Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch |
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Lawrenny Avenue
, CF11 8BR
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| Type | Welsh-medium state school |
| Motto | "Teulu Mawr Ym Ni i Gyd" (We Are All One Big Family) |
| Established | 1996 |
| Local authority | Cardiff Council |
| Headteacher | Dewi Rees |
| Gender | Both |
| Age | 3 to 11 |
| Enrolment | 520 (in September 2019, including 64 part-time pupils in the nursery class) |
| Houses | Cadair Idris, Epynt, Preseli, Yr Wyddfa |
| Colour(s) | Red |
| Website | http://www.ygpc.cymru |
Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch is a big primary school in Cardiff, Wales. It's special because it teaches mostly in the Welsh language. The school is located in the Canton area of western Cardiff.
Contents
About Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch
Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch teaches children from many different parts of west Cardiff. These areas include Riverside, Canton, Pontcanna, and Victoria Park. The school has about 520 students, aged from 3 to 11 years old. This number includes 64 younger children who attend nursery part-time. Students are grouped into 18 classes, with each class having children of the same age.
Learning in Welsh
The main language used for teaching and daily life at the school is Welsh. This helps students become fluent in Welsh. Even though many students don't speak Welsh at home, they learn it at school. In 2019, about 10% of students came from homes where Welsh was spoken. The school is also very diverse, with about 25% of students coming from different ethnic backgrounds.
What "Pwll Coch" Means
The name "Pwll Coch" means "red pool" in Welsh. It refers to a pool in the nearby River Ely. A small village once grew near this pool. Local stories say the pool turned red after a battle called the Battle of St Fagans in 1648. This area is not part of the school's local area anymore.
Excellent School Standards
The school has been inspected by Estyn, which checks how well schools in Wales are doing. In both 2018 and 2024, Estyn rated the school as "good" in all areas. Inspectors noted that the staff create a happy and welcoming environment. Everyone at the school feels respected and valued. They also said that the teaching quality is good. Most students make great progress and achieve high standards by the end of Key Stage 2. The school's leaders are very effective, and students consistently show excellent behavior.
School History and Growth
Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch first opened its doors in 1996. It shared a building with Fitzalan High School at that time. In September 1999, the school moved to a brand new building on Lawrenny Avenue. This was a special moment because it was the first school in Cardiff built just for Welsh-medium education.
Growing Student Numbers
The school quickly became very popular. By September 2000, the number of students had grown a lot. They needed more space, so temporary classrooms were added to the school grounds. In 2006, a big extension was built for the older students. By 2008, the school had two classes for every year group. For a few years, from 2011 to 2013, the school even had three classes for some year groups to fit everyone. By 2014, the school went back to having two classes per year group. In 2019, there were over 520 students attending.
Special Support and Nursery
In February 2019, a new special learning center called Yr Hafan opened at the school. This center helps students from all over Cardiff who have complex learning needs. The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, officially opened Yr Hafan on November 22, 2019. In September 2020, Cylch Meithrin Pwll Coch, a Welsh-medium nursery, also opened on the school site. It offers nursery sessions and extra care for the school's youngest children. A new building for Cylch Meithrin Pwll Coch was completed in June 2021. The Welsh Government and Cardiff Council helped fund this new building.
School Leaders
Here are the headteachers who have led Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch:
- 1996: Anna Roberts
- 2009: Meinir Howells
- 2016: Christopher Newcombe
- 2022: Dewi Rees
