At Ysgol Bae Baglan we aim to inspire every pupil in feeling pride and affection towards our language and culture. We strive to do this by creating a school environment where seeing, hearing and using Welsh is a natural everyday experience. We are committed to achieving success under the Welsh Language Charter Award Scheme. You will have recently seen our Siarter Iaith School Statement published on the school website. Please click on the link here to read about the Welsh Language Charter scheme and here to see the steps required for achieving awards in line with the charter requirements. We kindly ask for your help in supporting us to become an ever more bilingual school, cultivating an atmosphere where the Welsh language truly belongs to us all.
On the 25th September Mrs Summerfield took 39 pupils and 5 staff to Poland to visit Auschwitz concentration camp. They flew from Luton and had a three night stay in Krakow city centre. Day 1 pupils travelled to Luton airport and arrived for a well earned rest in their hotel. Day2 they had a tour of Krakow and visited many memorials linked to the Holocaust. They were given some shopping time and then visited a traditional folklore evening where the children were able to get up and dance. Day 3 the pupils visited Auschwitz which was a harrowing experience but they learnt so much from it. During the evening they had some well needed fun in the local bowling alley. Day 4 pupils were given some time to buy some last minute souvenirs in Krakow old town before heading back to the airport to make the journey home. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic experience.
Last week, the school hosted its annual Year 6 Open Evening between 4:00-7:00 p.m. It was a very succesful event and I would like to thank those secondary pupils who gave up their time to assist pupils and parents. They were all a credit to the school.
Music at Ysgol Bae Baglan
Our Year 6, 7 & 8 pupils also enjoyed the Peripatetic Roadshow on Tuesday 1st October which was organised by Cerdd Music. Again, Year 10 GCSE Music pupils helped Mr Lewis run a really enjoyable event. Any students wishing to take up instrumental / vocal lessons, there are several spaces available for new learners in the following areas:
Brass
Woodwind
String
Percussion
Guitar
Piano
Singing
A new school choir will be starting on Tuesday 8th October 3pm until 3:45pm. This will occur every Tuesday, and we will be starting to prepare some songs/performances for Christmas.
Middle School News
Pontio/Transition
It was lovely to welcome so many year 6 pupils and parents to their new school on Monday 30th November 2024. This was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the amazing breadth of academic and extra-curricular opportunities available at Ysgol Bae Baglan, a very successful evening. The next day we welcomed year 5&6 pupils from across the cluster to enjoy a very entertaining music concert with us, provided by the Neath Port Talbot Peripatetic Service. We look forward to seeing all of year 6 again on 21st October, this time our own pupils will be putting on a drama show based around Halloween and Fireworks Night. Exciting developments to our transition programme this year include the additions of a new sports competition – The Bae Baglan Shield and a Cluster Eisteddfod at Ysgol Bae Baglan in February 2025.
Blwyddyn 7/Year 7
Huge congratulations to our pupils of the week Ayna Reezman and Brody Howells and to our winners of the Gwobr Cymreictod (Welsh Award) Ethan Weaver and Brooklyn Fielding East. Blwyddyn 7 enjoyed a fabulous concert laid on by the Neath Port Talbot peripatetic service on Tuesday. Pupils in the year group have been very busy this week, playing sports fixtures after school, starting rehearsals for taking part on stage in Eisteddfod y Cymoedd in October and providing photographic and art entries for the off-stage competitions. 7MLA have begun preparing their Middle School Assembly on Aberfan and all classes are starting a kindness/wellbeing project under the guidance of the year 7 Wellbeing Director Miss Holland.
Blwyddyn 8/Year 8
Huge congratulations to our pupils of the week Adam Lloyd and Connie Burgum and our Gwobr Cymreictod winner Logan Locke. Some of our year 8 pupils enjoyed an interactive concert with the Neath Port Talbot peripatetic service on Tuesday. Our year 8 Criw Cymraeg pupils have been busily preparing for the visit of Rhys Locke the County Welsh Language Officer and pupils have also been involved in rehearsals for individual and group recitation performances at Eisteddfod y Cymoedd on the 18th October 2024. Form class 8GDA have been working on preparing their Middle School Diwrnod Shwmae assembly.
Upper School News
Year 9, 10 & 11 had live assemblies last week from the Sennedd, explaining what happens in the Chambers and encouraging our pupils to consider standing for the Welsh Youth Parliament.
Year 9, 10 & 11 have all taken part in the Upstream Cymru questionnaire to help identify anyone who may need some extra support and in what area allowing us to put in place the relevant programme/referral.
A number of pupils in Y9 have signed up to the Mullany e-Mentoring service and are in regular contact with mentors. The aim is to develop their understanding of possible STEM careers.
I was delighted to meet with our Year 11 Leaders during assembly on Friday 4th October. They will meet the different year groups in assemblies over the next few weeks. Their role includes:-
Act as an ambassador for the School.
Work on School Charity Events
Assist with Year 6 Transition days
Be a tour guide at Open Evening and attend to visitors.
Assist at Parents’ Evenings/School events
Help to organise some Year 11 events.
Meet with Mrs Jenkins weekly.
Create/contribute to assemblies to pupils in middle school.
Sports Results(30th Sept -4th Oct)
Rugby
Tues 1st – Year 9 boys Ospreys Cup v Dwr Y Felin (a) – Lost
Weds 2nd – Year 10 boys Ospreys Cup v Dwr Y Felin (a) – Won
Thurs 3rd – Year 7 boys v Brynteg (a) – Lost
Year 8/9 girls v Llangatwg (h) – Won
Netball
Weds 2nd – Year 7 A v Dyffryn Amman (h) – lost
Year 7 B v Dyffryn Amman (h) – Won
Year 8 A v Dyffryn Amman (h) – Won
Year 8 B v Dyffryn Amman (h) – lost
Thurs 3rd – Year 10 v Ystalyfera (a) – Won
Year 11 v Ystalyfera (a) – Won
The Year 9 netball squad competed in the County Netball Finals at the end of September after winning their group stages. Year 9 won against Cwm Brombil in a tense extra time game and lost to Bishopston coming runners-up in the County. Da iawn!!
Hockey
Thurs 3rd – A hockey festival was held at YBB (astroturf) for Year 8/9 pupils against Bro Dur.
Football
Weds 2nd – Football festival for Year 9 boys v Bro Dur held at YBB (3G)
Fixtures/training for next week (7th– 11th Oct)
Monday 7th
Year 7 boys rugby training (lunch)
Year 7 football festival v Bro Dur (after school)
Year 8 netball training (after school)
Tuesday 8th
Year 7 girls rugby training (lunch)
Year 8 boys rugby v Dwr Y Felin (after school)
Year 8/9 Hockey training (after school)
Year 7 netball training (after school)
Year 9 boys rugby – Ospreys Cup v Cefn Saeson (a)
Wednesday 9th
Year 8/9 boys rugby training (lunch)
Year 7 hockey training (lunch)
Year 6 football match v Carreg Hir (a) 1.45 -2.45pm
Year 9/10/11 netball training (after school)
Year 10 boys rugby – Ospreys cup v Cefn Saeson (a)
Thursday 10th
Year 10/11 girls rugby festival (Bridgend College) 9.30-12.30
Year 7 and 8 boys rugby v Bro Dur (h)
Year 7 netball v Birchgrove (h)
Year 11 GCSE pupils fitness testing at Llandarcy Academy with NPTC College (9-11am)
Friday 11th
Year 11 Basketball v LLangatwg/Bro Dur -1.30-3pm (Sports Hall)
Looking Ahead
Year 11 Parents evening will be held on Monday 14th October. Parents/Carers are reminded to make appointments with the relevant member of staff via the SchoolCloud booking system.
Please click here to see pictures of our year 8 Llangrannog trip.
Roedd y disgyblion yn anhygoel ac maen nhw wedi gwella eu sgiliau siarad Cymraeg. The pupils were amazing and took every opportunity to improve their Welsh language skills.
It is hard to beleive that we have been back in school a fortnight already!! I want to say a huge well done to all the pupils who have made a really positive start to the new academic year. We appreciate that getting back into routines after the summer holiday can be difficult, but I have been impressed with the attendance, punctuality and adherence to uniform so far. Assemblies have focussed on the school’s expectations and importance of mutual respect in the school community. I have been particularly impressed with how well our new pupils have settled. Our Nursery and Reception pupils have settled in well and it was a pleasure to attend the primary phase celebration assembly this morning and take an active part in a rendition of “The Grand Old Duke of York” led by Mr Davies (Head of Lower School) on the piano!! Likewise, Year 7 have made an excellent start to their secondary journey. They have acquainted themselves quickly with the school and impressed staff with their maturity and positive attitude. Da iawn all!!
I know that a number of clubs have started again including the numerous sports clubs which we run. I would encourage as many pupils as possible to make use of the opportunities on offer. Excitement is already building for expressive arts activities planned for this term as well as plans for a whole school production in the Spring Term but more about that in a future update.
I will keep it relatively brief this week but please remember to check our website, social media channels and Satchel One for regular communication updates. Let’s hope we all get to enjoy some September sunshine this weekend – the weather has certainly not been kind to us recently that’s for sure.
The Summer Term is dominated by GCSE Exam season and both Year 10 and Year 11 conducted themselves extremely well during the exams. We await the results in August and hope that Year 11 have a relaxing summer and get the results that allow them to access whatever route they have planned from September. On that note, GCSE Results Day is on Thursday 22nd August. Arrangements for collection have been issued by Mr Williams and can be found on the school website. It was also nice to see so many Year 11 pupils join us for the Leavers Assembly recently and Celebration Evening in The Manor Park. We have also held a Nursery Graduation as well as a Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly in recent weeks. Pupils across all phases have enjoyed a variety of school trips in recent weeks as well as wellbeing events. Many people from within the community and further afield have commented positively on how well behaved and respectful the pupils have been, which is really nice to hear. This was also the case with our Year 10 pupils who recently undertook a week of work experience. Pupils did themselves and the school proud with some pupils even securing part-time jobs!!
I would like to highlight a few things in readiness for September:
Return to School
Autumn Term begins on Monday 2nd September. This will be an INSET Day as usual.
All pupils will return to school on Tuesday 3rd September (except for Nursery pupils)
School Timings
Foundation Phase
7:50 -8:30 a.m.
Breakfast Club (No entry after 8:10 a.m.)
8:30-8:50 a.m.
Registration
8:50-10:20 a.m.
Session 1
10:20-10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40-12:00 p.m.
Session 2
12:00-12:50 p.m.
Lunch
12:50-3:00 p.m.
Session 3
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Enrichment
Key Stage 2
7:50 -8:30 a.m.
Breakfast Club (No entry after 8:10 a.m.)
8:30-8:50 a.m.
Registration
8:50-10:40 a.m.
Session 1
10:40-11:00 a.m.
Break
11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2
12:30-1:20 p.m.
Lunch
1:20-3:00 p.m.
Session 3
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Enrichment
Secondary Phase (Year 7-11)
8:00 -8:30 a.m.
Breakfast Club
8:30-8:55 a.m.
Registration
8:55-9:55 a.m.
Lesson 1
9:555-10:55 a.m.
Lesson 2
10:55-11:10 a.m.
Break
11:10-12:10 p.m.
Lesson 3
12:10-1:10 p.m.
Lesson 4
1:10-1:55 p.m.
Lunchtime
1:55-2:55 p.m.
Lesson 5
2:55-3:55 p.m.
Enrichment
Attendance & Punctuality
It is really important that pupils attend school as much as possible. If for any reason, they are unable to attend school please contact school to report absence. As highlighted above, the school day in secondary phase starts at 8:30 with registration. This is an important part of the day and I would urge pupils to be on time.
Uniform
I have communicated several times throughout the year the importance of school uniform. Pupils will be expected to wear uniform in line with the school’s Uniform Policy in September. PE kit should not be worn unless instructed by the Headteacher.
Mobile Phones
We recognise that mobile phones are an important tool for parents to help safeguard their children. However, we have a very clear message to pupils that mobile phones must not be used during the school day in classrooms or corridors, and nowhere in school during lesson times. At breaktime and lunchtime pupils may use their mobile phones in the yard or atrium. Please do not call your children during lesson times as our “Not Seen, Not Heard, Not Taken” message will be confused if they are expected to take or make calls to parents during learning time. We will continue to confiscate mobile phones until the end of the school day if pupils use them at restricted times or places.
Safeguarding:
The Local Authority will be erecting a fence around the school’s playing fields adjacent to Western Avenue over the summer holiday. This will ensure that pupils continue to have a safe and healthy environment when undertaking PE lessons and matches etc.
Staff Leaving
It is that time of the year when we say farewell to some members of staff. After long and distinguished careers, the following staff members are retiring:
Mrs Kath Palmer (Head of Lower School)
Mr Anthony Marchant (Head of Middle School)
Mrs Madeline Richards (Nursery)
Mr David Clarke (English)
Mrs Jodie Jones (English)
Mrs Julie Peachey (Science)
Mrs Debra Clarke (MFL)
Mrs Jaqueline Dorr (RE)
I am sure you will join me in wishing them all the best in their retirement. In addition, Miss Josie Perkins (Art Department) is leaving to take up a Head of Art post. Again, we wish her all the best in her new venture. Mr Michael Larkman will be returning to the Art Department from September. I would also like to wish Mr Robert Hayward (Science) all the best having done cover for us for some time as well as the following support staff who are leaving:
Mr Caleb Watkins
Ms Abbie Gough
Ms Beth Kennedy
Ms Emma Freeman
Ms Megan Masters
Mrs Donna Jones
I would like to thank parents and carers again for their continued support of the school and to wish you all a relaxing summer holiday. We look forward to welcoming all our pupils back in September.
