As I sit down to write this, I’m not quite sure where to begin—something that doesn’t happen to me very often! I had hoped to keep this short and simple, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been very good at that… so here goes.

After three and a half truly wonderful years as Headteacher of Llangan Primary School, it is time for me to say goodbye.

And what a privilege it has been.

Llangan is a very special place. From the moment I arrived, I knew there was something unique about this school—and that feeling has only grown stronger with every passing term. It has been an absolute honour to serve as your headteacher and to be part of such a warm, supportive and dedicated community.

I want to say, hand on heart, that I am not leaving because I am unhappy here—quite the opposite. I could quite happily stay at Llangan forever. This decision has not been an easy one, and I leave with a very heavy heart.

When I look back on my time here, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy at everything we have achieved together. Llangan truly is a “small but mighty” school, and that is entirely down to the people within it.

To our governors, thank you for your unwavering support and guidance.

To our parents and carers, and the Parent Forum, thank you for your trust, encouragement and for always getting behind the school.

To our incredible PTA—thank you for going above and beyond, time and time again, to provide opportunities and experiences that enrich the lives of our children.

And to the wider community—your kindness, generosity and care have been humbling.

But most of all, I want to thank our amazing staff team. Quite simply, they are exceptional. Every day, they go above and beyond to make sure our children have the very best experiences, and many of the “crazy ideas” I’ve had over the years have only become reality because of their hard work, commitment and belief. Team Llangan really is something special.

I have created a short video of some of my favourite moments from my time here, which I will be sharing with the children in my final assembly. I won’t lie—it was an emotional one to put together. It reminded me just how many incredible adventures we have shared, and just how lucky I have been to be part of them. More than anything, it has left me with memories I will treasure forever.

To the children—thank you for your energy, your laughter, your curiosity and your kindness. You are the heart of this school, and I know that great things lie ahead for every single one of you. Keep climbing high and climbing higher.

I am genuinely devastated to be leaving, and it still doesn’t quite feel real that I won’t be returning after the Easter holidays.

However, I won’t be a stranger. As many of you know, I live locally, and I will be watching with great pride as Llangan continues to go from strength to strength. Please do say hello if you see me out and about—I would love to hear how you are all getting on.

Thank you, sincerely, for everything you have given me over the past three and a half years. It has meant more than I can put into words.

With very best wishes and heartfelt thanks,

James Griffiths

Lockdown and Fire Drill Information

I would like to inform parents and carers that on Monday 23rd March we will be carrying out two important safety drills in school: our termly fire drill and a lockdown drill. These are routine procedures and form an essential part of our commitment to keeping all pupils and staff safe. Both drills will be conducted in a calm and age-appropriate way so that children feel reassured. As part of the lockdown drill, parents will receive a message on the day to reflect how we would communicate in a real situation; please be assured that this will only be a practice exercise.

Jump Out Day Reminder

Looking ahead to next week, we are excited to welcome parents and families into school for our ‘Jump Out Day’ at 2:30pm. This will take place in pupils’ classrooms rather than in the hall, and will provide an opportunity for children to showcase their inquiry learning from this term. We very much look forward to sharing their work and celebrating their achievements with you.

Easter Celebration

On Friday 27th March, we will mark the end of the spring term with our Easter Celebration. This will include our annual PTA-organised Hopathon and Easter Egg Hunt. The PTA have kindly arranged a bouncy castle in the hall, an Easter egg hunt in the garden, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. We are incredibly grateful for their continued support in creating such memorable experiences for our children.

This day will also be my final day as Headteacher of Llangan Primary School after almost four years. It is a moment filled with mixed emotions. It has been an absolute privilege to lead such a wonderful school community. I leave knowing that the school is in safe hands, under the leadership of Mrs Heavyside as Acting Headteacher and Miss Llewellyn as Acting Deputy Headteacher.

In The News

This week has been another busy and enriching one for our pupils. On Wednesday, our Year 2 and 3 children enjoyed a fantastic visit to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. They explored the moon installation and took part in a workshop where they learned about the geology of the moon, as well as rockets and astronauts. It was a thoroughly engaging and memorable day.

On Thursday, Year 4 and 5 continued their outdoor learning with a focus on orienteering. They created their own maps before swapping with others to solve each group’s challenges. This provided an excellent opportunity to develop problem-solving skills, teamwork and resilience through practical, hands-on learning.

We were also incredibly proud of our table tennis team, who represented the school at a national tournament this week. Their determination, teamwork and sportsmanship were outstanding, and they represented Llangan with great pride. We extend our sincere congratulations to them all.

On Friday, our Eco Committee led a successful ‘Rags 2 Riches’ collection. Thanks to the efforts of our school community, we collected an impressive 172kg of clothing for recycling, raising funds for the PTA in the process. A special congratulations goes to Dosbarth Tullyan Eira, who collected the highest amount with 48.9kg. This was a fantastic example of pupil leadership and environmental responsibility in action.

We also celebrated National Outdoor Learning Week with a special visit from Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy. Pupils across the school took part in a range of outdoor activities, including gardening, Forest School, bee keeping and nature exploration. Outdoor learning remains a vital part of our curriculum, supporting the development of key skills, teamwork, confidence, and wellbeing, while helping children to connect meaningfully with the world around them. It was particularly pleasing to see our Pupil Minister for the Environment share the work of the Eco Committee, demonstrating strong pupil voice and leadership.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine.

As you are aware, I will be leaving Llangan Primary School in two weeks time. I promised to keep our school community informed about the recruitment of the next substantive headteacher.

The governing body began the recruitment process as soon as they were informed of my move and were keen to appoint before I departed. The post was advertised and applications were received; however, the governors have decided not to shortlist from the initial round and will readvertise the role in the hope of attracting a wider field of applicants. Interviews will now take place during the summer term.

The governing body will keep parents updated with any further developments as the process progresses.

In the meantime, our arrangements for the leadership of the school in the summer term remain unchanged. Mrs Heavyside will step up as Acting Headteacher and Miss Llewellyn will take on the role of Deputy Headteacher. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to them both for their willingness and commitment to supporting the school during this period. I know I leave our wonderful school in very safe hands.

Important Dates for Next Week

• Wednesday 18 March – Year 2/3 trip to the National Museum, Cardiff

• Thursday 19 March – Reception pupils audiology screening

In the News at Llangan

Science Week Excitement

This week the school has been buzzing with excitement as pupils across the school have taken part in a range of hands-on Science and Design Technology activities.

Children have been busy designing and building their own projects including:

• Year 6: Aeroplanes

• Years 4 & 5: Battery-operated cars

• Years 2 & 3: Mars rovers

• Nursery, Reception and Year 1: Hand puppets

On Tuesday, Years 2 and 3 celebrated Mars Day, a special event organised by the UK Space Agency. Pupils took part in Techniquest’s “Mars Mission”, where they worked together to solve a challenging engineering problem. The children had to communicate effectively, think carefully about materials and their properties, and use their problem-solving skills to complete the task.

It was wonderful to see such teamwork, resilience and thoughtful discussion as they tackled the challenge like real scientists and engineers.

Meanwhile, Dosbarth Gwenynen have been busy designing and creating their own puppets. From choosing colours and materials to adding details such as feathers, buttons and fluffy stuffing, the children showed fantastic creativity and independence. We look forward to sharing the finished puppets with you during our upcoming Jump Out Day.

We have also been incredibly fortunate that several parents who use STEM skills in their careers have volunteered to come in and talk to the children about their work. A huge thank you to:

• Mr Wines – Civil Engineer (Year 4)

• Mrs Davies – Natural Resources Wales (Year 2/3)

• Mrs Davies – Senior Intelligence Analyst with South Wales Police (Year 5)

• Mrs Cooper- Office of National Statistics (Y2/3)

The children particularly enjoyed hearing how STEM skills are used in real-life policing and investigation.

Thank you to all of our parent volunteers who helped bring Science Week to life.

Year 6 Residential – Llangrannog

Year 6 have had an amazing three-day residential visit to the Urdd Centre in Llangrannog on the beautiful Ceredigion coast.

During their stay they took part in a range of adventurous activities while also meeting Year 6 pupils from other schools in our cluster who will join them at Cowbridge Comprehensive School in September.

Staff commented on the excellent behaviour, resilience and positive attitude shown by the pupils, who made the most of every opportunity — despite some typically wet West Wales weather!

A huge thank you to Mrs Heavyside, Mrs Antoniou and Mrs Jones for giving up their time away form their own families to take on our pupils on this fantastic trip. Residential visits like this are incredibly valuable experiences for pupils but involve a huge amount of organisation, planning and staff commitment and lack of sleep!

I feel incredibly fortunate, as headteacher of Llangan, to work with such a dedicated team who always go the extra mile to ensure our children have enriching and memorable experiences.

PTA Mother’s Day Stall

On Friday our PTA organised a wonderful Mother’s Day stall for the children. This takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes to source gifts and organise everything so that pupils can buy a small present for their mums or special people.

A huge thank you to our amazing and dedicated Llangan PTA, who give so much of their own time to support the school and create these lovely opportunities for our pupils. Their efforts help make Llangan the wonderful community school that it is.

A Week of Celebration, Creativity and Looking Ahead

It has been a wonderful week at Llangan Primary School, filled with celebration, creativity and community spirit. From our joyful St David’s Day Eisteddfod to the excitement of World Book Day, it has been a pleasure to see the school buzzing with enthusiasm and pride.

As we look ahead to next week, our focus will turn to British Science Week. This is particularly significant for us this term as our classes are currently engaged in inquiries driven by Science and Technology, with the overarching concept of Design, Engineering and Innovation guiding learning across the school. Over the coming weeks, each class will be designing and producing their own Design and Technology projects as part of this work. We look forward to sharing these with parents during our Jump Out Day before the end of term, where pupils will showcase the results of their creativity and problem-solving.

A sincere thank you must go to the parents who work in STEM industries and who have generously given their time to visit classes and speak to pupils about their careers. These visits help children understand how the learning they experience in school connects to the real world, and they are always incredibly inspiring for our pupils.

Mother’s Day Gift Sale

Back by popular demand, pupils will have the opportunity to purchase small Mother’s Day gifts at school. Children are welcome to bring money to school on Friday 13th March to take part in the sale. Gifts will start from £1.50, and we kindly ask that money is sent in a purse, wallet or clearly labelled envelope.

Due to the Year 6 residential trip, Year 6 pupils will have an opportunity to purchase gifts on Monday afternoon instead.

Year 6 Residential – Llangrannog

Next week, our Year 6 pupils will be heading to the Urdd Centre in Llangrannog for their residential visit, alongside pupils from other schools in our cluster. The children will be leaving before the start of the school day on Wednesday morning.

As the coach will be collecting the pupils from the front of the school, we kindly ask parents not to use the lay-by at the front of the school that morning. We will also be sharing the coach with pupils from Llansannor Primary School, so the area is likely to be particularly busy. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Celebrating Our School Eisteddfod

We were delighted to celebrate St David’s Day with our annual Llangan School Eisteddfod, a wonderful celebration of Welsh culture, creativity and talent.

The event was proudly led by our Head Boy, Head Girl and Deputies, with support from the Criw Cymraeg, who helped organise this year’s competitions and performances. Pupils across the school took part in a wide range of creative activities including Welsh poetry, model making, baking, art and handwriting, alongside a fantastic programme of musical and dramatic performances.

Highlights included performances from every class, our talented Young Performer finalists, and the traditional Chairing of the Bard, where the winner of the Year 6 poetry competition was revealed.

Congratulations to Georgiana, who was crowned this year’s Prif Fardd, and to Snowdonia, who were announced as the winning house.

The celebration concluded with the whole school proudly singing Yma o Hyd, bringing a joyful and memorable end to our celebration of Dydd Gŵyl Dewi.

Thank You to Our PTA and Community

A huge thank you to our wonderful PTA and the entire Llangan community for your continued support.

Through your generosity and enthusiasm, the PTA has raised £527.77 for the school. Every raffle ticket purchased, cake enjoyed and moment of support helps us create even more opportunities for our children.

We are incredibly fortunate to be part of such a supportive and generous community. Diolch yn fawr iawn to everyone involved.

World Book Day

On Thursday, the whole school came together to celebrate World Book Day. We began the day with a fantastic whole-school assembly where we celebrated our shared love of reading and storytelling.

Back in class, imaginations were buzzing as pupils became authors themselves, writing their own stories filled with creativity, adventure and brilliant ideas.

To round off the celebrations, pupils enjoyed a cosy moment with a cup of hot chocolate while listening to a story— the perfect ending to a magical day dedicated to books.

A special thank you to our PTA for generously providing the hot chocolate for all of the children.

Mars Day – Year 2 and 3

On Tuesday, pupils in Years 2 and 3 took part in an exciting Mars Day, working with the European Space Agency, the UK Space Agency and Techniquest.

The day began with a Mars mission challenge, which required teamwork, problem solving and excellent communication skills. Pupils then enjoyed an inspiring live session with Professor Paul Roche from Cardiff University, who spoke to the children about Mars, answered their thoughtful questions and explored whether life on Mars could one day be possible.

It was truly an intergalactic day of learning and discovery.

Football Fixture

Finally, well done to all of the pupils who took part in our football match against Llanfair Primary School on Friday afternoon. It was wonderful to see such teamwork, effort and sportsmanship on display on our school field.

Monday 2 March – 10:00am

We are delighted to invite parents and carers to join us for our St David’s Day Eisteddfod — a joyful celebration of Welsh culture, music and talent.

Tickets are sold out.

Please join the PTA for refreshments in the dinner hall form 9:30-10am. there won't eb access to the school before this to allow the pupils to prepare safely before the event.

We very much hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a truly special and memorable celebration for our children. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Eisteddfod Competitions

A huge thank you to parents for supporting pupils with their competition entries at home. We have been genuinely blown away by the exceptionally high standard of baking, artwork, model making and poetry, alongside the wonderful entries for the young performers’ competition. Our children are incredibly talented, and we cannot wait to showcase their achievements to you on Monday.

Judging has now taken place. Staff undertook the unenviable task of judging the year group competitions, while Criw Cymraeg judged the Year 6 bardic poetry and the young performer entries. Bardic results will be announced during the Eisteddfod. The remaining competition results will be shared during the afternoon on Monday, when certificates, awards and the winning house will also be announced.

Children are invited to wear national costume, red clothing, or a Welsh rugby or football shirt to school on Monday as part of our celebrations.

Big Fresh Parents’ Meeting

Monday 2 March – Immediately after the Eisteddfod

Following feedback and questions raised about school meals, we are pleased to invite parents to attend a Big Fresh Parents’ Meeting in the school hall immediately after the Eisteddfod.

Representatives from Big Fresh, the catering company that provides our school meals, will be on site to present to parents and stakeholders. They will share information about:

• The current school menu

• Portion sizes

• Allergy information

• The regulations and legislation that inform menu design

• How meals are planned and quality assured

Importantly, they are also keen to listen. This will provide an opportunity for parents to raise any queries or concerns directly and to hear responses first-hand.

We also have a Parent Forum meeting on Friday 27 February, where school meals will be an agenda item. Please feel free to raise any points there so that we can share these in advance with Big Fresh.

Big Fresh has expressed a genuine commitment to working closely with both parents and the school, ensuring that parents’ voices are heard and that information about school meals is shared openly and transparently. We hope many of you will be able to attend.

World Book Day 2026

Thursday 5 March

On Thursday 5 March, we will be celebrating World Book Day. Pupils are invited to dress as their favourite book character, or alternatively wear pyjamas or cosy clothes for a day of reading and book-based activities.

The PTA has very generously arranged for children to enjoy a hot chocolate during reading time to mark the occasion. The school is working closely with the PTA to ensure all allergies and dietary requirements are catered for. If you do not wish your child to have hot chocolate, please inform the school office.

Further details about World Book Day can be found at www.worldbookday.com.

Year 6 Residential Meeting

Thursday 5 March – After School

There will be a meeting for Year 6 parents after school in the Year 6 classroom to share final information and preparations for the residential visit to Llangrannog.

Football Fixture

Friday 6 March – 2:45pm–4:15pm

We look forward to hosting Llanfair Primary School for a football fixture on Llangan School Field.

Looking Ahead: National Science Week

Week Beginning Monday 9 March

During the week beginning 9 March, we will be celebrating STEM Week across the school, with all classes engaging in exciting Design and Engineering projects.

We would love to invite any parents or carers who work in a STEM-related field to speak to pupils about their work. STEM covers a wide range of careers, including engineering, computing, healthcare, construction, environmental science, research, data and innovation.

Our aim is to help children understand the real-world skills behind these careers and to broaden their aspirations for the future. Talks would be informal, approximately 15–20 minutes, and delivered to your child’s class or a small group.

If you would be willing to support, please contact the school office outlining:

• Your role

• Your availability during that week

• Preferred days, if applicable

Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation.

Year 6 Residential

11–13 March – Llangrannog

We wish our Year 6 pupils an exciting and memorable residential experience. Further details will be shared directly with families.

In the News This Week

Year 4 Visit to Aston Martin

Year 4 enjoyed a fantastic trip to Aston Martin at St Athan, learning all about the engineering processes involved in building a high-powered car. It was a valuable opportunity to see real-world design and engineering in action.

Parent Forum Update

Meeting: 27 February 2026

Thank you to all year group representatives who gathered feedback from parents and contributed to a constructive and thoughtful discussion.

Big Fresh / School Meals

The majority of discussion focused on school meals. A meeting has been organised with Big Fresh following the Eisteddfod to address parent questions directly. Topics raised included menu differences, universal free school meals, recent menu changes, portion sizes, food quality, communication where children are not eating, and survey feedback. The school will continue to gather and share specific examples with Big Fresh.

Homework

Parents requested that task instructions and spellings are clearly uploaded to the homework page, that practical tasks remain manageable and age-appropriate, and that clarification is provided regarding homework submission days.

Dates and Communication

Parents asked that published dates continue to be carefully checked and that major events are spread evenly across the term where possible.

Eisteddfod

A suggestion was made that baking entries be judged after half term to avoid cakes becoming stale.

School Photos

Concerns were raised regarding the quality of recent photographs. It was suggested that alternative photography companies could be considered, with sample packs potentially reviewed at a future meeting.

Events

Parents asked whether events could be spaced more evenly across the year.

Guinea Pigs

Pickle and Ninja, our nurture guinea pigs, remain extremely popular and positively received.

Nursery / Wraparound Provision

Clarification was requested regarding ad-hoc session fees and payment via ParentPay.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. Have a great weekend.

Kind regards,
James Griffiths
Headteacher

I hope you have all had a restful and enjoyable half term break. It has been another busy and successful period at Llangan, and I am delighted to share some of our recent highlights and important dates for the weeks ahead.

We looking forward to welcoming all back to school tomorrow as usual!

Dance-a-thon Success

Before half term, our children danced their socks off at our all-day Silent Disco Dance-a-thon — and what a day it was. From 9:00am through to 3:30pm, the music never stopped. Each year group took their turn on the dance floor and our fantastic Year 6 pupils stepped up brilliantly to ensure the dancing continued seamlessly, even through lunchtime.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our families, friends and wider community, we raised an outstanding £2,144.33. This far exceeded our original £500 target. Every penny will go towards our PTA Playground Project, helping us to continue improving play opportunities for our children.

My sincere thanks go to our PTA, staff and everyone who sponsored, donated and supported the event. It was Team Llangan at its very best. Diolch yn fawr iawn bawb.

Next Week

• Monday – School returns as normal.

• Tuesday – Year 4/5 trip to Aston Martin Factory in St Athan's.

• Wednesday – Eisteddfod Young Performer auditions.

• Thursday – Governors’ Meeting at 5:30pm in the Year 5 classroom.

• Friday – Parent Forum Meeting 9 am- Staff Room.

St David’s Day Eisteddfod – Monday 2 March

We are very much looking forward to our St David’s Day Eisteddfod Assembly, which will take place on Monday 2 March from 10:00am to 11:30am.

Tickets cost £3.50 each. If you would like to attend and have not yet secured a ticket, please purchase one by midday on Monday 23 February. Initially, one ticket per family will be available to ensure as many families as possible can attend. Any remaining tickets will be released on a first come, first served basis during the afternoon of Monday 23 February.

Families are warmly invited to join us for refreshments, including homemade Welsh cakes, in the school dinner hall from 9:30am. Please note that we are unable to provide early access to the school hall, as children will be rehearsing beforehand.

Eisteddfod Competitions – Home Tasks

Children are invited to complete Eisteddfod tasks at home. Entries are due by Wednesday 25 February to allow time for judging. Pupils may complete as many tasks as they wish, with every entry earning a house point.

1. Video – Highlights of Wales
Create a video showcasing what Wales has to offer. Videos can be shared via Seesaw or Google Classroom.

2. Model Making

• Nursery to Year 2: Create a Welsh dragon mask using craft materials and be ready to explain what the dragon represents in Welsh history.

• Years 3 to 6: Create a model of a Welsh landmark.

3. Traditional Welsh Baking
With support from home, bake a traditional Welsh dish such as Welsh cakes or bara brith and bring it into school to be judged. Children may also choose to write a step-by-step recipe.

Young Performers Auditions

Auditions for Years 3–6 will take place on Wednesday 25 February. Pupils wishing to sing, play an instrument, recite poetry or dance should prepare in advance and inform Mrs Antoniou of their intention to audition.

Year 6 Bard Competition

Year 6 pupils are invited to enter the Bard Poetry Competition. Poems should be original, inspired by Wales and full of powerful imagery that evokes pride and inspiration.

Entries must:

• Be submitted anonymously using a ffugenw (pen name).

• Not include the pupil’s real name.

• Be entirely the pupil’s own work (AI use is not permitted).

• Be typed, printed and handed to Mrs Antoniou by Wednesday 25 February.

Most importantly, pupils should enjoy the creative process and take pride in their writing.

Parent Forum

Our next Parent Forum will take place on Friday 27 February at 9:00am in the staffroom. All are welcome.

Looking Ahead

World Book Day – Thursday 5 March
We look forward to celebrating the joy of reading. Pupils may come to school either in pyjamas or cosy clothes, ready to enjoy a good book, or dressed as their favourite book character. Further details will follow after half term.

Year 6 Residential Parents’ Meeting
A meeting to support families in preparing for the Llangrannog residential will take place on Thursday 5 March from 3:30pm to 4:00pm.

Science Week
More information will be shared shortly about the exciting activities planned.

Highlights from the Week Before Half Term

The final week before half term was full of enriching experiences.

We began with Children’s Mental Health Week, led by Miss Spiller and our Wellbeing Warriors, focusing on the importance of belonging and ensuring our school remains a safe and welcoming place for all.

Our Digital Champions, alongside Mr Howles, delivered a thoughtful Safer Internet Day assembly, reminding us all about online safety, respectful behaviour and what to do if something online does not feel right. Thank you also to families for supporting a near full attendance at Parents’ Evening.

On Wednesday, we proudly hosted the second cluster MAT writing workshop, focusing on editing and peer feedback. The quality of discussion was exceptional. Our thanks go to local author Mr Gareth Thomas for his continued expertise and support.

Year 6 enjoyed a fantastic Technocamps workshop, coding with micro:bits and programming remote control cars, combining creativity, teamwork and problem solving.

Dosbarth Pili-Pala were delighted to welcome Helen from Puppet Play, who inspired the children through storytelling, puppet design and performance. It was a joyful and creative session that sparked great curiosity and imagination.

As always, thank you for your continued support. Llangan is a very special place because of the strength of our community working together for our children.

Mr Griffiths

As we head into the final week before half term, we are looking forward to a busy and exciting few days at Llangan Primary School. Next week, we will be marking Children’s Mental Health Week, with a strong focus on wellbeing, kindness and helping children feel good about themselves. Supporting children’s emotional wellbeing is central to our work in school, and we value the way our whole school community works together to nurture happy, confident learners.

What’s Happening Next Week at Llangan Primary School

💚 Children’s Mental Health Week

Next week we will be marking Children’s Mental Health Week, focusing on wellbeing, kindness and feeling good about ourselves.

Monday 9th February – 1:00pm
The week will begin with a special assembly led by our Wellbeing Warriors, who will launch Children’s Mental Health Week and introduce this year’s theme to the children.

Wellbeing Warrior Awards
During our Star of the Week Assembly, the Wellbeing Warriors will present a Wellbeing Warrior Award to one pupil in each year group, celebrating positive attitudes to wellbeing, kindness and care for others.

Friday 13th February – Dress to Make You Happy Day
On Friday, children are invited to come to school wearing something that makes them feel happy and comfortable. This could be pyjamas, a princess dress, a football kit, or any outfit that brings them joy.
This links beautifully with our Silent Disco taking place later that day.

 PTA Dance-a-thon – Friday 13th February

Get ready for a fantastic day of music and movement!

Our Llangan Primary School PTA Dance-a-thon will take place all day on Friday – non-stop dancing!

• Children will have a choice of three different music channels

• Year groups will take turns dancing throughout the day

• The challenge is to keep the dancing chain going all day, with at least one child dancing at all times during transitions

Sponsorship forms should be returned to school by Friday 13th February, or donations can be made via our JustGiving page. Thank you for your continued support.

 Safer Internet Day – Tuesday

Tuesday is Safer Internet Day. Mr Howles and our Digital Champions will be leading a whole-school focus on online safety, helping children understand how to stay safe, respectful and responsible online.

Thursday Workshops

• Years 5 and 6 will take part in Micro:bit workshops led by Techno Camps

• Nursery, Reception and Year 1 will enjoy a Puppet Workshop in school, linked to their current inquiry learning

Important Parent Update

Please see the email sent to parents today with important updates regarding future leadership arrangements and staffing at Llangan Primary School.

 Sporting Success

This week, our netball team proudly represented the school at the Urdd Netball Tournament in Cardiff. Well done to all the pupils involved for their effort, teamwork and sportsmanship.

It has been another busy and positive week at Llangan Primary School, with pupils fully immersed in a wide range of learning experiences, enrichment opportunities and celebrations across the school. As always, it has been a pleasure to see the children so engaged, curious and proud of their learning.

Update on Headteacher Recruitment

I would like to begin by saying a heartfelt thank you for the many kind messages, words of encouragement and support I have received over the past week. They have meant more to me than I can easily put into words. I am very aware that periods of change can naturally bring questions and concerns, and I want to reassure you that the Governing Body has been working extremely hard throughout this week to ensure continuity, stability and the very best outcomes for Llangan.

While we are not yet able to share specific details, as all arrangements require Local Authority approval and sign-off, I can confirm that the Governing Body is working at pace to ensure that both the interim leadership arrangements and the longer-term headship plans are carefully considered, robust and in the best interests of the school. I anticipate being able to share further updates with you as soon as the appropriate processes have been completed.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

Our Spring Parents’ Evening will take place on Thursday, and this remains an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and next steps with their class teacher. Appointments are being held in school, and pupils are encouraged to attend with parents. If you have not yet booked an appointment, there are still slots available via the Parent Portal, and we would strongly encourage you to do so.

We also have several sporting events taking place next week. On Tuesday, pupils will be representing the school at a netball tournament, and on Friday we will be hosting a football fixture against Llanfair, here at Llangan. We wish all participating pupils the very best and thank staff for their continued commitment to providing these valuable opportunities.

This Week at Llangan

This week, our Year 6 pupils once again took part in the Maths Challenge, demonstrating resilience, teamwork and impressive problem-solving skills. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they tackled increasingly complex tasks.

We also enjoyed vibrant Santes Dwynwen Day celebrations, led proudly by our Criw Cymraeg. The day was filled with music, dance and a strong sense of Welsh identity, reflecting our commitment to celebrating language, culture and belonging across the school.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. Llangan remains a very special community, and it is a privilege to work alongside you all.

Kind regards,
James Griffiths
Headteacher
Llangan Primary School

WOW. What an absolutely outstanding and memorable week it has been for Llangan, filled with pride, opportunity and moments that truly reflect the spirit of our school community.

Sporting Success and Sportsmanship

The week began on Monday with our Year 5 and Year 6 football teams visiting Y Bont Faen Primary School for inter-school matches. It was a fantastic afternoon of competitive sport, teamwork and sportsmanship. Our pupils represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating resilience, respect and encouragement for one another throughout. Thank you to our hosts for a well-organised and enjoyable event.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Choir Experience at the O2 Arena

On Wednesday, our incredible choir travelled to London to perform at the O2 Arena, singing alongside more than 8,000 children. It was an extraordinary experience and one that will stay with the children for many years to come.

The pupils were impeccable throughout the day and night, performing with confidence, joy and pride. They sang their hearts out and were a credit to themselves, their families and our school. I am immensely proud not only of their musical ability, but of their kindness towards one another, their respect for adults and peers from other schools, and their exemplary behaviour across what was a very long and demanding day.

A huge thank you must go to Mrs Heavyside and Miss Spiller, who accompanied the children on a very long journey, leaving at 7:15am and returning at 2:15am the following morning. Their commitment and care ensured the experience was both memorable and safe for all involved.

Llangan in the National Spotlight

Thursday brought yet more excitement as we welcomed the BBC Wales Today team into school to film a special segment linked to the final of The Traitors. Our pupils were absolute superstars, confidently sharing their enthusiasm, creativity and ideas while representing Llangan with pride.

The segment will be broadcast on BBC Wales Today at 6:30pm, and I would encourage families to tune in to catch a glimpse of our wonderful school.

In addition, I was interviewed alongside our very own “Claudia” by Claire Summers on BBC Radio Wales, discussing the staff and pupils’ Traitors game at Llangan and sharing our predictions ahead of the final. The interview will be aired at 5:40pm.

This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the confidence, curiosity and character of our pupils on a national platform, and I could not be prouder of how they conducted themselves.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Year 2/3 Visit to Techniquest

Also on Thursday, our Year 2/3 pupils visited Techniquest as part of their inquiry journey. The children explored a wide range of scientific exhibits, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating excellent curiosity.

A particular highlight was the planetarium, where pupils learned about the planets in our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, dwarf planets, stars and constellations. It was a fantastic opportunity to deepen learning and bring classroom inquiry to life.

Looking Ahead: Celebrating Saint Dwynwen’s Day

On Wednesday 28 January, the Criw Cymraeg are looking forward to celebrating Saint Dwynwen’s Day, the Welsh patron saint of love.

The day will be filled with fun, creativity and Welsh culture, including energetic clog dancing, traditional Twmpath (barn) dancing and Saint Dwynwen–inspired crafts. Pupils will also learn about the story of Saint Dwynwen and explore the values she represents, such as kindness, friendship and respect.

Children are welcome to wear something red, pink or with hearts (optional). This will be a joyful and meaningful celebration of our language, culture and shared values.

An Important Update for Parents

Finally, I have sent an email to all parents today containing an important update about the future of Llangan. Please do take the time to read this carefully.

Monday 19th- Football at Y Bontfaen
Our football team will be travelling to Y Bontfaen for a fixture this week. We wish the team the very best of luck.

Tuesday 20th- The Creature Chronicles – Tuesday (Nursery to Year 3)
On Tuesday, pupils from Reception to Year 3 will enjoy a special live performance called The Creature Chronicles in school.

This 30-minute interactive show, inspired by nature and wildlife, uses storytelling, music and drama to explore themes of caring for the natural world in a fun and engaging way. The performance is fully funded by the Local Authority.

 Wednesday 21st- Young Voices – London (Wednesday)
Our choir will be travelling to London next Wednesday to perform at the Young Voices Concert at the O2 Arena. We’re incredibly proud of the children and hope they have an unforgettable experience.

Thursday 22nd-  Year 2/3 Trip to Techniquest –
Pupils in Years 2 and 3 will be visiting Techniquest on Thursday, linked to their inquiry learning about Space.

Thursday 22nd- Year 6 Aeronautical Workshops
Year 6 will begin a six-week aeronautical workshop programme delivered by Vantage Education, taking place every Thursday afternoon in school.

🚲 Year 6 Cycling
Unfortunately, Year 6 cycling sessions have been cancelled by the Vale of Glamorgan due to the provider’s instructor leaving. The Local Authority is currently recruiting a replacement. We will organise these sessions for pupils as soon as we are able to do so.

Assessment Week
Next week is an assessment week, where we check pupils’ progress across the year. This provides a snapshot of where children are academically and helps us plan next steps. Progress information will be shared with parents at Parents’ Evening in February.

Reminder: Name All Belongings
Please ensure your child’s name is clearly written on all items they bring to school – including clothing, coats, wellies, water bottles, bags and lunch boxes. This helps us return lost items quickly and easily.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Happy New Year to you all, and welcome back. We have had a fantastic first week back in school, and it has been lovely to see how well the children have settled back into routines following the Christmas break. They have returned with enthusiasm, positivity and a real readiness to learn, which has been a pleasure to see.

After school clubs will restart the week beginning 12th January.

Llangan Primary School continues to be an incredible community of pupils, staff, parents, governors and extended family members. I often describe us as a small but mighty school, and that has certainly been proven over the past few weeks. The children have been exceptional, taking part in a wide range of performances, events and celebrations with confidence, enthusiasm and pride. I am eternally grateful to our amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support our pupils every single day, and equally thankful to our families for the unwavering support you give to everything we do.

As part of their transition activities, our Year 6 pupils visited Cowbridge Comprehensive School to watch their Christmas production. This was a lovely opportunity for the children and marks the beginning of their transition journey as they prepare for their move to secondary school next September.

Our KS2 Carol Concert, A Llangan Christmas to Remember, was a joyful, funny and heartfelt celebration of the Christmas season. The concert showcased the confidence, creativity and talent of our pupils through beautiful singing, thoughtful reflection and plenty of laughter. Performances included whole-school carols, festive favourites and imaginative sketches from each year group, such as Santa’s Workshop Meltdown, The Great Christmas Complaint and Year 5’s Eco Christmas tips. Alongside the humour, pupils shared the Nativity story and reflected on kindness, gratitude and caring for others. The evening concluded with much-loved carols, a rousing finale and a strong sense of community spirit.

On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome a very special visitor as Father Christmas came to Llangan. Classes met him in the hall, sang songs, shared stories and received gifts kindly provided by the PTA, although Father Christmas reminded us that he does not usually give out presents until Christmas Eve.

This was followed by a special assembly to say goodbye to Mrs Woodward, who leaves us at the end of term after 17 years of dedicated service. During her time at Llangan, Mrs Woodward has brought laughter, kindness and energy to our school, teaching PE to all pupils, leading netball club and supporting trips and residentials. Her fun-loving spirit and genuine care for the children will be greatly missed. She is excited to begin a new chapter but is already planning to visit us again in January. Year 6 shared a poem, we sang the school song, and she was presented with cards and gifts, with Father Christmas sitting proudly alongside her throughout the assembly.

We are also saying goodbye to Mr Rees, who has worked with us in Year 2/3 since January. Mr Rees is pursuing a different career path, and we thank him for his hard work and commitment to supporting the children during his time at Llangan. We wish him every success in the future.

Our PTA raffle and refreshments were sold across the Christmas events, with the raffle draw taking place during the Father Christmas assembly. Children brought prizes home unless they contained alcohol, in which case the office has contacted parents of the winning tickets. Thank you to all parents and family members who supported the raffle and refreshments, helping the PTA raise valuable funds for the school.

On the final day of term, the school came together for our end-of-term assembly, followed by our termly Award Giving Assembly. This was an opportunity to recognise our “always” children – those who consistently work hard, show kindness and respect, and quietly give their best every day. Awards included the Bright Mind Award for outstanding effort and achievement in learning, the Llangan Values Champion for living our school values, and the Dring yn Uwch Award for rising to challenges and never giving up. These awards celebrate perseverance, reliability and quiet excellence.

We ended the term with a whole-school Christmas Party Buffet in the hall. The children enjoyed crackers and party gifts provided by the PTA, adding a festive touch to the afternoon. Cez, our school cook, and Colette, our kitchen assistant, prepared a delicious spread including baguettes, sausage rolls, salad, fruit and Christmas shortcakes. The children sang Christmas songs, shared jokes from their crackers and enjoyed spending time together. Year 6 did a fantastic job decorating the hall and helping prepare the space for everyone.

Thank you for all your support throughout 2025. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in January and making 2026 another wonderful year for Team Llangan.

Llangan has been feeling wonderfully festive this week, and the celebrations continue as we jingle our way into the final days of term. Next week is packed full of Christmas cheer, and we’re very excited to share what’s coming up.

🎭 Whole-School Pantomime – Thursday 11th December

We are very excited for our trip to see Sleeping Beauty at the New Theatre, Cardiff.

• Departure: 12:15pm

• Return: Approximately 4:30pm
  (The performance is scheduled to finish at 3:30pm, but this may vary. Traffic may also affect our return time.)

• We will text families if there are delays.

• Please leave the lay-by clear for the 

Lunch / Grab Bags on Pantomime Day

To enable us to leave on time, only cheese, tuna or ham grab bags can be ordered through ParentPay and must be pre-ordered. If not pre-ordered, please send your child with a packed lunch.

NSPCC Christmas Jumper Day

This coincides with our Pantomime trip. Children are welcome to wear their Christmas jumpers.
Parents may make a donation via ParentPay.

Y4/5 – Forest School

Year 4/5 have a Forest School session before the pantomime. Please ensure children bring wellies and a coat.

🎄 Infant Christmas Play – Friday 12th December

Performances: 9:30am & 2:00pm

• Each family may initially request up to 3 tickets until Monday 8th December

• Additional tickets will be released on a first come, first served basis next week.

• Refreshments and raffle tickets will be available before both performances provided by the PTA. 

🎶 Junior Carol Concert

Wednesday 16th December 9:30 am and 2pm. Tickets now available (2 per family)

Key Stage 2 pupils will wear school uniform for the concerts.
Infant pupils should wear school uniform to school and will change into costumes in school on performance days.

⭐ School Reminders

Before the reminders, a quick note from us:

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, but it is also a period when everyone in the school community — children, parents and staff — is excited, tired, and a little more emotionally charged than usual. With changes to routines, rehearsals, special events and the general buzz of Christmas, tempers can fray more easily and it can be harder for pupils to stay calm and focused.

We are working hard to keep school routines steady and classrooms settled, and there are a few things families can do to help support us during this busy time. Thank you in advance — your support genuinely makes such a difference.

🥕 Healthy Snacks Only

A reminder that we are a Healthy School.
Children may bring fruit or vegetables only for snack.
This follows Welsh Government legislation and helps keep children calm, regulated and ready to learn — especially in the busy run-up to Christmas ( a number of chidlren have come to school with chocolate and candy canes this week).

👕 School Uniform (Unless Directed Otherwise)

Please ensure children attend in school uniform every day, unless it is a day specifically directed by the school (e.g. Christmas Jumper Day or a themed event).
A consistent appearance helps children stay settled and focused. For some pupils, it can be very difficult to concentrate when they are sat next to a classmate wearing a Grinch jumper or other festive outfits on a normal school day.

🚫 No Toys, Sweets or Squash

Please ensure children do not bring toys, sweets, chocolate or squash to school. These items may seem small, but they can have a big impact on children’s behaviour and ability to settle.

• Toys often cause disagreements, distractions and upset when they are lost, swapped or broken.

• Sugary foods and drinks can make pupils spike in energy, become over-excited and then crash — which is especially challenging at this busy time of year.

• This makes it much harder for children to stay calm, regulated and focused in the classroom.

Keeping these items at home helps us maintain a positive, calm learning environment for all pupils, and supports staff in managing an already excitable time of year. Thank you for your support with this.

This is a joyful but tricky time of year for routines. Keeping to our usual expectations helps everyone — pupils, staff and families — to enjoy a smooth and calm run-up to the end of term.

🚗 Car Park Reminder – Keeping Everyone Safe

A huge thank you to everyone for how well the car park has been used recently — it has made a real difference to safety and calmness at the start and end of the school day. With the winter weather now here and more families choosing to drive, we kindly ask for continued care and consideration from everyone using the car park.

Please can we also ask parents to share these reminders with grandparents, family members or anyone else who helps with pick-up or drop-off, so that everyone is following the same expectations.

Key Reminders

• Drive slowly and with care at all times.

• Park only in marked bays — not along the roadside, on corners, or blocking other vehicles.

• Please be patient and respectful, even when the car park is busy.

• Never direct frustration towards staff. Our team are doing their very best to keep children safe, especially when parents park irresponsibly.

• We must all do our part to keep the school site calm, safe and welcoming for everyone.

A few upcoming busy days

• Pantomime Day – the school will return late afternoon and the car park will be extremely busy.

• Last week of term – there are no schhol led after-school clubs, so traffic will be heavier than usual at home time.

• We will also ensure Infant classes are released on time to support smooth pick-up.

Thank you for helping us keep Llangan a safe, respectful and calm community for our children, families and staff. Your cooperation genuinely makes a difference.

🎅 Looking Ahead – Last Week of Term

Thursday 18th December

• Christmas Dinner Day and Father Christmas visit

• Children may wear Christmas jumpers.

Friday 19th December – Last Day

We will hold a whole-school Christmas Party.
Children will enjoy a special buffet lunch (provided by the school huchen) and festive activities in the school hall.
They may wear party clothes or their own clothes.

🏗️ Canopy Work in the Cwtch

We are delighted to share that the school has received a grant for the Wrap Around provision.
Starting next week, Ashdown Construction will install a new outdoor canopy to support all-weather learning.
New flooring will be fitted in the new year.

👋 Staffing Update

It is with sadness that we share two staff departures:

• Mrs Tracey Woodward will be leaving Llangan after 14 years of dedicated service. We are extremely grateful for everything she has contributed to the school, particularly her commitment to PE and sport.

• Mr Cadan Rees, TA in Year 2/3, will also be leaving us at Christmas after a year of fantastic support for our pupils.

We thank them both sincerely for all they have brought to Llangan and wish them well. Recruitment for their replacements is underway, with a January start planned.

🌟 In the News

🏅 Choir Magic in Cowbridge

Our brilliant school choir absolutely smashed it on Sunday, singing on the stage outside Cowbridge Town Hall!
They were truly outstanding.
Diolch o galon to all pupils and parents who joined us for the Reindeer Parade — a wonderful festive celebration!

🏐 Urdd Netball Tournament

Huge congratulations to our netball team, who represented Llangan Primary brilliantly at the Urdd tournament in Cardiff on Thursday.
Super teamwork, determination and sportsmanship — you did us proud!

🎬 PTA Movie Night – Thank You!

A huge diolch to our amazing PTA for organising yesterday’s Movie Night, where the children enjoyed watching Home Alone together. It was a brilliant, festive evening and the pupils had a fantastic time which raised  £298.74!!

Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work in setting up, supervising, providing refreshments and creating such a warm, fun atmosphere. Events like this take a great deal of planning and effort, and we are incredibly grateful for everything our PTA does for the school community.

We are delighted that Llangan has been invited to take part in this magical community event.

Choir Performance

• Time: 2:10pm–2:25pm

• Meeting point: Side of Town Hall (opposite Horse & Groom)

• Arrival: 1:50pm
  Choir sign-up form:
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2e0ledIx81kvuawjB4_DFEC_B-K-3MbiKzGqp7mp98jMy9g/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Parade – Open to All Pupils & Families

• Time: 3:30pm start

• Route: High Street → Druids Green → back to Town Hall

• Entertainment: From 4pm

• Laser show: From 5pm

• Dress: Christmas jumpers, festive outfits and light-ups encouraged!

• Children must be accompanied by parents/carers.

Parade participation form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfb7B29XbT4Q_wo4fBumR-2YyKm9Xs_kNedWqz5VMYIRuCDJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Parking:

Cowbridge Leisure Centre, The Cattle Market, Medical Practice, and along Broadway.
High Street closes at 2pm.

We can’t wait to see Llangan shining through Cowbridge!

Reception Admissions 2026

The admissions window opens Friday 28th November 2025.

• Opening Date: 28 November 2025

• Closing Date: 23 January 2026

• Offer Date: 16 April 2026

Apply here:
https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/schools/admissions/primary/Primary-School-Admissions.aspx

For any problems logging in, please email:
📧 admissionsprimary@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

⚽ Sports Updates

Year 5 & 6 Football Fixture

• Opponent: St David’s Primary, Colwinston

• Date: Friday 5th December

• Meet: 2:25pm on site

• Collection: 3:15pm

• Transport: Arranged by parents

• Kit: School kit + appropriate footwear

• Bring: Water bottle (labelled)

Cardiff & Vale Girls Netball Competition

• Date: Thursday 4th December

• Venue: House of Sport, Cardiff

• Registration: 9:15am

• Games start: 10:00am

• Finish: 2:30pm

• Team: One Year 5–6 team registered
  We will confirm attendance as requested.

🌟 This Week at Llangan

Jump Out Day – What a Celebration!

What an incredible afternoon at Llangan Primary! Our Jump Out Day was a huge success and a stunning showcase of the children’s talents.

From confident speaking and expressive singing to thoughtful performances and beautiful artwork, the children shared their inquiry journey with pride and clarity — showing strong links to our golden thread this term: Power and Conflict.

A huge diolch o galon to all pupils for their enthusiasm and bravery, and to our amazing staff team for the planning, creativity and hard work behind the scenes. It was Llangan at its very best: community, creativity and children who shine.

🎄 Thank You!

A huge thank you to Charlotte from @crossfarmnursery for our beautiful Christmas tree.

And thank you to our wonderful PTA volunteers who decorated the path to the main gate — it looks festive, warm and welcoming.

Y6 Maths Challenge Tournament

Our Year 6 pupils will be taking part in the  Maths Challenge at St Brides School. This exciting event gives children the chance to compete alongside pupils from other schools and stretch their mathematical thinking. We wish them the very best of luck!

Football Match – Friday 21st vs Pendoylan

Our school football team will be playing an away match against Pendoylan on Friday 21st. The squad have been training hard and are excited to put their skills into action. We know they’ll represent Llangan with determination, teamwork and great sportsmanship. Best of luck to the team—go Team Llangan!

Jump Out Day – Friday 28th November, 2:10 pm

We are excited to invite all parents and families to our Jump Out Day Event, held in the lunchroom at 2:10pm.

This special celebration is a chance for pupils to share the incredible work they have completed throughout their termly enquiry. Children will present the outcomes of their learning, showing how their ideas have developed and the creative ways in which they have explored their enquiry.

Jump Out Day gives real purpose to the children’s learning and offers families the opportunity to see their progress, creativity, and effort come together in one meaningful final piece.

We look forward to welcoming you.

PTA Cinema Night

The PTA are organising a Christmas Movie Night on Thursday 4th December, 3:30- 5:00 pm. for organising another brilliant Cinema Night. These events are always a highlight for the children and help raise funds that directly benefit our school.

New Books Arrive!

A fantastic delivery of new reading books has arrived for our class libraries and Guided Group Reading sessions!
Thank you to all families who supported this year’s Book Fair—your contributions have helped us continue building a rich reading culture at Llangan. 

The Past Week In Llangan:

Year 4 Residential – Cardiff Bay

This week, our Year 4 pupils set off on their very first residential trip! Led by Miss Spiller, Mr Howles, and Mrs Jones, the children stayed overnight at the Urdd Centre in Cardiff Bay, joining friends from Llansannor Primary.

Residential experiences help pupils grow in independence, resilience and teamwork. The children enjoyed an action-packed two days including:

• A scavenger hunt in Cardiff Bay

• A thrilling speedboat tour

• A visit to the cinema

• 

• Techniquest Museum

• Ten Pin Bowling at The Red Dragon Centre

• Lazer Tag

• A sponsored Children in Need walk

• A behind-the-scenes tour of BBC Wales, where they met Clare Summers, tried presenting the news and weather, and even spotted Pudsey!

It was a memorable adventure—well done Year 4!

Lest We Forget – Remembrance at Llangan

This morning, our Year 6 pupils led the whole school community in a moving act of remembrance.

At 11am, they guided us in a minute’s silence to honour those who have served and sacrificed. This was followed by a thoughtful and beautifully delivered assembly linked to their World War II enquiry. Pupils shared:

• personal stories uncovered in their cynefin homework,

• local history from Llangan and surrounding villages,

• and reflections on conflict in the world today.

They also organised a whole-school Poppy Artwork Competition and awarded prizes for the most creative pieces.

We are incredibly proud of Year 6—true ethical, informed citizens and wonderful role models.

Odd Socks Day – Anti-Bullying Week

💙🧦 On Monday we marked the start of Anti-Bullying Week with Odd Socks Day!

Our Healthy and Fit Committee led a brilliant assembly reminding us that kindness, respect and standing up for others make us a powerful force for good. Thank you to everyone who took part—you looked fantastic!

.

Odd Socks Day & Anti-Bullying Week

Next week, our Healthy and Fit Committee will be leading learning across the school for Anti-Bullying Week.
We’ll be launching the week with Odd Socks Day on Monday 10th November 🧦.

Everyone is encouraged to come to school wearing odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique and to show that we stand together against bullying. 💙

The Healthy and Fit Committee have organised a special assembly to kick-start the week, linking to the national Anti-Bullying Alliance initiative.

 Year 4 Residential

Our Year 4 pupils are heading off on their residential trip to Cardiff and Barry next week — a fantastic opportunity for adventure, independence and teamwork. We can’t wait to hear all about their experiences when they return!

Children in Need – Friday 14th November

On Friday, our School Council will be leading fundraising for Children in Need.
Pupils are invited to wear their own clothes and make a small donation via ParentPay to support this wonderful charity.

In the News This Week

Our Year 6 pupils have been selling poppies this week to support the Royal British Legion — a lovely way to show respect and remembrance.

On Tuesday, we said a fond farewell and a huge thank you to two long-serving governors, Mr Worrall and Mrs Brookes.
Our Head Boy and Head Girl proudly presented them with special thank-you cards from all our pupils, staff and governors — recognising their many years of dedicated service to Llangan Primary School.

Both have worked tirelessly to support our school community, champion our children and help guide the school with wisdom, kindness and commitment.
Diolch yn fawr iawn for everything you have done for Llangan — you will always be part of our story. 💙

Open Day Thanks

A huge thank you to all the families who helped promote our Open Day and to our amazing Year 6 pupils who led tours for prospective parents.
Their pride, confidence and enthusiasm were wonderful to see — true ambassadors for our school.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
Mr Griffiths

As we reach the end of a busy and exciting half term, I want to thank you all for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. The last few weeks have been full of learning, laughter, and community spirit here at Llangan. From inspiring trips and creative celebrations to exciting sporting fixtures, our pupils have certainly embodied our school motto — Dring yn Uchel, Dring yn Uwch (Climb High, Climb Higher)!

Below are some key updates and events to look forward to after half-term.

Upcoming Events

Individual Photographs – Monday 3rd November

Colorfoto will be visiting the school to take individual pupil photos. Children will bring home a slip explaining how to view and purchase the photographs online.

Llangan Primary School Open Day

📅 Thursday 6th November 2025
🕤 9:30–10:30am & 5:00–6:00pm

We’re opening our doors to prospective families to showcase our vibrant, inclusive school — where character, care, and creativity thrive.

As a small rural school, Open Day plays a vital role in helping us welcome new families and secure our future growth. Please help us spread the word by sharing the details with friends, neighbours, and local families who might be looking for a school where their child will truly flourish.

Poppy Appeal – After Half Term

Our Head Girl, Head Boy and Deputies will be selling poppies in support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. Pupils will be able to purchase poppies and related items in school:

• Poppies – 50p

• Reflector Keyrings – £1

• Fabric Wristbands – £1

• Snap Bands – £1.50

Sales will continue through to Monday 11th November, ahead of our Remembrance Assembly.

Jump Out Day – Friday 28th November (2:30-3:15pm)

We’re delighted to invite all parents and families to our whole-school celebration, Stories of Strength and Struggles—a showcase of courage, perseverance and hope told through history and storytelling. Each class will share their learning from this term, exploring how people in different times and places have faced challenges, shown resilience and grown stronger.

The event features a 40-minute whole-school showcase combining drama, song, story-telling and art. Each class will contribute a short 5–6 minute performance, linked together by a simple narration/theme thread.

As part of Jump Out Day, pupils will also proudly share their learning journeys, projects and final outcomes in their classrooms. Please join us in classrooms from 2:45–3:15pm—it’s a wonderful opportunity to see how ideas have grown across the term and to celebrate the creativity, curiosity and collaboration that make learning at Llangan so special.

Parents are invited to join us in the classrooms from 2:15– for a 2:30 pm — we can’t wait to share this term’s discoveries with you.

In the News

Football Match

Our Llangan football team took on Llansannor in a friendly fixture this afternoon. It was fantastic to see great teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship from both sides. Da iawn pawb — we’re very proud of you!

Year 6 London Trip – Imperial War Museum

Year 6 had an unforgettable day in London this week, visiting the Imperial War Museum to deepen their inquiry into life during World War II. The pupils explored fascinating artefacts, answered their pre-prepared enquiry questions, and showed great curiosity throughout the visit. Their reflections back in class have been incredibly thoughtful.

Year 2/3 Trip – Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon

Our Year 2 and 3 pupils stepped back in time to experience life in Roman Wales! They visited the Roman Fortress and Legionary Museum in Caerleon to support their enquiry into “Life in Wales during the Celtic and Roman Periods.” The children were fascinated by the artefacts and loved exploring what daily life might have been like nearly 2,000 years ago.

 PTA Pumpkin Carving & Halloween Disco

A massive thank you to our incredible PTA for organising not one but two fantastic Halloween events!

🧡 Pumpkin Carving Afternoon – The creativity and teamwork on display were wonderful to see. The pumpkins looked amazing, and the children had a brilliant time carving and designing together. A huge thank you to @penllynfarm for generously donating the pumpkins and @ashdownconstructiongroup for helping with collection and delivery.

👻 Halloween Disco – What a spooktacular night! From spooky tunes to brilliant costumes, it was an evening full of fun, laughter, and community spirit. Thank you again to our PTA for all your hard work and to everyone who joined in to make it such a success.

Cluster INSET Day

This week, staff from Llangan joined our colleagues across the cluster for a shared INSET day led by the inspirational @ict_mrp. The training focused on how to use technology to enrich learning across the curriculum. The day was full of practical ideas and energy — we’re already looking forward to putting what we’ve learned into practice!

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Tomos in Year 4, who has been selected for the local football academy as a goalkeeper! What a fantastic achievement — we’re very proud of you, Tomos. We can’t wait to see you representing Llangan in future matches.

Finally

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and encouragement. Llangan is a special place because of the people — pupils, staff, parents, and community — who make it thrive. I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned rest over half term.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Mr James Griffiths
Headteacher

Dring yn Uchel, Dring yn Uwch – Climb High, Climb Higher

Monday — INSET Day (School closed to pupils)

A reminder that school is closed to pupils on Monday for a cluster INSET with colleagues from Colwinston, Y Bont Faen, Llansannor and South Point. Staff will receive Digital Technology training with Mr P, a widely respected educator and trainer. Working closely as a cluster helps our small rural schools share expertise, align approaches and accelerate school improvement for all our learners. Thank you for your understanding that this INSET is not attached to a holiday.

Tuesday — PTA Pumpkin Carving Workshop

In the afternoon, pupils will work in mixed-age teams of three to carve one of 70 pumpkins kindly donated by the Penllyn Estate (Forage). The finished pumpkins will be displayed before our PTA Halloween Disco on Thursday 23 October. If you do not want your child to be involved in the pumpkin carving please let the school office know.

Wednesday — Year 6 London Trip (Imperial War Museum)

Our Year 6 pupils head to the Imperial War Museum to enrich their inquiry, Power and Conflict (WWII). This visit brings history to life with authentic artefacts, personal stories and interactive galleries—perfect for developing historical enquiry skills and empathy.

Tuesday — Parents’ Evening (Second Session)

Thank you to everyone who has booked an appointment. Parents’ Evening is a valuable opportunity to celebrate progress and agree next steps together.

Friday — Year 2/3 Trip to Caerleon

Year 2/3 will visit the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, to deepen their learning about Power and Conflict in Celtic/Roman Britain—including life in the barracks and the amphitheatre.

Cluster Football

We round off the half-term with a friendly cluster football match: Llangan vs Llansannor. Pob lwc, team!

PTA News

We’re thrilled to share that Jess Griffiths and the entire PTA have been nominated by the school for the ParentKind PTA of the Year Awards! This recognises the team’s dedication, creativity and tireless support—from organising events to fundraising and everything in between.

💛 Please show your appreciation by voting for candidate H here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2025PTAVolunteeroftheyear/

Open Day
Please share our Open Day details with any prospective families—word of mouth makes a huge difference.

News Round-Up

Shwmae Day — “Shwmae! Su’mae!” 🌟

We celebrated Diwrnod Shwmae with a whole-school event and a brilliant Welsh Language Quiz led by our Criw Cymraeg—da iawn pawb! Shwmae Day reminds us to use Welsh every day, and that a simple greeting can build confidence and belonging.

Y4/5 Cardiff Castle

Year 4/5 enjoyed a fantastic visit to Cardiff Castle, building background knowledge and curiosity to fuel this term’s history inquiry.

Parent Forum

Thank you to all who contribute to our Parent Forum—your insights help us improve. Look out for the next date after half-term.

Show Racism the Red Card ❤️

Our whole Go Llangan community wore red and took part in workshops and discussions to strengthen our anti-racist culture—valuing every person and promoting kindness, respect and fairness.

Sporting Success

Huge congratulations to Arthur (Year 5) on selection for the county cricket team for 2026—what an achievement!

Flu Immunisation (Reception to Year 6) – Monday 13 October

The School Nursing Team will be in school on Monday 13 October to deliver the nasal flu immunisation for pupils in Reception to Year 6. Please ensure you’ve completed the consent form. If you have any queries, contact the school office.

Shwmae Day – 16 October

We’ll be marking Shwmae Day on 16 October with an inter-house competition day celebrating the Welsh language and culture. It’s a brilliant chance for pupils to say “Shwmae!” and enjoy Welsh across the curriculum.

Show Racism the Red Card – Wear Something Red

As part of our commitment to equality and the Curriculum for Wales (ethical, informed citizens and children’s rights), we’ll be supporting Show Racism the Red Card next week.

• Dress code: Pupils are invited to wear red (an item or accessory is fine).

• In class: All pupils will take part in age-appropriate learning about anti-racism, kindness and fairness, and each class will make a stand against racism in a short assembly.
  Thank you for helping us promote social cohesion and respect in our school community.

• 

Parents’ Evenings – First Session on 16 October

Our first Parents’ Evening will take place on 16 October (the first of two sessions). This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s learning and progress since September.

• Meetings are in person in school.

• Teachers will meet parents in classrooms.

• Pupils are encouraged to attend with parents to talk about their learning.

• Books will be available to browse beforehand.
  Appointment details and booking information will be sent via the school website/email. If you need assistance, please contact the office.

• 

Year 4 & Year 5 – Cardiff Castle Visit (Next Week)

Year 4 and Year 5 will visit Cardiff Castle next week. A full itinerary and final reminders will follow separately.

Thank You – Harvest Donations to Vale Foodbank

A huge diolch to everyone who donated to our Harvest appeal. On Monday, our Year 6 pupils delivered the items to the Vale Foodbank in Llantwit Major and helped volunteers date and shelf the donations.

• Target: 300 kg

• Total collected: 250 kg – a fantastic amount for a school our size!
  Your generosity will make a real difference—thank you.

• School Council Food Bank Donations
  On Monday, our School Council will be taking our food bank donations. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

• Advance Notice: Show Racism the Red Card Day
  On Thursday 17th October, pupils are invited to wear something red to show support for this important cause.

• Parents’ Evening
  Parents’ Evenings will take place on Thursday 16th October and Tuesday 21st October. Details on how to sign up for a slot will be emailed to families next week.

• No After-School Clubs
  Please note that there will be no after-school clubs on due to parents' evening meetings and the Halloween Disco.

  • Thursday 16th October

  • Tuesday 21st October

  • Thursday 23rd October

This Week in the News

Jump In Day – A Flying Start to Our New Inquiries!

On Monday, the children leapt into their new topics with an exciting immersion day.

• Year 6 – WW2 & Evacuees
  Blwyddyn 6 started by role-playing the Billeting Hall, unpacking their evacuee bags, and learning about Operation Pied Piper in 1939. They even received letters from their parents and explored rationing. Watch this space – more to come!

• 

• Year 4/5 – Medieval Times
  Dressed in medieval clothes, our pupils transformed their classroom into a castle and enjoyed a medieval feast to launch their new inquiry.

• Year 2/3 – Celts & Romans
  Pupils stepped back in time as Celts and Romans, designing striking Celtic shield patterns and even building wattle and daub walls.

• Nursery, Reception & Year 1 – Pirates!
  Ahoy there! Our youngest learners set sail on a Pirate Jump In Day, making pirate hats, hunting for treasure, and embarking on adventures across the seven seas.

✨ It was a day full of fun, imagination, and discovery – the perfect way to begin a term of exciting learning. Thank you, parents, for helping us make the day so magical!

⚽ Cluster Football League Success

On Tuesday, our school football team took part in their second match of the inaugural Cluster League against Llanfair Primary. They played with great respect, determination, and skill – showing just how much progress they’ve made over the years. Da iawn pawb!

♻️ Rags2Riches Recycling

On Thursday, thanks to your support, our Eco Committee helped collect over 30 bags of clothes for the Rags2Riches scheme. These items will now be recycled, raising valuable funds for the school. Diolch o galon i bawb!

🍎 Happy Apple Pressing Day! 🍏

Year 6 enjoyed a hands-on experience harvesting our school apples and turning them into delicious juice. After washing the fruit, pupils used a traditional scratter to crush the apples into pomace before pressing them to release the juice.

A special thank you to the St Hilary volunteers who brought their village apple press and shared their expertise – the children loved learning about this traditional process! 🌳🥤

⭐ What a brilliant week of learning, teamwork, and community at Llangan – thank you for being part of

Jump In Day – Monday 29th September ✨
We’re kicking off our new whole-school inquiries with an exciting Jump In Day! These days are designed to immerse children in their new learning through fun, hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and enthusiasm.

This term’s theme is: Power & Conflict – What happens when people fight for power? ⚔️👑🏰✈️

• Pirates, Celts, castles, wartime evacuees… each year group will be diving into history in their own way!

• Please check your emails for details about costumes, preparation, and a small wish list of resources.

• There’s absolutely no need to buy anything new – children can improvise with items from home.

We can’t wait to Jump In! 🚀

Football vs Llanfair Primary – Tuesday 30th September
Good luck to our football team as they take on Llanfair. We know they’ll show great teamwork and sportsmanship – go Team Llangan!

Rags to Riches Collection – Thursday 2nd October

Rags to Riches is a fantastic fundraising opportunity for our PTA. You can donate:

• Adults’ and children’s clothing
• Shoes (in pairs)
• Handbags and belts
• Accessories

Please send items in the bags provided (or any strong black bag) and leave them on the CwTch veranda on Thursday morning. Every donation helps us raise funds to support activities and resources for our children.

Apple Pressing Day – Thursday 2nd October
Year 6 pupils will be helping to press apples into juice – please remember to send in a clean plastic bottle so they can take some home. Thank you to our brilliant volunteers for making this possible!

Harvest Collection – Ongoing until Monday 6th October
A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Vale Foodbank Harvest appeal. We’ve had an amazing response and are aiming to beat last year’s total of 300kg of food! The School Council will deliver the donations to the Foodbank in Llantwit Major on Monday 6th October.

Following my message last week about safe use of the car park and keeping to our simple rules, we have already seen a big improvement. Parents are queuing sensibly, cars aren’t blocking the flow, and everything is running much more smoothly.

The Local Authority Health and Safety Officer, the Highways Officer and our Community Police have also been on site this week, supporting us as we update our risk assessment.

A huge thank you from me for your cooperation – it really is making a difference.

👉 Please note: on Monday morning next week, do not park in the layby as the coach for the Year 5 Morfa Bay residential will be leaving from there.

Year 5 Residential – Morfa Bay

On Monday, our Year 5 pupils will set off on their two-night residential visit to Morfa Bay, joining children from Llansannor CIW Primary.

Residential visits are a valuable part of school life. They:

• Help children build independence and resilience.

• Give pupils the chance to try exciting new activities.

• Support friendships and teamwork.

• Build confidence in preparation for transition to secondary school.

We can’t wait to hear all about their adventures when they return!

Cynefin Mini Inquiry

Over the last three weeks, all pupils have been working on a mini-inquiry project called Cynefin, exploring the history, geography and identity of our local area.

• Reception/Year 1 visited Fferm Goch Park.

• Year 2/3 explored the Village Hall.

• Year 6 visited St Canna’s Church, where they learned about its Celtic origins and unique carvings.

These experiences help pupils connect with their community and understand their place within it.

 Harvest Festival & Foodbank Appeal

Next week, we turn our thoughts to the importance of Harvest in our community.

We are asking families to donate items for the Vale of Glamorgan Foodbank, such as:

• Cereal, pasta, rice, soup, tinned fruit/veg/meat, lentils, pulses

• Biscuits, tea, coffee, UHT milk, fruit juice

• Toiletries and hygiene products

More information can be found at: Vale Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

This week, Mrs Thomas from the Foodbank led a special assembly, helping pupils understand why donations are so important. She will also join us at our Harvest Festival to collect the gifts, which will be delivered to Llantwit Major Foodbank. Our School Council will visit the Foodbank afterwards to help sort and organise donations.

🎟️ Extra tickets for the Harvest Festival are now available!

Following the service, our PTA is hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning – all are warmly welcome.

Parent Forum – We Need You!

We are looking for a representative from each year group to join our Parent Forum. If you would like to be involved, please contact the school office. This is a great way to strengthen home–school links and have your voice heard.

❤️ Our School Community

At Llangan, our school really is the heart of the community. We deeply value the strong links between home, school and the wider community. Our amazing PTA play a huge part in this, organising events and raising much-needed funds to support the school.

If you would like to be part of this fantastic team, you are warmly invited to join the PTA’s AGM on Monday 29th September at 7:30 pm in school.

 Jump In & Jump Out Days

On Monday 29th September, we will hold our next Jump In Day, launching our new inquiry with creative and exciting immersion activities.

At the end of each inquiry, we hold a Jump Out Day where children celebrate their learning. Families are invited in to share in the experience, which may take the form of an exhibition, a performance or practical activities. These events are a special part of our curriculum and help pupils see the real purpose of their learning.

📘 Parent Handbook & Calendar

We’ve updated our Parent Handbook to capture all the key information in one place. You can always find the latest version on our school website.

Alongside the handbook, a Parents’ Calendar is coming home with pupils this week. We hope this helps you plan ahead for the year’s key dates and events.

A Great Week in School

Despite the weather, it has been a busy and positive week at Llangan. On Monday, we held our first sports fixture of the year, with the school’s football team taking on Y Bontfaen.

Children have also made an excellent start to their learning. This week, they have begun a mini-inquiry on cynefin (our local area and environment), exploring the history and geography of our community.

Homework and Learning Logs

Homework was set today and can be found each week on your child’s class webpage (not Google Classroom or Seesaw, to make access easier for parents).

Each child has been given a Learning Log Book. This book contains home learning and log-in details. Homework should be completed by Wednesday 24th September.

In addition:

• Teachers will set weekly Mathletics maths tasks and EdShed spelling activities.
• Children in Years 2–6 who no longer use Read Write Inc will receive weekly spelling lists (available on the class webpage under the homework section).

Senedd Ministers

 At Llangan, we believe in empowering our students to become active citizens who contribute to all aspects of school life, the community, and the wider world. Our Senedd provides them with the opportunity to make a difference and participate in the democratic process. Each student in Years 2 to 6 is a member of one of our five Senedd Committees, including the School Council, Eco Owls, Digital Leaders, Health and Well-being Committee, and Y Criw Cymraeg.

UNCRC Article 3: Best interests of the child- When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for children. 

UNCRC Article 4- Making Rights Real-Governments must do all they can to make sure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.

UNCRC Article 15- Setting up or joining groups- Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet with others, as long as this does not harm other people.

At the beginning of the year, each group elects a Minister. The Minister is responsible for running the meetings following an agreed agenda. All meetings follow an agreed agenda linked to each group's action plan and minutes are taken at every meeting. The children also elected a First Minister to preside over the committee meetings and represent the school where necessary.

Here are new ministers:

Book Bags

All children have been provided with a plastic book bag. These should be brought to and from school every day to carry reading books, reading logs, and homework. Staff will also use book bags to send information home to parents where appropriate.

Meet the Teacher

A huge thank you to all parents who attended our Meet the Teacher events. It was fantastic to see so many of you, and we really value the strong partnership between home and school to ensure the very best education for your children.

Enrichment Clubs

Thank you to everyone who has signed your children up to our enrichment clubs, which will begin next week. Alongside the clubs organised by staff, we are also pleased to offer two additional opportunities run by external providers (a fee applies).

• Mad Science will run on Wednesdays, starting next week. Information was shared with pupils this week to take home.
• Table Tennis Club, led by David Webber (a coach from Table Tennis Wales), will take place in the school hall on Mondays from 3:30–4:45 pm. If your child is already registered, sessions will begin next Monday. If you would like your child to join, please contact the school office, who will arrange for a payment item to be set up on ParentPay.

Parent Portal – Parents’ Evening

Our website provider will shortly be sending out an email inviting you to create an account for our Parent Portal. This system will allow you to book appointments for Parents’ Evening. If you already have an active account, you can disregard the email. Parents’ Evenings are scheduled for October, so we kindly ask that all accounts are set up in advance. Thank you for your support.

Future Events

• Our Harvest Festival will take place on Friday 26th September at 9:30 am. Tickets are available on ParentPay. The event will be followed by a Macmillan Coffee Morning organised by the PTA.
• The next PTA planning meeting will take place on Monday 29th September at 7:30 pm in school – new members are always welcome.

Uniform Reminder

As part of our school uniform policy:

• Children are not permitted to wear jewellery, except for a watch and stud earrings.
• Earrings must be removed for PE, or covered with tape, for health and safety reasons.

Healthy Eating

Children are encouraged to bring a healthy snack of fruit or vegetables each day for morning break. Please note:

• Cereal bars or alternatives are not permitted, in line with Welsh Government’s Healthy Eating in Schools policy.
• We are a nut-free school due to pupils with severe nut allergies.

Car Park Safety

Please see the separate letter I have sent regarding safe drop-off and collection in the school car park. Thank you for your continued cooperation in keeping our children safe.

James Griffiths
Headteacher

A Warm Welcome Back!

We hope you all had a wonderful summer filled with sunshine, family time, and plenty of adventures. It has been lovely welcoming the children back to school this week. They have settled quickly into school life and returned eager to learn.

On Monday and Tuesday, our staff completed training to help us continue to improve learning and teaching at Llangan. From Wednesday, the children have been focusing on our school rule “Be Ready” – thinking about all the ways we can be ready to learn, play, and achieve our best every day.

Meet the Teacher Events

These sessions are a great opportunity to meet your child’s new teacher, hear about class routines, and find out how you can support learning at home. After the events, we will share the presentations on the school website along with our Parents’ Handbook for the school year.

• Mon 8th Sept
  3:30 pm – Reception & Year 1 (Miss Llewellyn & Miss Hughes)
  4:00 pm – Year 5 (Miss Spiller)

• Tues 9th Sept
  3:30 pm – Year 2/3 (Mrs Jarman-Davies)
  4:00 pm – Year 4 (Mr Howles)

• Thurs 11th Sept
  3:30 pm – Nursery (Mrs Stevens & Miss Llewellyn)
  4:00 pm – Year 5/6 (Mrs Heavyside & Mrs Antoniou)

We can’t wait to see you there!

Enrichment Clubs – starting week beginning Mon 15th Sept

We’re delighted to share this term’s exciting range of enrichment clubs:

 You will be able to sign your child up to attend from Monday 8th September and they will begin the week beginning Monday, 15th.

Pupil Leadership

On Friday 5th September, our Year 6 pupils took part in the Head Boy and Head Girl elections. Nearly every child in the year group put themselves forward and delivered excellent speeches with confidence and eloquence. Following a whole-school vote, we are delighted to announce:

• Head Girl: Alicia

• Head Boy: Theo

• Deputy Head Girl: Georgiana

• Deputy Head Boys (tie): Isaac & Sebastian

Congratulations to all the candidates – we are so proud of the effort, preparation, and courage shown by every Year 6 pupil.

School Improvements

Over the summer, the railings at the front of the school were replaced. The original railings dated back to 1911 and were long overdue for renewal. We are very grateful to the Local Authority for funding the replacement.

A special thank you goes to:

• Carwyn from CS Building Co Ltd (grandparent of pupils)

• Rhodri Crandon (school governor)

Both kindly gave up their own time during the summer to repoint the stone wall for free in support of the school. Diolch yn fawr iawn!

Attendance Reminder

Good attendance is vital for your child’s learning. If your child is unwell, please call the school office or email office@llanganps.org.uk to let us know.

Good attendance is vital to ensure children make the most of their learning, friendships, and opportunities at school. The Welsh Government states that any child with attendance below 90% is classed as persistently absent. To put this into context, 90% attendance means a child has already missed at least 19 school days over the year.

Missing school not only affects learning now but can also have a lasting impact – studies show that persistently absent pupils may earn up to £10,000 less by the age of 28 compared to peers with higher attendance.

This year, in line with other Local Authorities in Wales, any unauthorised holidays during term time may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice of £60 per child, per parent. Please book family holidays during school holiday periods to avoid disrupting valuable learning time.

The Inclusion Service has also launched a new Parent Padlet, packed with advice, guidance, and information on support available for families. A QR code to access this will be included in the flyer attached to this newsletter.

Llangan Primary School - Attendance Update From Inclusion Team

Let’s all work together to make sure every child has the very best chance to succeed – by being in school, on time, every day.

We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead with plenty of learning, creativity, and adventure. Thank you for your continued support – Team Llangan is ready for 2025–26!

Your child’s Annual Progress Report will be sent home at the end of the school day today. These reports are a vital part of how we communicate your child’s progress across all areas of the Curriculum for Wales.

As well as a celebration of academic and personal achievements, the report sets out next steps for learning and highlights the personal and social development your child has made throughout the year.

Included in the envelope:

• Your child’s annual report

• An attendance summary

• For pupils in Years 2–6: Welsh Government Personalised Online Assessment results

• A guide to understanding your child’s report

• A guide to interpreting national test results

 Report Drop-In Session – Tuesday 15th July

If you would like to discuss anything in your child’s report, class teachers will be available after school on Tuesday 15th July from 3:30–4:30pm. You're very welcome to pop in for an informal chat.

What’s On Next Week

Tuesday 15th July
🚍 Year 6 Leavers’ Trip to Cardiff – A well-deserved celebration with their classmates!

Wednesday 16th July
🎓 Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly – 2:30–3:15pm in the school hall. Year 6 parents are warmly invited to join us for this special send-off.

Monday 14th July
Curriculum Evening for 📚 Year 2/3 next year.
We’d like to invite  next year's Year 2 and 3 parents to a short meeting on Monday 14th July at 3:30pm in the school hall.
We’ll:

• Share how the new class will work day-to-day

• Explain how the curriculum will be tailored to support and challenge all pupils

• Show how the learning space will be set up

• Answer any questions you may have

This session is designed to give clarity and reassurance about the plans in place for September.

Llangan Fest – End of Year Celebration

We’re thrilled to announce Llangan Fest, our fun-filled end-of-year celebration, taking place on the last day of term – Friday 18th July.

This special afternoon marks the final day for our wonderful Year 6 pupils and the end of a fantastic school year for all!

Here’s what’s in store:
✨ Music by DJ Scalpel – spinning the summer vibes
🎈 Bouncy castle fun
💥 Inflatable assault course challenge
🍦 Visit from the ice cream van

The event is completely free for all pupils, and we’d love to welcome parents to join us from 1:30pm to 3:15pm if you’re able.

Let’s celebrate together in true Llangan style!

🌈 This Week’s Highlights

🌟 Junior Wizard of Oz – What a Show!
A huge well done to our Junior performers who wowed us with their magical performance of The Wizard of Oz. Your confidence, expression, and joy lit up the stage – and the audience! Thank you to all the staff and families who supported behind the scenes.

Diolch yn fawr,
Mr Griffiths & the Llangan Team

The children in our junior classes are busy rehearsing for this year’s summer production, The Wizard of Oz – and we can’t wait for you to see their hard work come to life!

🎟 Tickets are now on sale via ParentPay. Each family can purchase up to 2 tickets per performance (2pm and 5pm).
📅 Please ensure you book your tickets by Monday 7 July. Any remaining tickets will be released on Tuesday 8 July on a first-come, first-served basis.
👟 A reminder that pupils will need to return to school by 4.45pm for the evening performance.

What a busy and exciting time it has been at Llangan Primary School! I wanted to take a moment to share some of the fantastic things happening across our school, along with some important information for the term ahead.

Well, the summer term is always full of excitement, and this week has been no exception — despite the unpredictable Welsh weather trying its best to cause a bit of chaos! Here are some important updates and a few lovely highlights from life at Llangan.

I hope this finds you well and that you’re enjoying the sunshine after all the recent rain! It’s been another busy and exciting time here at Llangan Primary School — here’s a round-up of the latest news and a few important updates for the weeks ahead.

As we head into a well-earned half term, we’re reflecting on a wonderfully busy, buzzy, and brilliant few weeks at Llangan! From London landmarks to bee hives, swimming strokes to farming adventures—our pupils have been learning in every direction.

 Year 5 & 6 Visit London & The Houses of Parliament

Our Year 5 & 6 pupils had an unforgettable visit to London, where they explored the Houses of Parliament, learnt how democracy works in the UK, and even imagined themselves as future MPs!

The children represented the school superbly, asking insightful questions and showing genuine curiosity. Alongside the political education, they also enjoyed visiting some of the capital’s famous sights. We are so proud of them all.

World Bee Day – A Buzzing Success!🐝

Happy World Bee Day from Llangan!
This week, we officially welcomed our very own colony of honey bees to our brand-new school apiary—thanks to generous support from @thebritishbeecharity.

To mark the occasion, local beekeeper Leah joined us to share how she produces and sells honey. She brought in a real frame of live bees, giving our pupils a safe and close-up look—an unforgettable learning experience!

We’re excited to continue our outdoor learning journey with our buzzing new friends.

🌊 Year 4 Swimming Week

Our fantastic Year 4 pupils have been making a splash at Fontygary Pool all week. From developing water confidence to life-saving techniques, their progress has been fantastic. They've shown resilience, teamwork and perseverance—true Team Llangan learners!

🌍 Rights Ambassadors Workshop

A big thank you to the Vale Rights Ambassadors for leading an excellent session with Year 5 & 6 this week, helping raise awareness of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). The workshop was informative, interactive, and inspiring.

Thanks also to our cluster schools and partners:
@childcomwales | @stanwellschool2xl | @pencoedtrehighschool1

🚜 Visit to Tytanglwyst Farm

Nursery to Year 2 pupils (Pili Pala and Tylluan Eira) had a brilliant time at Tytanglwyst Dairy Farm. A huge thank you to Rhys and John for a wonderful tour—we learned all about milk production, cream and butter making, and how the farm has diversified with holiday cottages.

🧡 If you’d like to support the farm for offering this visit free of charge, you can still donate via our JustGiving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/llanganprimary

🔜 After Half Term

📅 Monday 2nd June – INSET Day

Please note that the school will be closed to pupils on Monday 2nd June for staff training.

🏅 Cluster Olympics

• Tuesday 3rd June – Plaza 2 pupils (Years 1, 2 and 3) will take part in the Cluster Olympics at Y Bont Faen Primary in Cowbridge.
  🧥 Pupils should wear coloured T-shirts (details shared via Seesaw).

• Friday 6th June – Years 4, 5, and 6 will attend their Cluster Olympics event at the NIAC Stadium, Cardiff Metropolitan University.
  👟 Pupils should come dressed in PE kits.

🏫 Year 6 Transition Visit

Wednesday 4th June – Year 6 pupils will take part in a Familiarisation Day at Cowbridge Comprehensive School as part of their transition.

📢 Other Notices

• RSE and RVE Letters will be sent out this week about lessons half term including Growing Up" workshop for KS2 will also take place.

• Our next Family Learning Together course begins on Friday 6th June see letter sent out this week via email.

• 

Thank you as always for your ongoing support. We wish all our families a relaxing and enjoyable half term break!

Cofion cynnes,
Mr Griffiths and Team Llangan 🌼

On Thursday 8th May, we joined children across the UK in marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. We jhad a reflective minute’s silence to honour those who served and sacrificed, followed by a lovely picnic on the school field in the sunshine.

A huge thank you to Cez, our fantastic Catering Manager, for organising such a wonderful spread for everyone to enjoy.

A special highlight of the day was a visit from Marion, a member of the local Penllyn WI, who shared her childhood memories of VE Day and what life was like growing up during the Second World War.

Thank you, Marion, for bringing history to life for our pupils — it was a privilege to listen and learn.

Period Dignity Workshop – Y5/6

On Friday, our Year 5 and 6 pupils took part in an important workshop led by the charity Period Dignity. The session helped pupils understand the science and facts about menstruation, promoted body confidence, and supported open, respectful discussion. We’re proud to be part of a school where these conversations can happen with maturity and care.

Full Governing Body Meeting

Thank you to our governors who attended this week’s Full Governing Body meeting. Your continued support and strategic guidance are invaluable in shaping the future of our school.

Coding Club Launches!

This week saw the launch of our brand new Coding Club, proudly run by one of our talented Year 6 pupils. Toby kicked off the first session with a brilliant introduction to creating ‘clicker’ games using Scratch. Coding Club is already proving to be a huge hit—bendigedig, Toby!

Upcoming Assessments

Next week, pupils across the school will be completing a range of end-of-year assessments. These will include the Welsh Government’s online Personalised Assessments (formerly known as National Tests), as well as in-house teacher assessments. These help us to track individual progress and will inform the end-of-year Annual Reports to Parents, which will be shared in July.

PTA Summer Planning Meeting

Our next PTA meeting will take place on Monday at 7:00 pm in the Year 5/6 classroom. We’ll be planning our summer events and fundraising activities. Everyone is welcome—we’d love to see you there!

Dear Families,

What a fantastic and action-packed start we’ve had to the new term at Llangan!

Dear Llangan Families,

As we head into the Easter break, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the wonderful highlights from across the school over the past few weeks. It’s been a truly exciting and inspiring time for our pupils, staff, and wider school community — and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together!

What a busy and exciting week it has been here at Llangan Primary School! From unforgettable trips to challenging competitions, our learners have embraced every opportunity to grow, learn, and shine.

What an action-packed week it’s been — and the sunshine made it even better!

Our Year 5 pupils started the week with an unforgettable residential trip to Morfa Bay from Monday to Wednesday. They tackled adventurous activities like climbing, bodyboarding, and even a muddy assault course — all with big smiles and plenty of enthusiasm.

Beyond the fun, they gained so much from the experience: confidence, teamwork, and memories they’ll treasure forever. Their behaviour was exemplary, and they represented Llangan beautifully. A huge shoutout to Llansannor Primary School, who joined us — this made for a fantastic transition link as our pupils start thinking about the next steps in their education.

On Tuesday, the school buzzed with excitement as every teacher delivered a thrilling science investigation to each class. Our 'Meltdown Mayhem' experiment had pupils exploring heating, melting, and the properties of materials — from states of matter to understanding insulators and conductors. Pupils came up with innovative ideas on how to slow down melting ice caps and glaciers, linking science to real-world problems.

What a fantastic and enriching week we’ve had at Llangan Primary School! With so many wonderful events, celebrations, and learning experiences, there’s plenty to share.

Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome Rev. Duncan from Holy Cross in Cowbridge for our fortnightly assembly. He shared fascinating insights about different world religions, helping us broaden our understanding and appreciation of diverse beliefs. Last week, Rev. Duncan taught us about Bodhi Day, a Buddhist festival celebrating enlightenment. The children were captivated by the story of the Bodhi tree and how it represents wisdom and compassion. 🌳✨ Thank you, Rev. Duncan, for enriching our learning journey! 🙏

On Monday, Dosbarth Llwynog (Years 5/6) visited Parc Stormy! We’re already learning lots about sustainability and energy sources. Our incredible trip to Parc Stormy included learning how wind turbines and solar panels create renewable energy and how our food waste is treated and recycled into fertiliser. It was a bit stinky! We also visited a house designed by Cardiff University to be entirely sustainable. The roof, windows, and walls all have technologies designed to create the house’s own heat, light, and power. It was very cool—we think all houses should be built like this! 🌫️💚🌞

On Wednesday, our Llangan Primary choir joined forces with Llansannor Primary School for the unforgettable Young Voices concert in London. 🎤✨ For months, the children practiced tirelessly, perfecting a repertoire of songs and dances that they performed alongside thousands of other schoolchildren at the O2 Arena. The concert featured an incredible range of songs, including the uplifting anthem ‘Brighter Days,’ a vibrant ‘Pop Medley,’ and the classic ‘Bird House in the Soul’.’ The children also joined in a dynamic Urban Strides dance routine, adding even more energy to the performance.

The children were also thrilled to perform with guest artist Anna Phoebe, a renowned violinist whose energy and talent lit up the stage. They were equally inspired by Souparnika Nair, a 15-year-old singer who rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent with her stunning rendition of ‘Never Enough’ from The Greatest Showman. Hearing these exceptional performers and being part of such a grand production was a truly unforgettable experience.

This event offered more than just a performance—it was a celebration of teamwork, resilience, and the joy of music. The children developed their confidence, vocal skills, and an appreciation for working collaboratively. Despite the long day—leaving at 7:00 AM and returning at 2:30 AM the next morning—their smiles and laughter said it all. We couldn’t be prouder of our amazing young singers! 🎵💫

Next Week

✨ A Special Performance of Young Voices Songs ✨

🗓 Date: Thursday, 30th January 2025 📍 Location: Llangan Primary School 🕒 Time: 5:00 PM

🎤 Join us for a magical evening as the choirs showcase the songs from their Young Voices Choir performance at the O2 Arena!

• Tickets: Each school will sell tickets separately via ParentPay. • Afternoon Arrangements: Children will meet at Llangan School in the afternoon and stay until the performance. • Refreshments: Free refreshments before the performance, courtesy of Llangan PTA.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🌟

We are also thrilled to announce that Bullies Out Charity will be visiting next week to lead a series of impactful workshops:

• Changing Attitudes Workshop (Year 5/6): 

• Respectful Relationships Workshop (Year 3/4): 

• Stand Up, Speak Out, Stay Safe Assembly (Years 1-6): 

• Kindness Matters Workshop (Year 1/2): 

• Respectful Relationships Workshop (Year 6): 

These workshops aim to empower our pupils with the skills and knowledge to build positive relationships and promote kindness and respect in their daily lives. We’re looking forward to an inspiring day!

Future Events

Parents’ Evening – Tuesday 4th and Thursday 6th February

Invitations have been sent out for our upcoming Parents’ Evening. These meetings provide a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress since the start of the academic year. We highly encourage parents and pupils to attend together, as involving children in conversations about their learning can be incredibly empowering. You’ll also have a chance to review your child’s workbooks ahead of your appointment.

Teachers will cover key areas during the meetings, including your child’s most recent assessment data, targets for the coming term, and an overall progress update. You will receive a target sheet to take home, outlining this information. Appointments are limited to 10 minutes, so we kindly ask that everyone follows the agenda provided. If you have any concerns beyond what’s discussed, please feel free to contact us at llanganps@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or 01446 772403, and we will be happy to arrange a further meeting.

Our online booking system will be live from Friday morning (24th Janaury 2025) and can be accessed via the school website and app. If you need help booking your slot, detailed instructions are available on the website.

Thank you all for your continued support. I look forward to seeing many of you at the events and meetings over the coming weeks.

Happy New Year to you all! We’ve had a wonderful start to the term, embracing our whole school value for January: thoughtfulness. Throughout the week, we’ve explored how being thoughtful shapes our lives and the positive impact it can have on others.

Maths Mat Challenge Success
On Tuesday, our Year 6 pupils competed in the Maths Mat Challenge at St Brides School, taking on some tricky mathematical challenges alongside other schools in our cluster. Congratulations to our team for their fantastic effort and enthusiasm—you’ve made us very proud!

A Musical Treat for Our Pupils
This week, we had the pleasure of a visit from Alis Huws, the former Royal Harpist, and Ben Tarlton, a talented cellist. They performed beautiful pieces of music and shared fascinating insights about their instruments and lives as professional musicians. This special event was organised by our harp teacher, Mrs. Greenwood.

Did you know that our school is fortunate enough to have its own harp? It was donated by former headteacher Mrs. Mary Noyes upon her retirement and has been a wonderful resource over the years. Several pupils have learnt the harp with Mrs. Greenwood, and we are keen to encourage more budding musicians. If your child is interested in harp lessons, please contact the school office.

Christmas Production Tickets Now Available!
Tickets for our Christmas productions are live on ParentPay. Don’t miss the opportunity to see our pupils shine!

• Infants' Performance – The Midwife Crisis

  • Nursery/Reception/Year 1/Year 2
  • 10th and 11th December at 9:30 am
  • Families are limited to 3 tickets per performance

  • 

• Juniors' Carol Concert

  • Years 3 to 6
  • 17th December at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm
  • Families are limited to 2 tickets per performance.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, 6th December. If additional tickets become available after this date, they will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Jump Out Day – Come and Join Us!
We’re excited to invite parents and families to our termly Jump Out Day on Tuesday, 3rd December, from 2:45 pm to 3:15 pm. This is a special opportunity for children to showcase their learning and share the outcomes of their enquiry for the term.

This final step in their learning journey gives purpose to their hard work and ties everything together beautifully. It’s also a fantastic chance for parents to connect with what their child has been learning—so please join us for this meaningful event. We look forward to welcoming you!

PTA Movie Night – Grinchmas!
Get ready for some festive fun with the PTA’s next event: a movie night featuring The Grinch!

• Date: Thursday, 5th December
• Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
• Location: School Hall
• Cost: £5 via ParentPay
• 

The event includes deluxe hot chocolates, Christmas crafts, and colouring activities. We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at these wonderful events.

Kind regards,
Mr. Griffiths