Ysgol Y Creuddyn – A Talk The Talk School

Ysgol y Creuddyn is a Welsh language secondary school, situated in Penrhyn Bay near Llandudno in North Wales.

 

Following on from working with their Year 9 students, Deputy Head, Gethin Davies, spoke with Talk The Talk about confidence in young people in Wales, communication skills and what it is about his school that makes him proud.

 

Q. How did you first become aware of Talk The Talk and why did you decide to work with us at Ysgol Y Creuddyn?

 

We became aware of Talk The Talk following a visit to another school in South Wales. The school praised the sessions and all the enthusiasm from the team. We were also made aware about Talk The Talk by other schools in the area that said so many positive things about the resources, the whole day, the follow-up work and more than anything an increase in learners self-confidence with oracy work.

 

Q. What do you consider to be the three most important skills that you aim to equip all students with at your school?

 

The ability to be confident in using all elements of literacy and numeracy as part of their onward journey in life and to gain opportunities to develop these skills in numerous curriculum areas and subjects and to make connections within these subjects in linking the core skills.

 

Q. What is it about Ysgol Y Creuddyn that makes you proud?

 

That all our learners are able to achieve to the best of their ability in all aspects of schoolwork and extra curricular activities. Also, that they can leave the school to be confident in both the Welsh and English language and make a positive contribution to their communities.

 

Q. Recent research by Barnardo’s suggests that young people’s self-confidence in Wales is at an all time low. What advice would you give to other schools/colleagues to help them to boost the aspirations and self-confidence of young people?

 

To give them as many opportunities across the curriculum to nurture confidence through numerous activities. In music this could be performing vocally or on an instrument; in a Maths lesson the ability to stand in front of their peers and explain a mathematical equation or in a Welsh or English lessons to have confidence with oracy work or when reading out loud. Small activities like the above are essential to gradually develop the confidence skills that young people require to build resilience and self-esteem for the future.

 

Q. If we were sitting together a year from now, celebrating a major change in education in Wales, what would that change be and why would it be so important?

 

More freedom and time in the curriculum for cross-curricular working to develop learners skills by engaging with their strengths and having the ability to implement time for boosting young people’s self-confidence as part of a modern curriculum.