Bryn Radio

Recording & Podcasting Studio Project

We are excited to share that, following a pupil vote led by our First Ministers, the children of Ysgol Y Bryn have chosen to fundraise for the development of a recording and podcasting studio within the school.

This idea came directly from pupil voice, with children across the school voting on the provision they would most like to see developed. The result was clear — they want a creative space where they can record podcasts, produce radio-style broadcasts and develop their digital media skills.

Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts so far, we have raised £8,000, with a target of £11,000 to bring the project to life. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and determination shown by our pupils in working towards this goal. We will continue to keep families updated as further fundraising takes place and as we move closer to making this vision a reality.

A recording and podcasting studio will bring significant benefits to learning across the curriculum. It will provide pupils with opportunities to:

• Develop oracy skills, confidence and clarity in speaking

• Strengthen writing and planning through script creation

• Enhance digital competence through recording, editing and production

• Engage in purposeful, real-world communication tasks

• Collaborate creatively and develop teamwork skills

• Build critical thinking through research and discussion

Podcasting and radio-style learning also allow pupils to reflect on their learning, interview others, debate topics and share ideas with authentic audiences. It encourages independence, creativity and a strong sense of ownership over their work.

We are very much looking forward to seeing this project develop and to creating another aspirational learning space that supports our vision of engaging, modern and meaningful education at Ysgol Y Bryn.

Inquiry: “I wonder what Winter is like now and in the past?”

This half term, our Early Years pupils have been exploring the question, “I wonder what Winter is like now and in the past?” Through a variety of practical and creative experiences, the children have developed their understanding of seasonal change, time and growth.

In Mathematics, pupils have been counting in twos and grouping objects, sharing buttons between snowmen to explore early division concepts, and comparing size and length using vocabulary such as long and short, big and small. They have also measured using non-standard units, developing their understanding of early measurement skills in meaningful contexts.

In Literacy, children enjoyed the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which they creatively innovated into The Three Brave Penguins. They have been writing Winter CVC words and taking part in daily phonics games to strengthen their early reading and spelling skills.

Through expressive arts and creative activities, pupils designed winter clothing crafts and snowman creations, while also thinking practically about what we need to wear by packing a suitcase for a Winter’s day. They explored how we change over time by looking at themselves now, in the past and thinking about their future, building early understanding of chronology and personal development.

In Understanding the World, pupils learned about animals and plants during Winter, exploring the concept of hibernation through stories and factual texts. They discussed how nature adapts to colder conditions and observed seasonal changes in their environment.

Additional highlights this half term included celebrating Number Day, where pupils enjoyed engaging with maths through fun challenges, and taking part in Internet Safety Day, where they began learning about staying safe online in an age-appropriate way.

It has been a busy and engaging start to the Spring term, with children showing curiosity, independence and enthusiasm in their learning as they explored the wonders of Winter.

Inquiry: “I wonder how life has changed since people lived in castles?”

This half term, Year 2 have stepped back in time to explore the question, “I wonder how life has changed since people lived in castles?” Through imaginative hooks, practical activities and real-life experiences, pupils developed a rich understanding of life in the past and how it compares to today.

Our learning began with a mysterious scroll inviting us to a castle immersion day. Ysgol Y Bryn was transformed, and the children trained like knights in PE—marching proudly, stepping over castle stones with shields in hand and carefully sneaking past guards. Pupils built their own castles using a variety of materials, designed armour, and explored what makes a castle truly a castle.

In Humanities, learners identified and labelled parts of a castle, explored the roles people had within castles long ago, and discovered that Wales is home to over 600 castles. Using maps, they located Carew Castle before visiting it in real life. During the visit, pupils even helped prepare for a grand banquet, bringing their historical learning to life in a memorable way.

In Languages, Literacy and Communication, our focus has been narrative writing. Inspired by the magical transformation of the school into a castle, pupils began their cold writes with the line, “One day in a tall stone castle…” and allowed their imaginations to flourish. We immersed ourselves in our model text, The Papaya That Spoke, exploring a real papaya using our senses to deepen understanding and enrich descriptive language. Throughout the term, pupils developed their use of speech marks, learned when and why dialogue is used, and expanded their vocabulary by exploring synonyms for “said.” Their hot writes show impressive progress in creativity, structure and confidence.

In Mathematics and Numeracy, pupils explored fractions and length. They learned to recognise and use fractions and measured and compared lengths using standard units. Mathematical learning was applied in practical ways, including measuring knights in centimetres and solving problems linked to their topic.

In PE, children developed throwing, catching, dodging and teamwork skills through dodgeball. They demonstrated enthusiasm, cooperation and a strong understanding of fairness and safe play.

During Jigsaw, the theme of Dreams and Goals encouraged pupils to think about their ambitions, perseverance and the importance of celebrating success. The children showed maturity in discussing challenges and reflecting on their achievements.

Welsh language development continued throughout the term, with pupils learning vocabulary linked to castles and using it in context. To conclude the topic, Year 2 are excited to welcome Year 2 from Bryn Teg for a shared castle experience day, where they will showcase everything they have learned.

Additional highlights included celebrating Saint Dwynwen’s Day with a lively disco, bringing the school community together in a joyful celebration of Welsh culture.

It has been an engaging and memorable half term for Year 2, filled with imagination, exploration and growing confidence across all areas of learning.