Headteacher’s Blog

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

Dear parents and everyone in the Llangan Community,

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

📌What’s Coming Up in School

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!

After a very busy and festive final week, we would like to wish our whole school community a wonderful Christmas and a restful break over the holidays. May your Christmas be filled with joy, warmth and a little magic. School reopens for pupils on Tuesday 6th January, when we begin the Spring Term looking forward to exciting learning opportunities, new adventures and fantastic experiences for all of our children.

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.

Next Week at a Glance:

🎭 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.

Welcome to this week’s newsletter! It’s been another busy and exciting week at Llangan Primary School, filled with creativity, community spirit and plenty of learning. We’re delighted to share important updates, reminders, and celebrations with you, as well as look ahead to some wonderful events coming up.