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Headteacher’s Update – 25th October 2024

Mr R. Rees

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 Celebration

Mr S. Davies

Dear Parents and Carers,

An evening of celebration for our current Year 11 pupils has been provisionally booked to be held at the Manor Park Country House, Clydach, on Tuesday the 24th of June 2025.

We have tried to promote this event as fully inclusive and as such there is certainly no expectations of formal dress. Return transport will also be provided for all pupils who wish to attend. Whilst we all want to enjoy the evening, school cannot be responsible for any extra costs associated with this event and encourage all families to keep this in mind when making choices.  This year the ticket cost will be approximately £42 and will be payable via Parent Pay when opened in the Spring Term. We will confirm the ticket price as soon as the venue release their new season prices in the new year.

Pupils and their families and friends can meet at the front of the school, for photographs between 5:15 – 6:00pm. We will leave school promptly at 6:00pm and travel by coach to the Manor Park Country House for the celebrations, which include a raffle, buffet, and disco. This is always an enjoyable night and a great end to their school lives. The pupils need to be collected from the rear school car park on their return at approximately 11:00pm. As usual, we thank parents in advance for not attending the venue due to the logistical and safety issues this presents.

All pupils will start the year with an invite, and we hope that by embracing their final year of school in a positive way this evening of celebration can be shared by everyone. However, if there are any reasons why this may not be the case the pastoral team will be linking with pupils and parents to try to support a positive outcome, but this will be at the discretion of the Headteacher.

Additionally, there will be a Leavers Assembly on Friday 20th of June at school for Year 11 pupils only and further details will be shared closer to the time.

Regards,

Mrs S Rogers

Year11CelebrationDownload

Headteacher’s Update – 21st October 2024

Mr R. Rees

Yr Ysgol Ganol/Middle School

Blwyddyn 7/Year 7

BINGO! Our Year 7’s have been completing their kindness bingo cards this week, displaying a number of random acts of kindness. We have used our lovely manners, we have offered each other help, positive praise and shown a respectful attitude. Kindness spreads kindness and it is scientifically proven to be good for us. 

Llongyfarchiadau to our Seren yr Wythnos this week, Jaxon Malyn for his incredible kindness and Callan Boxall for a consistently excellent effort and attitude. Equally, llongyfarchiadau to our winners for Gwobr Cymreictod, Abdullah Nazirov and Erin Jones for their positive attitude towards Wales, Welsh, its culture and heritage.  

Blwyddyn 8/Year 8

Well done to this week’s Year 8 Seren Yr Wythnos  which went to Michael Owen and Casey Button for achieving such a high number of positive perxs in one week and being a remarkable friend and role model respectively. Well done and congratulations both! 

This week 8GDA planned and presented a fantastic assembly to Years 7 and 8 on Diwrnod Shwmae and the importance of keeping the Welsh language alive. Thank you to Mr Davies and the pupils in his form. Finally, several pupils from 8ACH and 8JLE have been busy rehearsing this week for Monday’s ‘BANG’ project which will be performed to Year 6 on Monday to highlight the dangers of Bonfire Night and how pupils and their families can enjoy the event safely. 

Eisteddfod Y Cymoedd Ysgol Cwm Rhymni 18 Hydref 2024

Ar nos Wener, aeth 35 o’n disgyblion i Ysgol Cwm Rhymni er mwyn cystadlu yn Eisteddfod Y Cymoedd 2024. Mi roedd yn noson hyfryd a llwyddiannus iawn iddynt, diolch yn fawr iawn i Mrs Murphy-Harries am baratoi’r grŵp i berfformio a mynd â nhw am brofiad gwerthfawr iawn,

On Friday night, 35 of our pupils visited Ysgol Cwm Rhymney to take part in Eisteddfod Y Rhondda 2024. It was a lovely and very successful evening for them, huge thanks to Mrs Murphy-Harries for preparing the group to perform and taking them on a very valuable learning experience.

Canlyniadau/Results

Llefaru Unigol Blwyddyn 7-13 Individual Recitation

1af Cameron Barnett Ysgol Bae Baglan

2il Phoebe Gorvett Ysgol Bae Baglan

3ydd Gracie Paisey Ysgol Bae Baglan

Grŵp Recitation Blwyddyn 7-13 Group Recitation

1af Ysgol Bae Baglan (grŵp 2)

2il Ysgol Bae Baglan (grŵp 3)

3ydd Ysgol Bae Baglan (grŵp 1)

Cystadleuaeth Llenyddiaeth Blwyddyn 7-9 Literacy Competition

1af Mared Nicholas Ysgol Bae Baglan

2il Harvey Rees Ysgol Bae Baglan

Cystadleuaeth Llenyddiaeth Blwyddyn 10-13 Literacy Competition

1af Amelia Davies Ysgol Bae Baglan

2il Chloe Evans Ysgol Bae Baglan 3ydd Grace Smith Ysgol Bae Baglan 

Art Department

A selection of our pupils are currently exhibiting their work at the Queen Street Gallery during the Neath Arts Festival. Mr John and Mrs Noonan also have their own artwork on display. 

Over 40 pupils have entered the Hoop Education ‘create a pumpkin’ competition. Many thanks to all that contributed. We’ve had some amazing entries and winners will be announced over the next few weeks. 

Upper School

Year 10 Personal Development classes have been working with MorganStone Construction as part of their Careers and Work Related Education. Pupils have enjoyed learning about a wide range of careers in construction.  They have been matching skills to Project Managers, Health and Safety Officers, Quantity Surveyors along with Marketing and Digital Services.

Pupils had the opportunity to create their own bluprints of homes and public buildings when learning about maths in construction.  Past pupil Dylan Samuel is working for the company, he is in the process of completing a higher apprenticeship.  Dylan has been very engaging and he has been excellent at building relationships with pupils.

Year 11 have had a busy week starting with parents’ evening on Monday. Pupils have also had end of topic tests in Science and English assessments.

The Rugby Leaders spent the day in Llandarcy working with primary pupils using rugby skills to build confidence.

Year 11 Leaders met to plan Children in Need activities, Year 11 are looking to oversee the events for November 15th.

Neath Port Talbot College came into year 11 assembly to discuss further education options.

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Year 11 Leaders. As well as takaing the opportunity to award the pupils with their certificates for their successful applications, it was a nice opportunity to listen to their views and opinions about a range of issues and their plans for the year ahead.

PE Department

Summary of results for this week (14th-18th Oct)

Rugby

Weds 16th – Our Year 11 Rugby leaders assisted with Primary festival at Llandarcy Academy of Sport

Thurs  17th – Year 7 boys rugby v Cwm Brombil – Lost  

Netball

Thurs 17th – Year 7A v St Josephs  – Won

                     Year 7B v St Josephs   – Won

                     Year 7C v St Josephs   –  Lost

                     Year 8A v St Josephs   – Lost

                     Year 8B v St Josephs   – Lost

Football

Weds 16th    Year 7 boys football v Cwm Brombil – Won

                      Year 9 boys football v Cwm Brombil – Won

Thurs 17th –  Year 11 boys football v Cwm Brombil – Lost

Fixtures/training for next week (14th – 18th Oct)

Monday 21st  

Year 7 boys rugby training (lunch)

Year 8 netball training (3-3.45)

Tuesday 22nd

Cross Country Relay races (Cwmtawe school -12pm until 4.30pm)

Year 8/9 Girls rugby – “Road to the principality” competition (Ysgol Bae Baglan  9am -2.30pm)

Year 9 boys rugby development festival at Cenfig School

Year 8/9 Hockey training (after school)

Year 7 netball v Cwm Brombil (away)

Wednesday 23rd

Year 8/9 boys rugby training (lunch)

Year 7 hockey training (lunch)

Year 10 football match v Cwm Brombil (home- after school)

Year 9/10/11 netball training (after school)

Our Year 11 Rugby leaders will once again be assisting with a Primary festival at Llandarcy Academy of Sport

Thursday 24th

Year 10/11 girls rugby – “Road to the principality” competition (Aberavon Green Stars-  9am -2.30pm)

Year 8 boys football v Cwm Brombil (a)

Year 10 rugby Ospreys cup v Cefn Saeson (a)

Headteacher’s Update – 14th October 2024

Mr R. Rees

YR WYTHNOS DIWETHAF/LAST WEEK

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

French LC5

Drama EA2

Dydd Mercher/Wednesday 3pm – 4pm

Art EA8

Business Hu9

Engineering TE4

Maths Intermediate Ma5

Skills Challenge Hu1

Dydd Iau/Thursday 3pm – 4pm

Geography Hu10

Art EA6

Skills Challenge Ma2

Amser cinio/Lunchtime

Art EA6, 7 and 8 daily

Business Hu9 Mon and Fri

Digital Technology Hu7 Mon, Wed and Fri

Engineering TE4 daily

GCSE PE Personal fitness programme/catch-up session in HU15 – Thurs

Skills Challenge Hu1 daily

Welsh LC9 Wed and Thurs