The start of the 2024 academic year has been a very exciting term for our scholars. In September, we launched our two separate Scholars groups during registration. Key Stage 3 Scholars are working hard to plan for the future by exploring career pathways through the SEREN programme. Key Stage 4 Scholars are busy thinking about their choices and pathways after their GCSEs.
September saw the launch of our registration spotlight resource which aims to provide enrichment opportunities and discussions during registration. Tutors are given a menu of activities to choose from all linked to a common theme. Some of the themes covered this term include: second hand September, European Day of Languages and Remembrance.
In October, we launched our first St Cenydd scholars competition. We asked students to submit a piece of creative work based on one of the themes they had explored in registration. We were blown away by the talent that was showcased in these entries!
The top 5 entries were:
Cariad Chamberlain (Y10)
Eva Hurley-Williams (Y9)
Grace Finch (Y8)
Layla Green (Y7)
Prabh Kaur (Y9)
In November, our competition winners, along with ten other scholars, attended a rewards trip to Cardiff. This was the perfect opportunity to celebrate their hard work and creativity. They visited Cardiff Museum to learn about art and activism and then had the exciting opportunity to attend a Senedd meeting at Welsh Parliament in Cardiff Bay. Students bumped into Hefin David who said he would like to come in and work with the pupil Senedd at St Cenydd.
Across the autumn term, a group of scholars have been taking part in the Leadership for Change programme run by The Economist. Students had the opportunity to listen to talks from industry experts and come up with their own project which they pitched to the judges. Huge congratulations to Rosie Mantle and Tegan Jennings-Lewis who made the top 10 shortlist for their project around creating safe spaces for girls in schools.
In the new year, we are looking forward to welcoming a PhD tutor from The Brilliant Club to work with a small group of Year 7 and 8 students. We will also be taking part in the Topical Talk festival for the second year. Two of our scholars have also pitched their ideas for a school newspaper - we look forward to seeing their first publication in the new year!