Welcome to the final update of 2024!! I would like to thank all pupils, staff, parents and carers and governors for their continued support throughout 2024. I hope whatever you have planned over the next two weeks, you are able to relax and a have a fabulous time.
Just a few reminders:
Monday 6th January is a designated INSET Day for staff so all pupils will return to school on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
Please ensure that pupils attend school as much as possible and are punctual. There have been improvements in both these areas during 2024 which we very much appreciate but attendance remains below pre-COVID figures still. Welsh Government guidance means that any pupil with less than 90% attendance is classed as being a persistent absentee. The school and Education Attendance Service will continue to work closely with pupils and families in 2025. Pupils must also adhere to the school uniform policy which can be accessed via the school website.
I also need to bring to your attention an increase in the price of the set meal from the start of the Spring Term from £2.90 to £3.00. We always endeavour to keep prices as low as possible, however in light of continued increases in food costs, we have had to increase the set meal along with a small increase to menu choice options. These will be available to view via the school website.
On Tuesday 10th December pupils in year 10 who have completed all their sections for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award were invited to the Princess Royal Theatre to be presented with their badges and certificates. Pupils have successfully completed 6 months of volunteering, physical activity and developing a skill. The group completed a practice expedition in Margam Park before their final expedition around the Gower in the summer term. Congratulations to everyone on your achievement!
CyberFirst Girls Competition
Four girls from 8JLE took part in the The CyberFirst Girls Competition which aims to inspire girls interested in technology to pursue a career in cyber security. Girls worked together as a team in school as well as at home for 5 days straight. Girls have done really well in the competition scoring over 4500 points! Even though they didn’t make it to the semi-finals, the girls have still learnt plenty of new skills. When the competition concluded, two of the pupils decided to apply for the Digital Leaders recognition within the school with success.
Top of the Bench Chemistry Competition Swansea University 2024
Two mixed teams of year 8 to year 11 pupils attended Swansea University on Thursday December the 12th to take part in the prestigious ‘Top of the Bench’ Chemistry Competition. The event involved competing in a Kahoot quiz against pupils in the same year group from other schools. This was followed by a team practical activity in the lab using indicators and titration method. Both teams did fantastically well in the Kahoot’s quizzes! We gained 4 podiums; Samuel Gibbon and Dylan Jarvis each taking 3rd place, Tanisha Hussain 2nd place, and Maisie-Kate Rowland gaining 1st place in year 10 out of 61 teams!
Both teams gained maximum points for safety in the lab, and displayed excellent teamwork and practical skills throughout the lab session!
Students Participate in the National GCHQ Christmas Challenge 2024
This holiday season, students from Year 7 to Year 11 took part in the national GCHQ Christmas Challenge 2024. The competition featured seven tricky puzzles designed to test the students’ problem-solving and teamwork skills. Both students (and some of our staff) enjoyed working together to solve each puzzle, aiming to uncover the final Christmas message. The challenge was a great way for everyone to engage and have fun during the festive period. One of our Year 11 teams stood out by completing all the codes and revealing the message in an impressive time of just 1 hour and 49 minutes! Their quick thinking and collaboration made them the fastest team, achieving something many thought would be near impossible. Congratulations to the Year 11 students for their outstanding performance! Well done to all the participants for their hard work and enthusiasm in making this year’s challenge a success.
Yr Ysgol Ganol/Middle School
Year 7&8 have been working hard in preparation for Christmas. There have been lots of fun activities such as Christmas Jumper day and a 2 km Christmas Fun Run for year 8 in order to raise funds for charity. 6 pupils each from Year 7&8 were invited for their half termly Hot Chocolate with the Headteacher in order to acknowledge the hard work and effort they consistently put in. Well done to those! Finally, as the last week of term approaches, there will be an awards assembly to celebrate a number of achievements across the year groups and many pupils will be invited to watch a Christmas film as a reward for their efforts this term.
Huge well done to year 8 for running their Christmas Charity Run in aid of the eye cancer charity CHECT today, great effort by all in raising money for this deserving cause.
Christmas Netball
A lot of fun was had in the Christmas Netball competition
THIS WEEK
As far as the last week of term is concerned, throughout the week there are activities planned for different year groups. When these activities are not going ahead there will be normal timetable with normal lessons as far as possible, but teachers will also be responding to the level of attendance in a class.
Art Department Non-Examination Assessments
This week our Year 11 pupils who are studying GCSE Art, Photography and or Textiles will be completing their final non examination assessments. This will provide them with the opportunity to complete all work to the highest possible standard before starting the examination Unit in January. The timetable for this is:
Monday Dec 16th
11A Art AJH EA7 8:55 – 14:55 11B Art DNO EA6 8:55 – 14:55
Please click on the link to access a letter regarding information about the Year 9 Option process at YBB. Letter Mr Williams has already spoken to pupils in their individual classes.
I will write again to parents and carers later in the week to provide some important information/reminders for the start of the Spring Term 2025. Remember that Monday 6th January is an INSET Day for staff and all pupils will return to school on Tuesday 7th January.
Throughout the week next week flu vaccinations will take place for secondary phase pupils.
The Patient Information Leaflet is included below and can be downloaded.
If your child has asthma & been unwell with a wheeze or has had to use inhalers more often in the last 72hrs &/or they have needed oral steroids in the past 2 weeks, then you need to notify the School Nurse on SBU.schoolnursing@wales.nhs.uk or 01639 862801”
WAW! Am ymateb i’n hymgyrch Mr X 2024. Diolch o galon i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu eleni, mae’r nifer o anrhegion yn anhygoel. Mae ein cymuned ysgol wedi bod yn garedig iawn wrth ddarparu’r anrhegion i rhai sydd angen dros yr ardal. Llongyfarchiadau enfawr i’n cyd-lynydd Miss Preedy am ymgyrch hynod o lwyddiannus unwaith eto eleni! What a response to our Mr X 2024 appeal. Heartfelt thanks to all who contributed, the number of presents is amazing. Our school community have been extremely generous in providing these presents to those in need across the area. Huge congratulations to our co-ordinator, Miss Preedy, on a hugely successful campaign once again this year!
Braf iawn oedd croesawu AS Aberafan David Rees i’r ysgol heddiw am sesiwn holi ac ateb gyda grwp o ddisgyblion blwyddyn 7,8,9 a 10. Roedd ein disgyblion yn wych wrth ofyn cwestiynau aeddfed a phwysig. It was lovely to welcome AM for Aberafan David Rees to school today for a Q&A session with group of our year 7,8,9 and 10 pupils. Our pupils were great, asking important and mature questions.
Diolch yn fawr i Mr Wallace am gynnal proses detholi ardderchog ar gyfer ein Harweinydd Digidol newydd. Edrychwn ymlaen yn fawr at weld y grwp yn datblygu sgiliau TGCh disgyblion, staff a rhieni. Huge thanks to Mr Wallace for holding an excellent selection process for our new Digital Leaders. We are looking forward to seeing the group developing the ICT skills of pupils, staff and parents.
Rydym hynod o falch ar ol derbyn y Wobr Arian Siarter Iaith heddiw! Llongyfarchiadau enfawr i’n disgyblion, staff, corff llywodraethu, rhieni a’n partneriaid cymunedol, diolch yn fawr i Mr Rhys Locke am ei ymweliad dilysu hynod o gadarnhaol. We are exceptionally proud after receiving the Welsh Language Charter Silver Award today. Huge congratulations to our pupils, staff. parents and community partners. Diolch yn fawr to Mr Rhys Locke for his extremely positive validation visit.
Hyfryd iawn oedd gweld disgyblion a chyn ddisgyblion Ysgol Bae Baglan yn serennu yng Ngwyl Shakespeare yn Neuadd Gwyn, Castell Nedd ar y penwythnos. Da iawn i Mrs Helen John am ei gwaith anhygoel gyda’r grwp. It was lovely to see past and present Ysgol Bae Baglan pupils starring in the Shakespeare Festival at the Gwyn Hall, Neath on the weekend. Well done to Mrs John on her amazing work with the group.
The whole school came together to hold a very special Remembrance Service on Tuesday. Our pupils were respectful and dignified in supporting the service and some played significant roles in the event. It was lovely to welcome S4C to the school and there was a fabulous bulletin of our service on Heno Tuesday evening
Blwyddyn 8/Year 8
This week has marked Armistice Day and in order to support the Royal British Legion Mrs Challenger’s form have been busy selling poppies. Pupils and staff have been very giving and we are able to make a generous donation to the charity.
This week’s Seren Yr Wythnos has been awarded to Alana Hughes and Lily Collins both of 8ACH. This is due to their ongoing dedication in promoting the Welsh language across the school! Well done girls. Finally, Year 8 are still busy collecting for our annual Mr X Appeal and we would greatly appreciate any donations of gifts via your child’s form tutor if you are able to.
Huge congratulations to our Criw Cymraeg who won the Neath Port Talbot Schools Dragon’s Den competition. They won a prize of £1000 to spend on developing the use of Welsh across our school and local community. Their bilingual presentation was very professional, highlighting their obvious passion for our language. Many thanks to Miss Holland, Mrs Thomas and all staff for their support to the crew.
Blwyddyn 7
SerenYr Wythnos: Llongyfarchiadau i Livie Davies for her excellent animal cell homework made entirely out of cake and Riley Parker for excellent efforts in History.
Cystadleuaeth Ffotograffiaeth Eisteddfod Y Cymoedd Photography Competition
Huge congratulations to Ceirion in class 7MLA who recently won the Year 7-13 photography competition at the Valleys Eisteddfod in Caerphilly.
12 pupils attended a SEREN event in Bro Dur on Wednesday 13th November which was a preparation day for the NPT debating competition. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to start working on their debating technique in preparation for Januarys competition.
Children In Need 2024
The whole school came together last Friday to help raise money for the annual Children in Need campaign. There were a variety of activities including wearing non-uniform and stalls and activities at lunchtime. We managed to raise over £1,500 which is a tremendous effort. A big thank you in particular to Miss Jenkins and the Year 11 Leaders who worked so hard to make it a successful day.
YBB Garden
As the seasons change, it is lovely to see the success of the gardening completed over the last few months. We have used the money raised to plant over 200 daffodils and we have had great results from the gardening completed during work experience week. A big thank you to 11JMA and who completed a lot of hard work this autumn and HEAT who fundraised in the summer.
Sports Results (week beginning 11th -15th Nov)
Tues 12th – Year 7 Boys rugby development festival – Won 2/Lost 2
Year 9 Netball v Maesteg – Won
Year 11 Netball v Maesteg -Won
Year 8 boys football v St.Josephs – Won
Year 10 boys football v St Josephs – Won
Year 9/10 Girls Basketball Tournament (Won 2/Lost 1 – County Runners-Up)
Weds 13th – Year 7 boys rugby v Llangatwg – Lost
Thurs 14th – Year 7 girls rugby festival – Won (Unbeaten)
This Week
On Thursday 21st November, the school’s Christmas Celebration returns!! It will be held in the atrium area between 4-7 p.m. All are welcome.
Llongyfarchiadau to our Seren Yr Wythnos Cayden Macey and Dylan Fernandez, awarded to both for their outstanding teamwork and example to others. Congratulations to the Year 7 pupils who have been selected to join our Health Eco Action Team and to those chosen to play a leading part in our Whole School Remembrance Service on Tuesday 12th November 2024.
Blwyddyn 8/Year 8
Da iawn to this week’s Seren Yr Wythnos, Naomi Gomedza and Amelia Edwards. This has been awarded for their fantastic contribution to the girls’ basketball team and their sportsmanship, which has seen the team qualify for the Welsh finals! Da iawn merched. This week has also seen Year 8 launch the annual Mr X Christmas Appeal to all year groups across the school. The charity ensures disadvantaged children in the local community receive gifts on Christmas Day! This is always well supported by the YBB School Community and their families.
Huge congratulations to our year 7&8 girls’ basketball team; Neath and Port Talbot Regional Champions.
This Week
Remembrance Service – 12th November 2024
Sports Fixtures
Fixtures/training week beginning 11th -15th Nov
Mon 11th – Year 7/8 Netball training/matches 3-4pm
Tues 12th – Year 7 Boys rugby development festival (9.30-12pm) at St Josephs Comp.
Year 9 and 11 Netball fixture v Maesteg (Home)
Year 8 boys football v St.Joseph’s (away)
Year 10 boys football v St Josephs (home)
Year 9/10 Girls Basketball Tournament (Sports Hall 1-3pm)
Year 8/9 Hockey training (after school)
Weds 13th – Year 7 Hockey training (lunchtime)
Year 7 boys rugby v Llangatwg (home)
Thurs 14th – Year 7 girls’ rugby festival (Brynteg Comp, Bridgend – 9.30-12pm)
Children In Need
Friday 15th November
Non Uniform Day – £1 donation
Lunchtime fundraising—face painting, stalls, games and activities, raffles (please bring in loose change.)
Achievement Tree at YBB
A big well done to the pupils who have been nominated for September & October for an impressive start to the school year. Focus for November & December now turns to setting a good example to others. Thank you to Mr John (Art) who co-ordinates this initiative. It is an impressive art display and pupils really do enjoy seeing their names up on the wall!!
Charity Fundraising
A big thank you to all who supported our last fund raiser – The Megan Mai Foundation. Megan’s dad, came into school and we presented him with a cheque for £150 for the amazing charity he runs to support seriously ill children and their families, in many ways through their difficult times.
As we approach a well-earned half-term break, I would like to thank all pupils, staff and parents/carers for their continued support since September. There are a couple of things I would like to draw to your attention in readiness for pupils returning to school on Tuesday 5th November (Monday 4th November is an INSET Day).
Attendance
Whilst attendance levels in the primary and secondary phase have increased on this time last year, we are like many schools, still below pre-COVID levels. We have a variety of provisions within school to support attendance and regularly reinforce the importance of good attendance with pupils. If for any reason, a pupil is going to be absent, please contact the school reception so that an appropriate absence code can be applied. The Welsh Government now class a pupil as being a persistent absentee if their attendance is below 90%.
Punctuality
Various changes to protocols for recording and improving punctuality to school introduced in the summer term has seen a reduction in numbers of children arriving late to school. Can I remind pupils in the secondary phase and parents that registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Please make every effort to be there on time.
Uniform
Thank you again to those parents who are ensuring pupils arrive in school in full school uniform. We hope our flexible approach to having fewer branded items mean that it is more affordable for parents. Please ensure that when we return to school after the holiday, pupils are in uniform as described on our website. It is not acceptable to arrive in school wearing sporting attire unless it is for a legitimate sporting activity – in which case the PE Department will have communicated this.
Secondary Breakfast Club
We have manged to secure funding to provide free toast and a hot chocolate from 7:45 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. This will be available in the small canteen area every day and there will be staff supervision. We are hoping to secure additional funding in order to be able to continue this initiative in the Spring Term.
Safeguarding
Keeping everybody safe on the school site is a priority. I kindly ask that parents/carers avoid parking their cars on the double yellow lines by main reception. If you are dropping pupils off for breakfast club, nursery etc please park in one of the designated parking bays. Similarly, I would ask that parents remain in their cars with the engine off after school if you are parked in the front car park. The gates are closed between 2:40 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. to minimise the amount of traffic moving on site. This way I can continue to allow people to park on site and ensure pupils leave in a safe manner.
School Production
We are delighted to announce that this year’s school production will be The Wizard of OZ. It will take place 18th-20th February 2025. It is fair to say that excitement levels are rising already!!
I hope everybody has a lovely half-term and we look forward to welcoming the pupils back on Tuesday 5th November.
Year 11 Geography pupils visited Mumbles as part of their GCSE Fieldwork studying change over time in the local area. They had a hugely successful day, which included asking the public questionnaires, filling in land use maps and re-photographing the area.
YBB HEAT (Health Eco Action Team)
The team held their first full meeting this week, lots of great discussions including plans for a second-hand toy stall to help the community with the cost of Christmas and reduce the amount of toys that get thrown away. They decided to spend some of the £102 they raised in the Welsh Festival in July on brand new uniform items for our female sanitary product cupboard to support both pupils and visitors to the school site. Applications from year 7 pupils to join the team will also be open next week – pupils can see their registration teacher for details.
Year 11 leaders delivered an assembly on Leadership and Role Models to the rest of the year groups this week.
KS3 Drama Club are busy rehearsing for the BANG project transition event.
Taith Ffotograffiaeth/Photography Trip
A letter has gone regarding an overnight Photography trip to London and Bristol. I have sent it to year 9’s and they have until Friday 18th October to express an interest in the trip.
Yr Ysgol Ganol/Middle School
Blwyddyn 7
We have launched an NSPCC related kindness challenge for the month of October. We will be completing a range of thoughtful tasks to promote kindness and “make it the norm”. We have started creating a display with our handprints, each containing positive comments from other pupils, recognising our unique qualities and what each of us has to offer. We will be completing a kindness bingo card and creating targets on what attributes are important to us, how we maintain our kind and respectful reputation as a year group, and how we can be good role models to others in our school.
Our role models and Seren yr Wythnos this week are Lilly Rae Davies and Phebee Stachera. We would also like to recognise Brandon Doyle and Harri Purchase Davies for winning our Gwobr Cymreictod.
Special mention this week to our amazing Head of Art, Mr John, and his form class 7AJH, for creating the wonderful Welsh mural as part of our Wal Gymru in school.
Blwyddyn 8
Congratulations to our Seren yr Wythnos winners this week, Elena Roberts and Jake Bailey, recognised for their consistently excellent attitudes to learning and cheerfulness to all aspects of school life.
Year 8 were joined in assembly this week by our new Year 11 pupil leaders. We were delighted to listen to their plans and congratulate them on their recent appointments. The assembly certainly inspired year 8 and provided role models for their own aspirations in the future.
Year 8 have also been busy as part of our Eisteddfod group and will be competing at Eisteddfod Y Cymoedd in Ysgol Cwm Rhymni on Friday 18th October 2024.
As part of Neath Libraries ‘Children’s Literature Festival’, the oral storyteller, Ceri Phillips, worked with our Seren pupils in year 8 on the tradition of oral storytelling in Wales linked to their work in English on the concept of Fear. Pupils have given themselves Bardic names, heard an urban myth about a traveller and contributed creatively to complete the end of the story.
Yr Adran AG/PE Department
Crynodeb o ganylniadau yr wythnos hon/Summary of results for this week (7-11 Oct)
Rygbi/Rugby
Tues 8th – Year 9 boys Ospreys Cup v Cefn Saeson (a) – Won
Year 8 boys v Dwr Y Felin (h) – lost
Thurs 9th – Year 7 boys v Bro Dur (h) – Won
Pêl-rwyd/Netball
Thurs 10th – Year 7A v Birchgrove (a) – Won
Year 7B v Birchgrove (a) – Won
Congratulations to the Year 11 netball team who retained their crown as County Champions in thrilling matches v Olchfa and Bishopston.
Pêl-droed/Football
Mon 7TH – Year 7 football festival V Bro Dur held at YBB. Over 50 pupils involved!
Weds 9th – Year 6 played Carreg Hir (a) – Drew
Profion fitrwydd/Fitness testing
On Thursday 10th October, 38 GCSE PE pupils attended Neath Port Talbot College, Llandarcy campus to carry out fitness testing as part of their ‘Personal Fitness Programme’ evaluation. The pupils enjoyed using state of the art equipment and it was lovely to see past pupils who had chosen to follow a sport course at the college running the tests. The visit also gave them an insight into the type of courses available at Llandarcy.
Y Corff Llywodraethu/Governing Body
During the annual AGM held on Wednesday we said farewell to a number of longstanding governors who are either retiring or whose terms of office have come to an end. Four of the retiring governors had served on the Governing Body for ten years, initially on the interim Governing Body and then on the Full Governing Body when the school opened in September 2016. We would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment to the school and wish them all the best in the future.
Linda Roberts receiving a commemorative slate from Councillor Ted Latham (Chair of Governors) which were kindly produced by Mrs Jayne Lewis from our Technology Department
YR WYTHNOS HON/THIS WEEK
Cyfnod Cynradd/Primary Phase
Flu vaccinations on Tuesday 15th.
Parents Evening on Wednesday 16th and 17th. Parents have been encouraged to book an appointment and to pop along for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat with Mr Davies and Governors. A film will be on in one of the classrooms for parents to leave children whilst they meet with class teachers (supervised by staff).
Cyfnod Uwchradd/Secondary Phase
Year 11 Parents’ Evening is being held on Monday 14th October
Yr Ysgol Gyfan/Whole School
Tuesday, 15th October, is Diwrnod Shwmae across Wales. Diolch yn fawr to our Welsh and Art staff, along with our Criw Cymraeg for organising some fun activities on the day. Diolch yn fawr in advance also to Mr Davies’ form class 8GDA who will be delivering assemblies on the event to year 7&8 on Monday and Tuesday respectively. All pupils and staff are kindly requested to wear a red, white or green top on the day to celebrate our Cymreictod (Welshness). Letters have been sent on satchel one and the website for pupils regarding this, please note the expectation is full uniform on the bottom half; trousers/skirts/tights and shoes.
Gemau/sesiynau ymarfer am wythnos nesaf/Fixtures/training for next week (14th – 18th Oct)
Dydd Llun/Monday 14h
Year 7 boys rugby training (lunch)
Year 8 netball training (3-3.45)
Dry Slope skiing session at Pembrey Ski Centre
Dydd Mawrth/Tuesday 15th
Year 7 girls rugby training (lunch)
Year 9 boys rugby development festival at Cenfig School
Year 8/9 Hockey training (after school)
Year 7/8 netball v St Josephs (h)
Cross Country race at Elba, Gorseinon for selected boys and girls in Years 7-11.
Dydd Mercher/Wednesday 16th
Year 5/6 Netball primary tournament (Ysgol Bro-Dur – 9.30am-2pm)
Year 8/9 boys rugby training (lunch)
Year 7 hockey training (lunch)
Year 7 and 9 football match v Cwm Brombil (away- after school)
Year 9/10/11 netball training (after school)
Year 10 boys rugby – Ospreys cup v Cefn Saeson (a)
Dydd Iau/Thursday 17th
Year 7 boys rugby v Cwm Brombil (a)
Year 11 boys football v Cwm Brombil (a)
Cefnogaeth Cwricwlwm Blwyddyn 11 Ysgol Bae Baglan – Ar ôl yr Ysgol
Ysgol Bae Baglan Year 11 Curriculum Support – After School
Mae cefnogaeth cwricwlwm ychwanegol ar gael yn ôl yr amserlen isod:
The following timetable of additional curriculum support is available:
Dydd Mawrth/Tuesday 3pm – 4pm
History Revision Germany and exam technique – HU11
