Pennod 6 OMG: Ysgol Ni!

-*

-SCHOOL BELL

-School -

-it can be tough, it can be fun.

-It's definitely a challenge.

-2 A-X. Oh, no!

-And not just for the pupils.

-Year 8!

-Year 8!

-

-And you're at it already.

-Though many claim to be experts,

-they don't truly know...

-..what happens on school corridors

-between 8.30am and 3.30pm.

-Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold is opening

-its doors to television cameras.

-This is the only

-Welsh-medium school in Flintshire.

-It's home to around 500 pupils

-and 40 teachers and support staff.

-Headteacher Bronwen Hughes often

-refers to the Maes Garmon 'family'.

-That sense of belonging

-means someone's always on hand...

-..to listen and offer help.

-You've sold quite a lot.

-Pupils are always ready

-to volunteer.

-It's second nature for us to help.

-I want to help raise money

-for Children in Need.

-They're always supportive.

-The pupils are fantastic.

-They pull out all the stops.

-The pupils and staff

-are always ready to help others...

-..through raising money for charity

-and supporting local causes.

-As a school, it's important

-we contribute to the community.

-They enjoy helping others.

-That's just as important

-as academic results, in my opinion.

-Two pupils who give their time to

-help and coach the younger pupils...

-..are Acer and Emily,

-who are in Year 9.

-Matthew, on that team.

-They organize sporting activities

-at lunchtime and after school...

-..as part of the 5x60 scheme,

-which is an initiative...

-..urging youngsters

-to do 60 minutes of exercise...

-..five times a week.

-We run sporting 5x60 activities

-at lunchtime and after school.

-Things like hula hooping, squash,

-dodge ball and handball.

-Sports they don't do

-in their PE lesson.

-Six, seven and one, two, three.

-That was nice and sharp. Well done.

-It gives pupils a taster...

-..to see if they like it.

-It also gives pupils who enjoy sport

-a chance to do some coaching.

-It's a way

-of boosting their confidence.

-The rest of the school

-benefits from it too.

-The same teams now, please.

-It's our role

-to do basically everything.

-We take a register

-and lead the session.

-I referee games.

-I tell them how to improve

-and how to make the games harder.

-Normal dodge ball, VIP.

-Acer's refereeing dodge ball now.

-Sit down!

-We do it to encourage children

-to be more active.

-We're giving something back

-to people.

-There are two teams

-and they have to throw the ball...

-..and hit a player

-from the opposite team.

-It's fun

-and it gets the adrenaline pumping.

-If you hold the ball with two hands,

-the ball's passed to the others.

-Handball is similar to netball...

-..but you can move

-three steps with the ball.

-If you move more than three steps...

-..the ball

-is passed to the other team.

-Children treat me differently

-because they know I'm in charge.

-I get a lot of respect

-from Year 7 in dodge ball...

-..and from the Year 10 pupils too.

-They respect me when I referee them.

-Well done.

-Have you all enjoyed it today?

-Yes!

-They're looking after

-younger pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.

-They're role models.

-I enjoy it because I can

-see the children are having fun.

-Seeing them enjoy

-makes me feel good.

-Well done, girls!

-I enjoy volunteering.

-I like seeing children succeed.

-To know I've helped them...

-..makes me happy.

-North Flintshire is one of the few

-heartlands of the Welsh language.

-Pupils help in other ways too.

-They campaign.

-Four of us are former pupils

-of Ysgol Mornant...

-..and current pupils

-of Ysgol Maes Garmon.

-English is the language at home,

-so without Welsh education...

-..we wouldn't be able

-to speak our nation's language.

-I speak for myself and others

-when I say I'm proud to speak Welsh.

-Llian, Rhys, Charlotte and Hannah

-all attended Ysgol Mornant...

-..one of Maes Garmon's

-five Welsh-medium feeder schools.

-Flintshire Council

-threatened to close it.

-To prepare the presentation

-for a public meeting in January...

-..two pupils returned

-to their old school in Picton...

-..to learn more about the situation.

-Hello! Nice to see you both.

-We've heard them

-talking about closing the school.

-We just wanted to know

-a few of the facts.

-The fact is, last May and June...

-..Flintshire Council was threatening

-to close Ysgol Mornant.

-Saving money

-is one reason they gave.

-Another reason is because

-fewer pupils now attend the school.

-The school opened in 1953.

-There are currently 44 pupils.

-Numbers have declined

-over the years.

-The council felt that the cost

-per pupil was too expensive.

-It's maintained the Welsh language

-over the years.

-If the school does close...

-..then the Welsh language

-won't be supported.

-Without this school,

-it wouldn't have been possible...

-..to have a Welsh-medium education

-and go to Maes Garmon.

-There are

-no Welsh-medium schools nearby.

-If they close the school, then the

-pupils will have to go from here...

-..to Prestatyn or Holywell.

-That's far, isn't it? Too far.

-Especially for small children.

-Especially for small children.

-

-They're young to travel by bus.

-Perhaps some of them won't

-attend a Welsh school in the end.

-If Ysgol Mornant closes,

-it's likely...

-..that the pupils

-will have to travel to school...

-..which would destroy the close-knit

-community and its Welsh identity.

-We want to thank you for listening.

-We hope we've made our views clear.

-This is the beginning

-of your career as a public speaker.

-Well done.

-The council certainly listened to

-the pupils' plea. There's good news.

-Ysgol Mornant will be

-federalized with Maes Garmon...

-..and join its extended family.

-Part of Ysgol Maes Garmon's

-wider family...

-..is the pastoral care team

-led by Sion Williams.

-Academic results are very important.

-If the welfare of pupils

-is ignored...

-..and their care is neglected...

-..then they won't reach

-their full potential.

-To provide the best care...

-..the school works with external

-agencies, such as the police...

-..the alcohol/drugs awareness team,

-counsellors and social services.

-The mother's co-operating well...

-..so hopefully she'll come off

-the child protection register too.

-The school nurse and welfare officer

-play a prominent role at school.

-I received a message from you.

-Delyth and Ceri have come

-to build a close relationship...

-..with some of

-our most difficult families.

-My role at school...

-..is to focus

-on a child's health and wellbeing.

-I'm currently sending out

-a children's health survey...

-..so if there are any problems...

-..such as a child's poor attendance,

-then Delyth gets involved.

-Often we work with

-the same families in the county.

-We also work with Flintshire's

-Welsh-medium primary schools.

-Since both of us have worked

-at Maes Garmon for many years...

-..we know the families well.

-We know the problems

-encountered by parents...

-..and grandparents, which helps.

-Every school year is different...

-..but in some years, we see

-cases of anorexia and bulimia.

-Some of the older pupils

-suffer with stress...

-..and self-harm.

-The children's welfare comes first,

-then their attendance.

-If a child

-is absent without permission...

-..more than 20 times...

-..parents are fined a sum of 60.

-The fee increases to 120...

-..if it's not paid within a month.

-None of the Maes Garmon families

-have been fined, which is good.

-We take parents to court

-as a last resort.

-The thing is,

-if they pay the fine...

-..they don't have the money

-to feed their children.

-Our welfare team

-uses the food banks in Mold.

-There are several reasons

-for a pupil's absence.

-The county has many young carers.

-The parents may be drug users...

-..or they abuse alcohol.

-Some parents have separated.

-Some take the children on a weekend

-and don't return them early enough.

-There are lots of problems...

-..so the children

-have a lot to deal with.

-Do you want to talk about

-any problems you may have...

-..or just a general chat and games?

-..or just a general chat and games?

-

-A general chat.

-Adults aren't the only ones

-who help the school's pupils.

-We have a scheme called Gwrandawyr

-Cyfoedion (Peer Confidants).

-You won!

-Year 12 pupils...

-..visit Year 7

-registration classes...

-..and talk to them individually,

-in groups or as a class.

-It gives

-new pupils in Year 7 a chance...

-..to talk to their peers

-instead of only teachers.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-We want to know

-how many youngsters smoke...

-..and how many don't.

-We're doing a survey.

-There's more to education

-than learning academic subjects.

-Have you done one, girls?

-Laura Roberts works for Sorted...

-..which deals with

-alcohol and drugs misuse.

-She's here today with

-a smoking survey for the pupils.

-There's a drop in the number

-of youngsters smoking cigarettes...

-..but there's a rise

-in them smoking e-cigs.

-That's because it's been advertised

-as being better than smoking.

-I usually come in once a week.

-I also work with a group

-of youngsters who are at risk...

-..and we hold sessions

-about drugs, alcohol and smoking.

-If they're already using, we

-refer them to one-to-one support...

-..and counselling to help their

-situation and give them support.

-Take a look at these.

-They look really realistic, though.

-As part of her work, she's here

-to train the next group of trainers.

-These Year 9 pupils

-will become teachers for the day.

-They will have to teach Y7 about the

-dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

-So, has everyone heard of M-Caps?

-M-Caps used to be a legal high

-but now it's illegal.

-We're calling them New Psychoactive

-Substances because it's confusing.

-New Psychoactive Substances pose

-the greatest risk to youngsters.

-Alcohol too.

-It's rife at the minute.

-Youngsters are drinking on the

-street, it's easily accessible.

-One bottle of wine is the same

-as a Victoria sponge cake.

-An entire Victoria sponge cake,

-not just a slice.

-As well as teaching

-history and Welsh...

-..Llinos Cleary helps 70 pupils

-with additional learning needs.

-She helps with literacy, speech,

-disabilities, dyslexia...

-..or more serious conditions.

-It's certainly a challenging job.

-I wear a lot of hats at school.

-Mother, grandmother sometimes!

-Social worker, nurse...

-..counsellor, teacher.

-Sometimes teaching

-is at the bottom of the pile.

-Is it the only school in Flintshire?

-Llinos believes there's a better

-understanding of autism and ADHD...

-..a condition of hyperactivity

-and lack of concentration.

-When I was young, children with ADHD

-were the naughty children.

-There's such a difference between

-a naughty child and one with ADHD.

-They can't sit down and concentrate.

-They're volatile and inquisitive.

-Sometimes they need someone to calm

-their mind and put things in order.

-Firm but fair.

-It says Maes Garmon on it.

-If you're talking about children

-on the autistic spectrum...

-..imagine landing in a country

-and you can't speak the language...

-..you can't read the signs and

-you're in unfamiliar surroundings.

-You're lost and you need some

-sort of structure - a timetable...

-..and a set of social skills.

-I have to prepare them

-for the outside world.

-It can be tough.

-What did you have for breakfast?

-You're answering really well.

-Five boys in Y11

-have received a statement.

-The difference in some of them

-from Year 7 to now...

-..is immeasurable, and that's

-what's difficult in education.

-Write the report afterwards.

-Do you all understand?

-"I'm Charlotte Rogers, Matthew's

-wife, youngest of two daughters."

-At home in Rhos near Wrexham,

-after all the marking is done...

-..Llinos enjoys performing.

-She sings with a choir

-and acts with Uffen theatre company.

-Charlotte likes to indulge

-in buying designer clothes...

-..and luxury holidays.

-..and luxury holidays.

-

-We're doing a murder mystery.

-We're the actors,

-so we're setting the scene.

-We're the characters,

-so when people arrive...

-..we talk to them in character.

-I dread to see

-what the other dogs have done!

-A green biro.

-There's a purple biro, a blue biro.

-I formed a dyslexia committee.

-The children decided that

-green marks were friendlier.

-Red means wrong.

-We had a discussion about the

-marking and I use purple biros now.

-It's multi-coloured.

-Teaching runs in the family.

-My mother was a headmistress.

-My mother's sister

-was a headmistress...

-..my cousin's a teacher,

-so's my sister!

-My other sister teachers too,

-so it must be in the blood.

-I either wanted to be a police woman

-or a teacher.

-It's not that different!

-In order to prepare pupils

-for the outside world...

-..schools teach

-personal and social development.

-Instead of weekly lessons, it all

-happens on three different days...

-..during the school year.

-Today, the Y10 pupils

-are having a Fair Trade breakfast.

-The Red Cross is here.

-For Years 11 and 13,

-who are about to sit exams...

-..there's a mindfulness session.

-It helps them relax and prepares

-them for the stress of exams.

-You notice more flavour.

-Interesting.

-PC Mark Jones comes here

-to do a session on personal safety.

-If I said the word sexting...

-..have you heard that before?

-Constable Mark Jones

-is a familiar face.

-He's the school's main contact

-with North Wales Police.

-There's concern that many youngsters

-may be breaking the law...

-..by sending sexual texts

-or images to one another.

-If someone's sent an image...

-..and that person's under 18...

-..if you keep that image,

-then you're breaking the law.

-If you then distribute that image,

-you're also breaking the law.

-Incidents of sexting

-are on the rise.

-According to NSPCC Wales...

-..North Wales Police

-dealt with two cases in 2013...

-..four in 2014 but 28 in 2015...

-..with the majority of children

-aged 15 or younger.

-Most pupils don't know it's a crime.

-Getting the message across is vital.

-The question is, at what age

-do we brief primary schoolchildren?

-I've found over the years...

-..that younger children

-are using the internet.

-Our main problem...

-..is targeting the right age group

-before that sort of thing starts.

-This is a similar smell

-to what is smells like if you smoke.

-Who wants to smell it?

-The rest of Year 9

-hold their own lessons.

-After discussing the dangers

-of smoking, alcohol and drugs...

-..it's time to see

-how much they remember.

-Eat an onion?

-Eat an onion?

-

-Yes, a raw onion.

-I had to eat an onion.

-I had to eat an onion.

-

-Why don't you stay? You're a baby.

-You're a wimp and a baby.

-Go on, eat it.

-A bigger bite than that. Go on!

-Everyone started saying,

-"Go on, Dion."

-They were saying, "Don't be a wuss."

-So I did it in the end.

-I learnt how easy it was

-to give in to peer pressure.

-You see how easy it is

-to take a risk?

-Dion didn't want to do it

-but we made him.

-That's peer pressure.

-Look down.

-I'm trying to tie my laces

-with goggles on.

-It shows the effect

-of alcohol in your system...

-..and how

-you see things differently.

-Ecstasy's seen as a party drug

-because they use smiley faces...

-..and PlayStation logos

-to appeal to children.

-It gives Year 9

-a taste of what it's like to teach.

-Seeing things like that

-changed my mind...

-..about trying things.

-Care and welfare

-are integral to Ysgol Maes Garmon.

-The pupils always come first.

-There's increasing pressure on

-pupils to achieve the best results.

-But we have to balance that...

-..with fostering

-well-rounded individuals...

-..who'll make a contribution to

-society after leaving Maes Garmon.

-That's just as important.

-We're lucky that we're a small

-school, which makes a difference.

-We know our children.

-You feel part of the school.

-I know teachers who haven't even

-taught me. It's a close-knit school.

-It's a lovely school. We have

-a close bond with the pupils.

-This is my second home, really.

-We spend so much time here.

-We always return to the fact that

-it's the children who are important.

-We see their achievements

-and their challenges.

-Bear in mind that there's a back

-story behind every set of results.

-They're individuals, not statistics.

-We focus on the ethos of

-belonging to the Maes Garmon family.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

-.