A Flintshire primary school has celebrated a new milestone with its first-ever Year 6 Leavers’ Service for pupils who started nursery when the school opened in 2014.

Ysgol Croes Atti Glannau Dyfdrwy in Shotton celebrated with staff, governors, family members, Councillor Ian Roberts, leader of the council, and Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth.

As part of its ambitious programme to expand Welsh medium education in Flintshire and contribute to the Welsh Government’s target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, the council established Glannau Dyfdrwy with the support of the headteacher and Governing Body of Ysgol Croes Atti, Flint who manage both sites as one school.

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Parental surveys in the Deeside area showed that parents would choose Welsh medium education if there was local provision and the council took advantage of a vacant school building to make this happen.

Ysgol Croes Atti Glannau Dyfdrwy opened its doors to nursery pupils in 2014.

A Welsh medium pre-school group and wrap around childcare was also established on the school site by Mudiad Meithrin.

The first cohort of nursery pupils has now reached the end of their primary education and all are transferring to Flintshire’s Welsh medium secondary school, Ysgol Maes Garmon in September.

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Councillor Roberts, who is also cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture and leisure, said: "This is a real milestone and I was so pleased to be able to attend this special occasion with pupils reflecting on their time at the school, looking back at photographs of themselves over the years and performing songs and drama they had recently showcased at the Urdd Eisteddfod held in Denbigh over the May half term holiday. 

“Flintshire has a strong commitment to the Welsh language and through our Welsh in Education Plan, we support people of all ages to improve their Welsh language skills and to give them the confidence to use the language in their daily lives.”

Gwyn Jones, headteacher, paid tribute to them for their achievements and their contribution to the life of the school.

He also paid a special tribute to their parents who had taken the decision to choose Welsh medium education for their children even though Welsh was not the language of the home for most of them.

Claire Homard presented all of the Year 6 pupils with a special certificate on behalf of the council acknowledging them to be the first cohort from the school transferring to Welsh medium secondary school.

Ysgol Croes Atti continues to benefit from significant investment from the council and from Welsh Government via the Sustainable Learning Communities Grant and Welsh Medium Capital Grant funding streams.

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This will deliver a brand-new school building to replace the current school on Chester Road in Flint and significant renovations to the Glannau Dyfdrwy site in Shotton to improve both the indoor and outdoor learning environment.

Both sites will also have brand new childcare and early education facilities to support more families to choose Welsh medium pre-school and primary education for their children.