A message from our Headteacher
Spring has finally sprung and this term always ends at a hectic pace with trips, visits, fixtures, activities, PPEs and intense preparation for the forthcoming summer exam season.
The energy that our entire school community brings to all of this is nothing short of remarkable after a very long term and is always a joy to behold. We are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated staff body who are wholly committed to our pupils experiencing and grasping as many opportunities as they can and succeeding. We are also proud to have so many focused, polite and responsible young people who have high aspirations, are willing to work hard, support each other and be an active part of our school community.
Enjoy reading our Spring newsletter which is full of the energy, colour and life that characterises who we are here as Team Tred!
Happy Easter everyone and we will look forward to seeing you all on Monday 28th April.
MATHS
UKMT Success – Intermediate Challenge
This term, our Year 9 pupils participated in the Intermediate UK Maths Trust Challenge with outstanding results. We were delighted to see so many learners improve on their scores from last year. A special congratulations goes to our Bronze Award winners:
Ashton J, Cerys P, Lily W, and Jun Xi C.
Well done to all who took part! We now look forward to seeing Years 7 and 8 take on the Junior UKMT Challenge next term. Good luck!
Year Group Updates
Year 7
Our newest learners have made a fantastic start to secondary school maths. This term, they’ve been exploring new ideas, challenging their thinking, and building confidence in key mathematical skills. It’s been great to see.
Year 8
Year 8 have continued to flourish this year, diving deeper into topics like algebra, fractions, decimals, and percentages. They’ve even been tackling some early GCSE-style challenges! Next term promises more exciting learning as they move on to topics like circles and complex shapes.
Year 9
With one eye on the future, Year 9 have started building the foundations for their GCSE studies. They’ve moved from consolidating core skills to tackling new content, preparing them well for the double award GCSE Mathematics qualification that begins in September 2025.
Year 10
As they approach their final full year before examinations, Year 10 have shown excellent focus and maturity. This term, they’ve been completing fortnightly past papers to strengthen understanding and build exam confidence. The GCSE Numeracy exam in November will be their next major milestone.
Year 11
Year 11 have shown incredible resilience and determination this term. Following the completion of their GCSE Numeracy exam, they’ve been working through weekly past papers in preparation for their final assessments. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and wish them every success as they enter the final stretch.
ENGLISH
As a delightfully busy and productive term ends, let’s celebrate all of the fantastic learning experiences our students have had this Spring Term. From Poetry to Shakespeare, our learners have explored a range of wonderful topics and have produced fantastic work!
Owing to our yearly celebration of World Book Day, English lessons have taken place alongside a brilliantly bookish backdrop of decorated doors, thanks to our very own Mr Llewellyn’s door decoration competition. We are delighted to share our doors with you! The students really wanted to ensure that Team English had doors to be proud of- well, it is only right for the home of literature!
Year 7
Phew! Year 7 have been all over the country…through text and language, that is! Our students have been discovering how the Welsh Language connects to other Celtic Languages such as Cornish. Making connections between words for ‘sea’ in both Welsh and Cornish has enabled students to understand how languages connect us and understand the world around them. In addition to this, students have been understanding the importance of empathy and how it is effectively used through spoken communication. Gwaith da, year 7; or should we say Gwres da in Cornish?
Year 8
Year 8 have been working their way through Shakespeare’s The Tempest, navigating Shakespearean language and devices. We have written descriptions of a wild storm, have analysed character and have also considered who we have the most pity for within the play. Learners have also broadened their communication and debating skills by discussing the theme of ‘forgiveness’, taking on roles of ‘Chairperson’, ‘the Challenger’ and ‘The Clarifier’ amongst others. We are looking forward to moving onto our next unit of study which is based on the novel ‘The Bone Sparrow’- a fantastic piece of literature that we are sure will move and inspire our learners.
Year 9
Poetry analysis and comparison has been at the heart of our literature study this term. Students have waded their way through sophisticated war poetry in a mature fashion, analysing a range of poetic techniques and devices. Students have received the opportunity to complete a GCSE style poetry comparison. The skills that we have developed this half term will certainly support their Unit 1 Poetry studies for the new English Literature and Language Double Awarded GCSE qualification. As a team, we are very excited to begin this new qualification with this fantastic cohort. Gwaith da, year 9!
Year 10
It has been another busy term for our hard-working year 10s! All of our learners received their Unit 1 results, and we are so proud of the commitment shown for these examinations. All learners are now preparing for the Unit 2 examination, studying Heroes, An Inspector Calls, or A Taste of Honey. We wish the whole of year 10 all the best for their Unit 2 examination and the Unit 1 resit which are both taking place in May. Revision sessions for the Unit 1 resit take place every Monday in J3 with Mrs Worlock.
Year 11
We have been so pleased with the levels of dedication and commitment from our year 11 learners this term. Examination preparation is well underway with students working hard to ensure that they refine their skills and craft in reading and writing. The next few weeks are crucial, and we encourage all learners to ensure that their attendance and enthusiasm remain high. We would like to remind all year 11 students that revision takes place every Friday after school in J3 with Mrs Worlock.
This half term, some of our year 11 students have been working their way through a series of Unit 2 and Unit 3 writing tasks, one of which being a narrative. Students were asked to write an account of a fond childhood memory. We are delighted to be able to share with you spotlighted work from these incredible learners:
“The day was so hot. It felt like the sun had dropped just a little too close to Earth, wrapping everything in a heavy heated blanket” - Olivia H
Libby P wrote about the touching memory of learning to ride her bike with the help of her father. She wrote:
“There I was, with my dad’s steady and gentle hand on my back- a lighthouse in a sea of uncertainty.”
Tea W wrote about the childhood wonder of sitting in the garden, under a slide, with a best friend in the middle of the rain. She wrote:
“…acting as if we were princesses from a distant land far away. Or if we were daring pilots navigating the stars with only our wits and wonder.”
The English team wishes you all a wonderful Easter break and we thank you, as always, for your continued support.
SCIENCE
🔬 Year 7: Young Scientists in the Making
Our Year 7 pupils have been exploring the fundamentals of science through a range of exciting topics. In ‘Solids, Liquids and Gases & Changes of State’, they investigated evaporation by separating salt from saltwater. In ‘Cells’, they got hands-on with microscopes, preparing their own cheek cell and onion cell slides — with many amazed by what they could see! Most recently, they've been expanding their knowledge of the universe in ‘Our Solar System & Beyond’, learning about planets, stars, galaxies, and the changing seasons.
🧪 Year 8: Diving Deeper into Science
Year 8 have been busy building on their scientific understanding through a wide range of practical and investigative work. In ‘Understanding Chemical Reactions’, they explored oxidation, combustion, decomposition, and precipitation reactions. In ‘Species & Classification’, pupils enjoyed fieldwork, identifying garden birds visiting our feeders and exploring plant life on the school field. They also examined ‘Variation’, investigating traits like earlobe shape, tongue-rolling ability, and height within their class — a great introduction to genetics and diversity.
⚖️ Year 9: Investigating the Properties of Matter
Our Year 9 students have been busy with a mix of physics, chemistry and biology this term. In their ‘Density’ topic, they measured the density of regular and irregular solids and various liquids. They’ve also explored diffusion, gaining a better understanding of particle movement, and wrapped up the term studying the digestive system — a great mix of hands-on practicals and theoretical work.
🧬 KS4 Science: Rising to the Challenge
Year 10 Single Award Applied Science pupils completed their practical assessment in January — and we are extremely proud of the effort and focus they showed throughout. All Year 10 pupils also sat their PPE assessments this term and are now working hard, using personalised feedback to help them prepare for their GCSE exams in June.
Year 11 have been showing real maturity and commitment. They completed their final practical assessments in January and have now shifted into full revision mode. With summer assessments beginning in May, many students have been making the most of after-school revision and intervention sessions. Their dedication has been excellent, and we’re confident they’ll be ready to show what they can do.
👩🚀 British Science Week 2025: Curiosity in Bloom
We celebrated British Science Week 2025 in true Tredegar style — with creativity, curiosity, and plenty of practical fun! Pupils from across the school got involved in a range of STEM-based activities designed to spark imagination and celebrate science in everyday life.
One of the highlights was the daffodil dissection activity, where learners carefully examined the internal structures of Wales’ national flower to better understand plant biology and reproduction.
Meanwhile, in a brilliant fusion of science and sustainability, pupils constructed their own astronaut hovercrafts using recycled CDs and bottle tops.
🌟 Looking Ahead
It’s been a fantastic term full of curiosity, discovery, and resilience. As always, we thank parents, carers, and the wider school community for their continued support. We look forward to an exciting summer term filled with even more opportunities for learning, progress, and celebration — especially as we head toward exam season and the culmination of our learners’ hard work.
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Easter break.
Team Tred Science & Engineering
CYMRAEG
Yr Adran Gymraeg
What an IMPACT this term has had on learning Welsh!
It’s been a very busy term yn yr Adran Gymraeg. We kicked off January with a trip to Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog with Year 7 and Year 8 pupils. We had a wonderful time, climbing, skiing, toboganning, go-karting, quad biking, swimming, navigating ropes courses,…etc…etc The food was very tasty. The views over Cardigan Bay were amazing. The weather was very windy! We had a fantastic time. The pupils were great and ENGAGED in all activities while learning Welsh at the same time. The staff were friendly and helpful. We can’t wait to go back again next year.
Mae’r tymor hwn wedi cael EFFAITH mawr ar ddysgu Cymraeg!
Mae wedi bod yn dymor brysur iawn yn yr Adran Gymraeg. Dechreuon Ionawr gyda thaith i Wersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog guda Blwyddyn 7 a Blwyddyn 8. Cawson ni amser bendigedig yn dringo, sgio, gwibgartio, cartio, cwadio, nofio, ar y cyrsiau rhaffau .. ac yn y blaen…. Roedd y bwyd yn flasus iawn. Roedd y golygfeydd dros Fae Ceredigion yn anhygoel. Roedd y tywydd yn wyntog iawn! Cawson ni amser ffantasteg. Roedd y disgyblion yn wych ac wedi YMRWYMO yn y gweithgareddau i gyd tra’n dysgu Cymraeg. Roedd y staff yn gyfeillgar a helpgar. Dyn ni methu aros i fynd yn ôl y flwyddyn nesa.
Diwedd mis Ionawr, aeth plant y Clwb Cymraeg ar daith gyda’r Urdd i Fae Caerdydd. Roedd yn fargen! £10 punt! Yn cynnwys y bws i lawr i’r Bae ac yn ôl; taith mewn gwib-gwch rownd y bae; bwyd yn y bae; gwely dros nos yng Nghanolfan yr Urdd Bae Caerdydd; brecwast; trip i siopa; cinio; ymweliad â’r sinema a gêm fowlio deg!!! Am fargen. Roedd pawb wedi joio mas draw!! Gan edrych ymlaen at y tro nesa!
Mae’r Clwb Cymraeg yn rhedeg bob pnawn Llun yn B11 yn syth ar ôl ysgol am awr, os hoffech chi ymuno?
At the end of January, the children of the Clwb Cymraeg went on a trip with the Urdd to Cardiff Bay. It was a bargain! £10! Including the bus down to the bay and back; a speedboat trip around the bay; food in the bay; overnight stay in Canolfan yr Urdd Bae Caerdydd; breakfast; a shopping trip; lunch; a visit to the cinema and a game of bowling!!! What a bargain. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed!! Here’s looking forward to the next time!
The Clwb Cymraeg runs every Monday afternoon in B11 straight after school for an hour, if you would like to join?
February saw an event in school for Year 9 pupils ‘Pam Cymraeg?’. We had an entire day of Welsh events for pupils to enjoy, with guest speakers, games, quizzes, presentations, panels, DJ workshops. It was a fun-filled day exploring the importance of the Welsh language and bilingualism and the opportunities available for using the language both socially and vocationally. The event was organised with our EAS partners and Coleg Cymraeg y Cymoedd. Guests included: Katie Owens a
Radio 1 DJ; Iolo Cheung a Journalist and football commentator; Daniel Minty a celebrated Welsh learner; Aneirin Owen a Dragons Rugby player. All guests spoke about how learning Welsh had benefitted them both socially and professionally and they were fantastic ROLE-MODELS to the pupils. Pupil Voice Questionnaires showed how much the pupils had enjoyed the day and reflected on their Welsh language skills and its importance to their futures.
Daeth Chwefror â digwyddiad o fewn yr ysgol ar gyfer disgyblion Blwyddyn 9 ‘Pam Cymraeg?’. Cawson ni ddiwrnod llawn o ddigwyddiadau Cymraeg i’r disgyblion fwynhau, gyda gwesteion gwâdd, gemau, cwis, cyflwyniadau, paneli, sesiynau DJ. Roedd yn ddiwrnod llawn hwyl a sbri yn ffocysi ar bwysigrwydd yr iaith Gymraeg a dwyieithrwydd a’r cyfleoedd sy ar gael i ddefnyddio’r iaith yn gymdeithasol ac yn y byd gwaith. Trefnwyd y digwyddiad mewn partneriaeth a’r EAS a Choleg Cymraeg y Cymoedd. Y gwesteion oedd: Katie Owens DJ Radio 1; Iolo Cheung newyddiadurwr a sylwebydd pêl-droed; Daniel Minty dysgwr Cymraeg; Aneirin Owen chwaraewr rygbi y Dreigiau. Siaradodd y gwesteion am sut roedd dysgu Cymraeg wedi eu helpu nhw yn gymdeithasol ac yn broffesiyniol ac rodden nhw’n FODELAU-RÔL gwych i’r disgyblion. Yn dilyn y digwyddiad, roedd y plant wedi cwblhau holiadur i ddangos sut redden nhw wedi mwynhau’r diwrnod a chael cyfle i adlewyrchu are u sgiliau ieithyddol a phwysigrwydd yr iaith i’w dyfodol.
Ym mis Mawrth roedd hi’n amser gadael y chwarae a dechrau gweithio’n galed yn enwedig i Flwyddyn 10 oedd yn trio eu hasesiadau Uned 3 ac Uned 4 am y tro cyntaf i DDYFNHAU MEDDWL am beth yn union fydd gofynion eu harholiadau y flwyddyn nesa. Ac wrth gwrs, yr amser mwyaf pwysig i Flwyddyn 11 oedd yn ymgymryd ar HER yr arholiadau siarad Uned 1 ac Uned 2 go iawn!! Pob lwc i’r disgyblion hyn yn yr wythnosau/misoedd i ddod gyda’r holl asesu!
In March it was all work and no play especially for Year 10 who tried their Unit 3 and Unit 4 assessments for the 1st time in order to DEEPEN THINKING about what exactly their exams will ask of them next year. And of course, the most important time for Year 11 who took up the CHALLENGE of their Unit 1 and Unit 2 speaking exams for real!! Good luck to all of these pupils in the weeks/months to come with all of their assessments!!
In the summer term we hope to offer more opportunities to use the Welsh language outside of school by visiting Gwersyll yr Urdd Glan Llyn and, possibly, Saint Fagans Folk Museum. Watch this space!
Yn nhymor yr haf rydyn ni’n gobeithio cael rhagor o gyfleuon i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg tu fas i’r ysgol trwy ymweld â Gwersyll yr Urdd Glan Llyn ac o bosib hefyd Amgueddfa Gwerin San Ffagan. Gwyliwch y gofod!
GEOGRAPHY
Year 7 – All Year 7 pupils visited Bedwellty Park to apply their mapskills by attempting a treasure hunt after Christmas. The winning teams were announced in a Year 7 assembly before Easter and displayed on the Geography Department noticeboard.
Year 9 – Some pupils visited the coast to investigate coastal landform changes and take beach profile measurements. Spectacular views as always!
Upcoming events in the geography department:
Year 10 – GCSE Geographers will visit Cardiff and Sirhowy River to conduct fieldwork in preparation for their Unit 3 exam.
If you do not already do so, can you please follow @GeographyTCS on X and geography_ygtcs on Instagram.
ESDGC / Eco Schools / Fairtrade Schools
The 10th May is World Fairtrade day. To mark this occasion, the Eco Schools committee run a poster competition with Year 7 before Easter. Congratulations to Nyla H of 7T on winning the competition.
Thank you to Ms Bowd in continuing to support the gardening club. They have been involved in a number of initiatives and have done an excellent job in maintaining the school garden. Groundwork Wales, an organisation that has helped improve the area in front of C block, have invited pupils from our gardening club to an event to celebrate their involvement with the school. Thank you to them for their assistance with this.
If you do not already do so, can you please follow @EcoSchoolsTCS on X and ecoschools_ygtcs on Instagram.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
Several fabulous outdoor learning opportunities have taken place this term. Our Forest Schools co-Ordinator Mr Roles has continued with the programme with pupils across the school. Outdoor learning in many Areas of Learning across the school has taken place and enjoyed by our learners.
52 pupils enjoyed their February half term skiing in Prato Neveso in Italy. 15 pupils were on their 2nd trip with the school. It was a fantastic trip enjoyed by all.
There has always been an abundance of outdoor learning opportunities in YGTCS and many Areas of Learning are continuing to offer these wonderful opportunities for our learners. Pupils in Year 7 have also been introduced to the YGTCS Outdoor Learning Award, which we hope that all pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9 will achieve a Bronze Award by Summer Term 2025. In April, 14 pupils in Year 11 will be completing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award expedition led my Mr Roles, our expedition leader. There are another potentially up to 48 pupils in Year 10 who will follow suit in the Summer.
If you do not already do so, can you please follow @OutdoorsYGTCS on X and outdoors_ygtcs on Instagram.
RVE
Over the past few months, pupils have continued to engage in thought-provoking and meaningful topics across RVE and Humanities. As always, we are proud of the maturity and curiosity our learners show when exploring religion, values, and ethics. Here’s an update on what each year group has been learning this term.
Year 7
Year 7 pupils have continued their strong start in RVE, building on their understanding of Religion, Values and Ethics. This term, they have explored what it means to have a faith and live in a multicultural society, reflecting on how different beliefs can exist respectfully side by side. Pupils deepened their knowledge of Christianity, studying key beliefs, symbols, and worship practices. To consolidate their learning, pupils completed an extended writing task in the form of a letter to Moses, evaluating whether the Ten Commandments are still relevant in the modern world. This activity developed their empathy, reasoning, and persuasive writing skills. They are now moving on to explore Islam and Judaism, beginning with the 99 names of Allah.
Year 8
Year 8 pupils have shown maturity and sensitivity while exploring challenging issues. This term, they studied the events of 9/11 and examined the religious and social impact it had, particularly on Muslim communities. They then explored the topic of Islamophobia, looking at how fear and misunderstanding can lead to discrimination. Pupils learned about the effects of Islamophobia on individuals and society, and investigated the work of charities such as Tell MAMA and MEND, which support victims and raise awareness. They also explored the importance of Islamophobia Awareness Month, which promotes education and understanding every November. Pupils demonstrated their learning by writing newspaper articles outlining the causes, effects, and responses to Islamophobia, producing thoughtful and informative pieces of work.
Year 9
Year 9 pupils have been investigating how attitudes towards relationships have changed over time as part of their 'Change and Continuity' theme. They explored Christian and Jewish perspectives on a variety of complex topics including marriage, divorce, adultery, and contraception. Pupils used religious texts and teachings to analyse how different communities respond to these moral issues, considering both traditional and modern viewpoints. The topic encouraged pupils to develop their ability to compare beliefs and express personal opinions respectfully and thoughtfully.
Year 10
Year 10 pupils have entered the final stage of their GCSE preparation by beginning the unit on Good and Evil. In this topic, they have investigated important concepts such as the difference between crime and sin, the aims of punishment, and religious views on capital punishment. Pupils also studied conflict and war, reflecting on moral questions around violence, forgiveness, and justice. The unit has allowed pupils to engage with real-world issues through a religious and ethical lens, and they have been applying their learning to past paper questions in class and at home to help prepare for their exams.
Year 11
Year 11 pupils are now on the final stretch of their GCSE journey. Having completed their Unit 2 topics on Relationships, Human Rights and Christianity, they recently finished their study of Judaism. This included an in-depth look at Jewish beliefs, sacred texts, religious leaders, festivals, and celebrations. Pupils have now covered all exam content and are revising in preparation for their final exams. They continue to demonstrate outstanding focus, resilience, and commitment. Revision materials, targeted support, and extra sessions are available to all learners as we support them through this crucial final term.
We are incredibly proud of our pupils’ enthusiasm and determination to tackle important moral, philosophical, and religious issues with such maturity. The skills they are developing—critical thinking, empathy, evaluation, and respectful debate—are preparing them to be thoughtful citizens in an ever-changing world.
PE
🏉 Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive – PE Department Spring Term Newsletter🏆
As we wrap up a busy and exciting spring term, we’re proud to share the fantastic achievements and highlights from the PE department here at Tredegar Comprehensive School.
Rosslyn Park 7s Success 🏉
A huge congratulations to our outstanding Year 11 rugby team who recently competed at the prestigious Rosslyn Park 7s tournament. The boys were exceptional throughout, securing a brilliant win against William Churchill School and holding their own against two top-tier private boarding schools. Their grit, determination, and sportsmanship were a credit to both the school and our community. We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Tredegar on such a big stage. Good luck to all of our rugby teams taking part in the Urdd 7s tournament this week — pob lwc, boys!
Inspiring the Next Generation 🏅
Our Sports Leaders have continued to shine this term, leading a variety of primary school sports festivals. They’ve worked with energy and enthusiasm to engage local primary pupils in football, netball, basketball, and multi-skills activities. Their leadership has been inspirational, helping to promote a love of sport and healthy lifestyles across our wider community. Bendigedig!
Year 10 Footballers Go National ⚽
A massive well done to our Year 10 boys football team who made it to the national stages of the Welsh Cup. Reaching the quarterfinals is a fantastic achievement, and although they narrowly missed out on progressing further, their hard work, teamwork, and commitment made us all incredibly proud.
U17 Call-Up for Alex G ⚽
An extra special congratulations to Alex G, who was called up to represent Wales Under-17s and marked the occasion with a superb assist in a 2-1 win over Albania. What an incredible achievement — di iawn, Alex!
Neve P Heads Stateside ⚽
We’d also like to give a huge shout-out to Neve P, who has been selected for the Boys and Girls Club Wales U15 Squad who will be travelling to America to represent Wales in football. Neve, we are so proud of you and can’t wait to hear about your experiences across the pond. Pob lwc on your journey!
Cheerleaders Bound for Florida 📣🌴
Best of luck to all of our students heading to the Cheerleading Championships in Florida with Gymfinity. What an amazing opportunity — we’re cheering you on from Wales and can’t wait to hear all about your performances!
Ospreys Experience – A Night to Remember 🏟️
Finally, this term saw 43 students travel to watch the Ospreys in action, and what a night it was! A brilliant opportunity for our pupils to witness elite-level rugby, soak up the atmosphere, and bond as a school community. It was a night full of excitement, and memories that will last for a long time.
ICT
Key Stage 3
Year 7
Year 7 have been working on their Tredympics topic. This topic gives pupils a chance to work in groups to research, plan and build a venue for an Olympic Sport. This is created in Minecraft and pupils are required to consider scale and proportion as well as sustainability and environmental factors whilst creating their builds. Pupils are then given the opportunity to evaluate their project when updating their digital portfolios. For the Summer term year 7 will be covering a range of encryption techniques and their uses and how, with the genius of Alan Turing, encryption has and does play an important role in our country's history.
Year 8
Year 8 have been covering their Dying, Surviving and Thriving topic. Pupils have created a range of fake news articles as well as a virus simulator. This has been an enjoyable topic that has allowed us to discuss real world issues where digital technology has both aided and potentially has an adverse impact on society and the world around us. Year 8 will be covering the Tomorrows world topic in the Summer term where we will be looking at inventions, ethical dilemmas related to populating another planet as well as the future of space travel.
Year 9
Year 9 have completed 2 topics this term. Firstly, we covered a topic called the plastic sea where we looked at the impact of plastic waste on the environment and then researched, created and presented a presentation on the topic within our groups. For the first time ever, year 9 this term have participated in the Cyberfirst Adventurers set of lessons. These are 3 separate lessons created by the NCSC to provide an insight into the world of work along with more Computer Science related themes. These experiences consisted of data analysis, 3D design and a crack the code challenge. Good luck to pupils selecting their options, we look forward to teaching those who select Digital Technology or Computer Science. Please be in touch if more information about the differences between these courses is required.
Key Stage 4
Digital Technology / Computer Science
Pupils from both options have been busy finalising work for their NEA this term. Focus now needs to shift to revision in preparation for our upcoming examinations. The department will continue to run after school sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to support our pupils. There will also be revision sessions during the Easter break.
Further experiences
Safer Internet Day
This year some of our digital leaders from year 9 attended assemblies for each year group in order to raise awareness of the pertinent themes from Safer Internet Day 2025. This national event allows for schools and organisations to focus on online safety and the wellbeing of young people regarding cyber. Jak, Callum and Alfie did a fantastic job throughout the week and represented the department and digital leaders impeccably in what is a daunting task.
Cardiff Metropolitan - Celebration of digital skills event
Recently, a number of digital leaders from year 7 were invited to attend a celebration event held at Techniquest Cardiff. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the skills being developed in partnership with Cardiff Met across the borough. Pupils were provided with talks around cyber threats and encryption, provided with examples of the great work that has been achieved within various schools and also given the opportunity to feed back on their experiences. We look forward to continued work with Cardiff Met moving forward and in turn further development of digital skills and experiences for our pupils.
After School Club
We have successfully been running a python coding club each Thursday after school. This has been well attended by both year 7 and 8 pupils who seem to really be enjoying attending and learning a new skill. The really fantastic part about this however is the fact it has been set-up, organised and led by a small number of year 10 computer science students / digital leaders. The department would like to thank Noah, Jayden, Cameron and Zach for their efforts this term.
Expressive arts
It has been another busy term for the Expressive Arts Department! From preparing for concerts to completing coursework and everything in between!
Key Stage 3
In Year 7, pupils have fully embraced performing musically and theatrically. It has been a pleasure to see them so engaged in lessons where they have been exploring and developing their performing skills on drums, keyboards, guitars and ukuleles.
Pupils have been getting totally stuck into drama lessons and it has been lovely to see so many developing in confidence! Year 8 have been developing their composing skills in order to convey a story through music. In Year 9, pupils have been exploring music through the decades and the impact of social, cultural and political influences on music at various times throughout history. Imagine if the world as we knew it was no more…this term Year 9 have been working with the theme, ‘apocalypse.’ Pupils have been exploring the different production roles required for the industry such as: acting, directing, film editing, lighting and costume design.
Key Stage 4
It has been a busy time for Year 11 pupils! They have been busy working hard on completing their coursework and have produced some excellent performances and compositions. In Year 10 GCSE, pupils sat their performing PPE and had their first taste of the written exam. They took part in some ‘speed dating’ for some fun revision and have been using glockenspiels as a way of developing composing skills.
Btec Music and Production arts pupils have been preparing for our forthcoming Summer Showcase concert, which will feature extracts from ‘Mamma Mia’ the musical, where our production arts pupils will be designing and applying the makeup for our actors.
Btec Performing arts pupils have been fortunate enough to take part in a collaborative and community-based project with local dance organization, Ffin Dance. They were involved in a full day workshop learning choreography for a project called ‘ID’. This project culminates in a performance at the Beaufort Theatre on Saturday 26th April, where our pupils' hard work and commitment can be seen on the stage.
Extra Curricular
Our weekly after school clubs consisting of Tredegar Voices on Monday’s and Drama club on Wednesday’s are continuing to run until the end of the year. We are busy preparing material for the Summer Showcase concert.
We are excited to announce that we will be running a trip in July to Abertillery Met for pupils to watch a production of Beauty and the Beast. More information regarding this will be released in the Summer term. Our Summer Showcase Concert will be held on Thursday 10th July in the school hall. This will be an evening to celebrate the talents of our actors, dancers, musicians and singers across all year groups. Further information regarding our Showcase will be available following the Easter Holidays.
To keep up with everything Music and Drama related, please follow our Instagram pages where you will also find photos and videos of our wonderful pupils in action!
@ygtcs_expressive_arts_music and @ygtcs_expressive_arts_drama.
HISTORY
We have had a wonderful Spring Term in the History Department:
Year 7 have fully embraced their ‘Humanities’ themed lessons as part of their “Who Am I?” theme. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed this topic area and also being taught the same topic in all 3 subject areas as they were able to gain a much deeper knowledge and understanding of the topic and also how the three disciplines link together. We began our study with pupils learning the rich history of our town, Tredegar and how this industrial town developed and grew. The teaching of this theme has enabled pupils to gain an appreciation of their identity, heritage and cynefin which has influenced our learners emotionally and spiritually, and helped them build their sense of self and of belonging. Pupils will be taking part in an extra-curricular visit as part of this theme to Blaenavon ironworks and Big Pit, which will bring what they have been learning about to life!
Year 8 were taught the theme ‘Conflict’ in their History, Geography and RVE lessons where they looked at the big question of how has and is conflict shaping the world, using the 9/11 terror attacks as our example of conflict, learning what the causes, events and consequences of this event were. There has been an emphasis on this term focusing on creating ‘ethically informed citizens’ as part of our Curriculum for Wales model as pupils now have a developed understanding of why this event happened in the first place, who orchestrated it and what the main consequences of this have been, namely a 15 year ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan and Iraq and consequently a rise in extremist groups such as ISIS which has led to an increase in refugees fleeing these war torn countries in the Middle East but also unfortunately given rise to Islamophobia.
Year 9
Year 9 have been looking at crime and punishment from c.1500 to present day as part of their ‘Change and Continuity’ Humanities theme. Pupils have engaged with various different crimes over the centuries such as the crime of Heresy and Witchcraft especially in the early modern period as well as Treason through the case study of the Gunpowder Plot giving learners a greater understanding of the significance and history behind the celebration of Bonfire Night. Year 9 have thoroughly enjoyed this topic and are looking forward to the summer term when we look at our final Humanities topic which will be ‘Authority and Governance’.
Year 10
Year 10 have also had a very busy term preparing for both their Unit 2 and 3 studies in preparation for their GCSE examinations on these units this June. They have all worked very hard this year and have completed a lot of past papers and undertaken revision for regular class tests on past paper questions. We are confident that they will all reap the rewards in their results this summer with grades they can be very proud of and will repeat this same work ethic as we begin our next unit of work in Year 11 on Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Keep up your excellent attitude and hard work Year 10!
Year 11
As a department we would like to take this opportunity to thank our year 11 GCSE History classes. They have been an absolute joy to teach for the last 5 years. Their love for History and the current world around them is fantastic! Their knowledge about current affairs and the links they are able to make with the past in these situations has led to many great debates in the classroom that we have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of! We would like to wish every one of them every success in their futures as I know you are all going to do great and wonderful things - “Dream big, aim high, continue to work very hard at all times and you are going to go far!”
ART AND D&t
Year 7 National Literacy Trust We Wonder Protect our Planet – Blue Planet
Year 7 have been exploring the theme of Environmental Art and responded by creating their very own Protest posters.
Following the framework of read, inform, protect, students are tasked with designing a campaign poster to protect our precious water resources. Exploring a range of information and ideas, this challenge not only encourages reading for pleasure and reading diversely, it supports disciplinary literacy by increased engagement with non-fiction texts.
The pupils also created a protest poster where we staged our own protest Fridays for Future inspired by Greta Thunberg. As part of their oracy skills they have also been discussing Environmental issues by writing a speech which they have them been discussing and recording as a podcast.
Year 8: Narrative Theme
Year 8 have been exploring responding and creating their Narrative theme by looking at Wicked, Harry Potter inspired books which in turn inspire Art/ Musical Theatre. They have also been planning a set design inside the classroom showing the progress of their art work and show casing their final art pieces.
Year 8 Mosaic Mural at the ASD Base
Year 83B have produced a stunning tiled mosaic Mural based on Wizard of Oz, all pupils were able to add tiled pieces together and work as a group to create the Yellow Brick road inspired piece. We were very grateful to Mrs. Waters and Miss Green, Mr Rees and all the Base staff who attended the unveiling of their mural which now hangs proudly and the ASD base reception.
The final piece also complements their drawing and painting process based on the wicked Narrative theme. Well done Year 83B very proud of your amazing art work proudly on display.
Wicked Workshop Amber L Bowerman: Wicked film principal menswear- Junior costume maker
Expressive Arts were very excited to welcome Amber L Bowerman to the faculty. Amber presented to all of year 8 showcasing the process of her career studying at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she studied Costume making. Amber has worked on a range of musical and film productions including Hello Dolly in London, Matilda the musical film and most recently released film Wicked Part 1 & 2. Our pupils got to ask questions about what is the process of making costumes for the wicked characters including The Wizard, Fiyero and Boq. This was an invaluable day with Amber and a very authentic experience for Art, Music and Drama to see what it was like working in the costume department on such a fantastic film.
Amber told us about each character breakdown and how they designed and made each garment including the attention to detail like to the hot air balloon designs embroidered inside the Wizards coat that you don’t seen on the film. Each costume seen in the film had a range of 2-5 different versions of the same costume and she explained the process of each design, pattern and making stage.
Thank you to Amber for spending the day with us and we look forward to welcoming her back for the release of Wicked for good part 2.
C Block World Book Day 2025
C block staff all celebrated World Book day by dressing up as their favourite character to support literacy, reading and our Narrative theme. A fabulous effort from all staff and a great team photo!
D&T
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
C block has been busy with our pupils cooking up a storm! There have been practical exams with year 11 taking place, pupils cooking from year 7 right through to year 11. We have had some beautiful smoothie bowls being created by year 9, ready for the warm weather. Year 8 has been making some Spaghetti bolognese to take home for tea. Year 7 has been looking at the impact of sugar on the body including getting outside to enjoy some outdoor learning in the sun. They have been drawing around each other in caulk before labelling all the sections of the body and telling us how they are affected by excess sugar.
Our pupils have been busy showcasing some wonderful Design and Technology skills with pupils making phone holders using the laser cutter, making t-lights with recycled materials. Our year 9 pupils have been looking at renewable energy and making their own wind turbines to test the voltage they produce.
SKILLS (LITERACY)
As we come to the end of another term that has built on the success of the last, the Literacy Team want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to all parents, carers, and families for your ongoing support.
We know that literacy is a team effort. What we do in school in the classroom and in intervention is strengthened by what happens at home, and your encouragement and support helps us nurture confident, curious, and capable communicators. We couldn’t do it without you!
Sparx Reader
This year, our school has continued to embrace Sparx Reader, a personalised online reading programme that supports students in choosing books they love, reading independently, and answering comprehension questions as they go. It’s become an essential part of our strategy to ensure that our learners are able to access a wide range of appropriate texts that allow them to make reading progress.The statistics this year so far are truly staggering:
- 4,569 books have been read by our learners.
- Students have spent a total of 9,652 hours reading.
We’re also seeing great results in our Sparx Reader tests, which are carried out regularly to track progress. More and more learners are making progress in their reading age, showing improvements in comprehension, and developing a real love for reading. This is a reminder that it is our ongoing goal to have as many of our learners as possible working at a reading age that is the same as their chronological age or above.
Parents, thank you for all the ways you support us at home—whether by reminding your child to log on, discussing their book choices, or celebrating their reading milestones.
Literacy Learner of the Week: Celebrating DR ICE Excellence
This term, we launched a brand-new initiative: Literacy Learner of the Week. Each Friday, we celebrate students who have gone above and beyond in one or more of the four key literacy skills.
With 500 personalised postcards printed, we’ve already started handing them out each week to recognise our amazing learners. We feel it's a wonderful way to build confidence, celebrate hard work, and inspire others to aim high.
World Book Day
World Book Day 2025 was one of our biggest and boldest celebrations yet. It was filled with fun, creativity, and #TeamTred community spirit.
On the day itself, our staff transformed into a cast of beloved book characters. They brought everything from classic fairytales to modern adventures to life. The school was filled with wizards, detectives, animals, villains, and heroes. It was such a joyful way to spark conversations about characters and favourite reads, and the learners absolutely loved it!
World Book Day Door Decorating Competition
This year, we also launched our first-ever World Book Day Door Decorating Competition... and it quickly became a school-wide sensation.
Over 60 classroom doors were decorated with stunning displays inspired by books, characters, and authors.
Learners worked alongside their form tutors and classmates to bring these ideas to life with artwork, quotes, props, and more.
The creativity and teamwork were truly outstanding, and it was heart-warming to see so many students engaging with literature in such a hands-on way alongside the support of their Form Tutors or staff they work with in the school.
A video of all of the doors is available following this section of the newsletter.
Competition Winners
1st Place: Where’s Wally – Mrs Burczyk and her form class.
2nd Place: Roald Dahl classics – Mrs Jones and her form class.
3rd Place: Curious George – Mr Whitefoot and his form class.
Special SLT Prize: Jaws – Mr Callaghan and his form classes impressed with a bold design that made use of technology.. very appropriate!
Special Recognition Awards:
Miss Smith and her form class – for their interactive Sherlock Holmes door.
Mrs Moseley-Strand and the children of Hafan – for coming together to decorate multiple B Block doors and creating a truly inclusive celebration.
The competition brought so much excitement to the school, and the corridors looked like pages from a giant storybook! We're very aware that many form classes are already eagerly planning their entries for next year...
National Children’s Reading Quiz
For the first time ever, our school took part in the National Children’s Reading Quiz—a challenging and fast-paced event that celebrates book knowledge and teamwork.
We were represented on the day by Team Tred A and Team Tred B who had been expertly coached by Mrs Williams-Griffiths beforehand. Both groups worked hard to prepare, reading widely and practising quiz-style questions. On the day, they demonstrated impressive recall, critical thinking, and a real love for books. We’re incredibly proud of their performance and how they represented our school with such positivity and pride.
This was just the beginning: we’re already looking forward to next year’s competition!
Intervention
Our intervention offer has been bolstered this year by the further embedding of Lexonic sound training. We are very proud to announce that Mrs Williams is now fully trained to deliver the programme alongside Mrs Pearsall so that we are able to support an even wider range of learners with sound training. Congratulations, Mrs Williams! This programme runs alongside our existing offer of Fresh Start, bespoke intervention, IDL, Literacy Acceleration and Handwriting intervention.
Mr Llewellyn, Mrs Williams, Mrs Pearsall and Mrs Williams-Griffiths would like to wish all members of our school community a Happy Easter.
SKILLS (Numeracy)
Pupils this term have made tremendous progress in their registration activities in Numeracy. Weekly battles on TTRS has allowed everyone to improve on their knowledge of times tables. Pupils who have achieved the top scores in their year groups will be awarded their prize this week, good luck everyone! Year 9 are currently in the lead for the overall champions, can anyone stop them.
After Mrs Lloyds’ very successful darts competitions, the Darts club is ready to go. Every Monday after school we invite anyone who wants to play to come along. We have 3 classrooms ready for you to play in. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to bring in your own darts from home. Who will be Tred’s own Luke Littler?
This term we have celebrated Pi day where pupils were investigating the number and its purposes. We were able to display some of our pupils’ beautiful artwork from the day.
Puzzle of the week answers need to be given to Mr Vokes. Lots of pride points have been awarded this term and we would like to increase this in the Summer term. The puzzles have been challenging for both pupils and staff and created opportunities to deepen our thinking in Numeracy. I personally love completing these puzzles, can you complete them too? Puzzle of the week will be shared via our instagram page, keep an eye out.
Lastly, we would like to take the opportunity to wish our Year 11s’ all the very best in their upcoming exams. Good luck everyone!
Enjoy your Easter break everyone, looking forward to building on the successes of this term. Mrs Burczyk
Nurture with Miss Green and Mrs Bentley
This term in our Year 7 and Year 8 Nurture classes, we have been busy with a wide range of exciting and engaging lessons. Our days are a mix of hands-on practical work, book-based learning and outdoor activities, designed to support pupils’ confidence, curiosity and communication.
Together, Miss Green and Mrs Bentley recently asked pupils what their favourite lessons have been this term, and the responses were fantastic! Some highlights included:
This term with Miss Green, Year 7 pupils have explored British culture through fun and interactive passports filled with tasks, such as tasting traditional foods, matching landmarks with facts, drawing flags, and even painting potatoes to turn them into famous celebrities. These activities provided a creative and memorable way to engage with British heritage. The lesson was cross-curricular, linking Geography, History, and RVE to deepen their understanding of British culture from multiple perspectives.
Year 8 pupils have practiced writing both formal and informal letters as part of their English lessons. Pupils wrote formal letters to our headteacher about topics they wanted to discuss, demonstrating an understanding of formal writing styles. Additionally, pupils wrote informal letters to a pen pal in a neighbouring school's nurture class, showcasing their ability to adapt their tone and style for different purposes. This activity helped develop their skills in effective communication.
This term with Mrs Bentley, Year 7 pupils have explored the wonders of our solar system through a range of engaging and interactive activities. Pupils investigated the role of the Sun and created their own set of planet Top Trumps to deepen their understanding of the characteristics of each planet. They developed personalised mnemonics to help remember the order of the planets and used Digital Competence Framework (DCF) tools, including green screen technology, to record news reports on dwarf planets. Incorporating cross-curricular skills, they applied mathematical knowledge to construct Venn diagrams comparing meteors, comets, and asteroids. Pupils also travelled back in time to explore key space missions and historical events, and used ChatGPT to conduct a virtual interview with an astronaut, turning their findings into informative and visually engaging infographics. These were all cross-curricular activities, designed to develop a wide range of skills including scientific understanding, digital literacy, numeracy, creativity, and communication.
Year 8 pupils have been exploring the topic of species and classification. As part of their learning, they have conducted in-depth research to create detailed fact files on a variety of organisms. Using our outdoor learning facilities, pupils had the opportunity to observe and study amphibians and annelids in their natural habitats. To present their findings creatively, they also made use of Digital Competence Framework (DCF) tools, including green screen technology, to record and share their work in an engaging and innovative way. These cross-curricular activities helped to develop a wide range of skills, including scientific enquiry, digital literacy, communication, and teamwork.
In addition to our exciting lessons, one key feature of our class is our Learning Journal – a special place where we document all our practical work. It’s great to look back and see how much progress has been made, as well as to reflect on what we’ve enjoyed and what we’ve learned.
It has been wonderful to see our pupils working together for success, encouraging each other, and growing in confidence and pride each week. Our nurture space is more than just a classroom – it is a place where we build trust, explore new ideas, and celebrate each other’s successes.
We are looking forward to more exciting lessons next term!
The base
A Blooming Brilliant Term in the Base!
It’s been a wonderfully busy term for our learners in the base, full of growth, creativity, and community spirit.
Our garden has been a hive of activity, with learners taking great pride in planting and caring for flowers. Their hard work has brought colour and life to the outdoor space, creating a calm and nurturing environment for all.
Learners also had the chance to practise their social and independence skills during a visit to a local café. Staff were incredibly impressed with their politeness and confidence—fantastic ambassadors for our school.
Back at school, learners enjoyed social activities at Bedwellty Park, joining in with fun and friendship in the fresh air. And in a wonderful collaboration with their peers in 83B, they worked alongside Mrs Greenway to design and create a vibrant mural. This creative project was celebrated with a special unveiling at the base—a moment of pride and joy for everyone involved.
It’s been a term filled with learning, laughter, and achievement. Well done to all our amazing learners!
YEAR 7
During transition week and the parents meeting I can remember saying how quickly the years will pass at ‘the Big School’. Can you believe that 2 full terms have already been completed and the summer term is just around the corner!
Attendance
7P are currently second place in the whole school attendance league. This is very impressive, well done 7P! The form attendance league is one of the highlights of assembly and there is healthy competition between the form classes. The overall attendance of Year 7 currently stands at 92.2% and 7P is leading the way with 94.6%. Diawn!
Below is an overview of the form attendance at the time of writing this article:
It is important to mention that there are many pupils who have impressive individual attendance. Just a reminder that the Callio individual pupil target is 93% or above.
Throughout 2024- 2025 the school has launched many attendance initiatives to encourage all pupils to improve their individual levels of attendance the ‘Keep it Green’ attendance competition has run throughout the year and there have been whole school monthly attendance prize draws. The January prize winners were Owain M and Charlie L and the most recent prize draw winners for the March Marathon were Sonny B and Tayla-Rae P. Congratulations to you all!
100% Attenders
The pupils with 100% attendance are Sonny B 7T, Rocco C 7D, Brooke K 7C, Lottie P 7I, Lorna P 7R, Tayla-Rae P 7E and Toby T 7E. This is an excellent achievement and you should be very proud of this achievement. Keep aiming high!
Maintaining excellent attendance is vital for all pupils to fulfil their potential and the goals set. Parents and carers are politely reminded to support whole school policies in regards to attendance and ring in daily if a student is absent.
School Council Representatives
Lottie P 7I and Toby T 7E were voted Year 7 School Council representatives after making excellent speeches in assembly in front of their peers and being democratically voted in following our whole school election day. They are both doing a superb job representing the Year group at School Council meetings and feeding back ideas to Year 7 virtually or during assemblies.
Pride Points and Badge Holders
All Year 7 pupils have been eagerly collecting pride points to achieve their badges.
95% of the year group (173 pupils) have worked hard and secured the bronze badge.
65 pupils have been awarded silver badges.
16 pupils have already achieved their gold badge. The pupils are Oliver Flynn-Edwards, Peyton Hooper, Lottie Phillips, Victoria E, Ellie-May J and Gethyn D. Lucy W, Emily N, Paighton T, Fynley T and Seren J. (Plus the pupils below).
5 pupils have achieved the highest award of a platinum badge. This is the highest number of platinum badges achieved by any year group at this stage of the year. An outstanding achievement. The pupils are Caitlin O, Mason H, Frazer B, Charlie C and Destiny W.
Bendigedig Blwyddyn Saith!
See below for images of some of the pupils who have achieved their silver, gold and platinum badges.
Pupil of the Month
Congratulations to the following pupils for being selected as DRICE Pupil of the month throughout autumn term:
Parents' Evening
Thank you to parents/carers who attended Parents Evening on the 12th February 2025 this provided a valuable opportunity for parents/carers to meet with their child’s subject teachers. It was a very positive experience where individual pupil progress was discussed and future targets were set.
There are so many Year 7 pupils who are very talented in sports, singing and performing. It has been a pleasure seeing Year 7 pupils in their practical lessons and Year 7 have enjoyed sporting success since September. We have some really strong teams moving forward. I am very proud of you all. Keep it up!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents and carers for their support with Year 7 and I look forward to working with you in the future.
YEAR 8
Year 8 have had a very busy year so far, parents evening was a huge success and it was lovely to see so many of you here to support your child in their education.
There continues to be a big push on attendance with each pupil having an individual target of 93%. Maintaining good attendance is vital for all pupils in order to maximise the opportunity to learn and develop in order to fulfil potential to reach set goals.
There are currently:
Pupils continue to collect PRIDE Points for excellent attitude to learning and working hard in lessons. 113 pupils have been awarded with a Bronze Badge, 27 pupils have a silver badge and 3 have been awarded with gold. The pupils need to strive for success and continue to work hard in order to earn the rewards.
There have been 2 attendance incentives held this term, the first being in January where by the pupils had to attend every day in the month of January in order to be placed into a draw to win a voucher. 75 pupils managed to achieve 100% for January and were placed in the draw and the winners for the voucher were Harley C and Cameron O’BW. In March we held another competition with the aim of the pupils attending every day in March. Again 75 pupils were entered for the draw and the winners were Maxwell S and Jack B. Congratulations to all the pupils who got their names in the draw and to those that won a voucher.
A group of Year 8 pupils are going to be trained up as Anti-Smoking ambassadors. They will complete an 8 week programme which as shown them the effects of smoking and taught them how to support pupils in promoting Anti-Smoking. The pupils will then become anti-smoking ambassadors.
Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to working with you again next term.
YEAR 9
What a busy spring term Year 9 have had, we have been getting ready for our options, and the pupils have been absolutely buzzing with excitement to get to choose their own learning pathway. It was lovely to see so many parents and carers at our options evening, where pupils could gather information ready to make their first choices.
From this the option blocks were created, and Year 9 have now been eagerly completing their final choices for their Year 10 studies.
Such an exciting time for them all.
During this term the year group have enjoyed a day of learning how the Welsh language has helped the careers of so many, with guests joining us to tell their stories from DJ’s, TV presenters and a Dragons rugby player.
They have also recently taken part in a Hate Crime workshop run by the Crimestoppers Wales Education Team.
Our DRICE pupils of the month since January this year have been:
January: Charley L 9P and Lacey C 9I
February: Eddie D 9I and Iris M 9D
March: Leon S 9R and Logan B 9E
Congratulations to you all, keep up the great work.
Attendance
There continues to be a big push on attendance with each pupil having an individual target of 93%. Maintaining good attendance is vital for all pupils in order to maximise the opportunity to learn. Our Year group currently stands as follows:
100% Club: We had 52 pupils achieving 100% attendance for the month of January, the winners of the two amazon vouchers were Lacie-Mae L 9R and Alfie W 9P.
The competition ran again for the month of March, this time we had 55 pupils with 100% attendance, and the winners of the two shopping vouchers were Warren S 9E and Kayden T 9E
Well done to you all.
Pride Points:
At the time of writing, 91 pupils have achieved their bronze awards for collecting 350 pride points, and 5 pupils have achieved their Silver award now too, a massive well done to Thomas B 9P, Logan B 9E, Macauley C 9P, Barbara U 9D and Georgie-Ray W 9I.
Please enjoy the Easter Break, and I look forward to working with you all in the Summer term.
YEAR 10
Attendance
Year 10 continue to make pleasing progress in terms of our collective attendance. Year 10 are currently well in advance of the attendance figure for the same time in the previous academic year. As I am sure you are all fully aware, the remainder of Year 10 is extremely important for pupils in terms of sitting external examinations which play a part in final outcomes at the end of Year 11. All pupils have been provided with their examination timetables and details of additional revision sessions taking place help best prepare for the forthcoming exams in May and June. Should pupils require additional copies or any further support they are always encouraged to come and ask.
The form attendance league continues in a keenly contested battle. After an excellent few weeks, Mr Strand and 10P have now caught early frontrunners 10E with both forms now tied at the top of the table at the time of writing. Form attendance is analysed weekly, with there being a prize awarded for the form who sit at the top of the Year 10 Form Attendance League at the end of the academic year.
Despite their form not winning the attendance league, it is important to mention that there are many pupils who have an impressive individual attendance. This will also be rewarded at the end of the year.
Currently, there are 8 Year 10 pupils on 100% attendance for the academic year:
Mya Aherne, Monica Butcher, Thomas Davies, Joseph Hassan, Zachary Hughes, Presley Lester, Lili Llewellyn and Noah Pearsall. Well done all!.
A further breakdown of attendance is below:
Maintaining good attendance is vital for all pupils in order to maximise the opportunity to develop and learn in order to fulfil potential and reach set goals in the most important years of their school life.
Pupil of the Month
Congratulations to the following pupils for being selected as DRICE Pupil of the month throughout spring term:
February 2025
CJ L
Isabella H
March 2025
Joseph H
Courtney K
Pride Points
There are currently 3 pupils in Year 10 who have attained their Silver Pride Point award for the academic year. Congratulations to Joseph H, Harrison Hughes and CJ L
who will all now be chasing their gold award. There are a further 87 pupils who have attained the Bronze award.
Parents Evening & Parental Engagement Evening
Thank you to parents/carers who engaged in the recent Year 10 Parents Evening and Parental Engagement Evening. Parents Evening provided a valuable opportunity for parents/carers to meet with their child’s teachers to discuss recent progress and set targets for future improvement. Meanwhile, the Parental Engagement evening explained the forthcoming examinations and provided guidance on ways in which we can work together to best support our pupils throughout this very important time in their school lives.
YEAR 11
This will be the last full term of news from Year 11 who are busy preparing for their summer of GCSE exams. I am so proud of the resilience, hard work and determination that the majority of pupils have shown when rising to this challenge. I cannot believe how much has been packed into the Spring Term and how much Year 11 and are pushing themselves to achieve their target grades, or even better. I would like to thank parents, carers and form tutors for their continued support in helping all individual pupils to set targets as we all work together to achieve success.
The final Year 11 Parents Evening took place in March, the feedback from this evening was very positive and many of the parents who attended expressed how informative the evening was. It was the final opportunity for pupils, parents and carers to speak directly to subject teachers to help pupils set targets in the final stages of their education. I would like to thank parents, carers and form tutors for their continued support in helping all individual pupils to set targets as we all work together to achieve success.
Attendance
High levels of attendance are very important and we are all striving to achieve this throughout the school. There is still healthy competition between the forms and Form Tutors. Once again parents and pupils are politely encouraged to make every effort to improve attendance. Please remember that attendance will continue to play a vital role in enabling your child to reach their potential and achieve the target grades set.
The 100% club
I would like to give huge praise and recognition to the pupils in Year 11 who have 100% attendance so far this year. Congratulations to the following pupils on this fantastic achievement:
Oliver C, Ianis Constantin, Ryan H, Fletcher J, William K, Amy M, Megan P, Ben P, Libby P and Alfie W.
There have been talks in assemblies from various agencies, and talks about different college courses and apprenticeships. Many pupils have already accepted offers for their future pathways or are in the process of making their final choices. This will open doors to the next chapter of their lives.
Senior Pupil Leadership Team
Special recognition needs to go the Senior Pupil Leadership Team. They have been outstanding role models for all of the pupils within the school. Many of them have made presentations in front of guests and some have been instrumental in introducing new initiatives throughout the school and within Year 11. The Head Boy (Will K), the Head Girl (Tilly J) have been pivotal in the input they have had with the School Council. The Senior Pupil Leadership Team and the Anti Bullying Ambassadors have been attached to forms in Year 7, 8 and 9 acting as peer support for some of the younger pupils, and many have been supporting the form tutors during registration. I would personally like to thank all of the Year 11 pupils involved, and such leadership skills will be an asset for any college course or future employer.
There is a packed calendar ahead. After school sessions and Easter revision sessions are planned for many subjects with the drive to enable pupils to make the most of their opportunities. I would like to thank all of the staff who give up their own time for the delivery of these sessions.
Over the coming weeks there are controlled assessment deadlines in the majority of subjects. The GCSE exams start on the 9th May. I am confident that all of the students in Year 11 will approach the exams with their usual maturity and put in the necessary preparation needed to succeed.
With only weeks left in school, excellent rates of attendance are needed and revision at home is essential if pupils are to become independent and successful learners. They should take full advantage of after school revision sessions and learning tools such as online platforms that individual subjects have instructed Year 11 to use.
Year 11 remember the one test to pass – “The Mirror Test!” Try your best, put in the necessary effort over the coming weeks as you prepare for the exams then you can look at yourself in the mirror on Results’ Day on Thursday 21st August and know that you could have done no more!
I remain very proud of this year group and believe they are excellent role models for the younger pupils in the school. I look forward to your continued support over the coming weeks. My challenge to you Year 11 is to get the best results ever at YGTCS. I believe in you, give it your best shot!
MAT
At Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School we are committed to ensuring our pupils meet their full potential. We aim to ensure that pupils who have been identified as More Able and Talented in subjects or any other area are provided with an enriched and broad curriculum to foster this potential. We also appreciate that some pupils will be exceptionally able and talented and these pupils have been identified as our ‘Most Able’ pupils and placed onto our whole school ‘Most Able’ register.
Celebrating Excellence: Enrichment Opportunities for Our Most Able Learners
This term, our Most Able and Talented (MAT) learners have had an exciting array of enrichment opportunities designed to stretch their abilities, spark their creativity, and inspire them to reach new heights. As a school, we are committed to nurturing every learner’s potential, and our MAT programme is a shining example of this ethos in action. Here’s a snapshot of what our learners have been up to:
Year 9 Debaters Shine at EAS Regional Competition
We are incredibly proud of five of our Year 9 MAT learners who recently represented our school at the EAS Regional Debating Competition. Taking part in this prestigious event for the first time, our learners did a fantastic job, showcasing confidence, clarity, and outstanding oracy skills throughout the day.
The standard of debating and leadership on display was truly impressive, and it was a privilege to be part of such an inspiring event. Our learners demonstrated excellent teamwork, critical thinking, and passion in every round, holding their own against some tough competition.
After a nail-biting final round and a very narrow score margin, we just missed out on securing a place in the national finals at Oxford University. While that result was understandably disappointing, our learners represented the school with maturity, integrity, and pride—and they are already looking ahead to next year with excitement and determination.
Well done to all involved—you did us proud!
Cardiff University Workshop Inspires Year 9 Learners
Our Year 9 pupils recently took part in an engaging and informative workshop delivered by Cardiff University, titled Making the Right GCSE or Post-GCSE Choices. The session explored the various pathways available to students, the benefits of higher education, and helped to dispel common misconceptions about university life. Pupils had the opportunity to design their own degree, consider entry requirements, explore course content, and link their choices to future career opportunities. It was a valuable and thought-provoking experience that left our learners feeling inspired and more informed about their future options.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science
To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we were delighted to welcome representatives from PCI Pharma to our school for a special event aimed at inspiring our female learners in Years 8, 9 and 10.
The visiting team delivered engaging and informative presentations, highlighting the wide range of STEM career opportunities available within their organisation and the broader science sector. From lab-based roles to quality control and research positions, pupils gained valuable insights into the many exciting pathways into science-related careers.
Our learners responded brilliantly—listening attentively, asking thoughtful questions, and taking part in discussions with confidence and enthusiasm. It was a truly inspiring session that encouraged our students to consider future careers in STEM and celebrate the achievements of women in science.
A huge thank you to PCI Pharma for supporting our school and helping the scientists of tomorrow!
Year 7 Pupils Represent School at Commonwealth Day Ceremony
Two of our Year 7 learners, Lottie and Toby did a fantastic job representing our school at a special Commonwealth Day ‘Fly a Flag’ ceremony, held at Bedwellty House and Park and hosted by Tredegar Town Council. The event brought together schools from our local primary cluster to mark this important occasion. Our pupils spoke confidently and clearly as part of the ceremony, sharing the history and significance of Commonwealth Day with the audience. Their excellent oracy skills and mature presentation made them outstanding ambassadors for our school. Well done both—we are incredibly proud of you!
From the Classroom to Westminster: Year 8’s London Adventure Awaits
As part of the school’s provision for MAT pupils, our year 8 MAT pupils have been selected to participate in an educational visit to the House of Parliament in London on Tuesday 13th May. The visit will involve an awe-inspiring tour of the palace of Westminster, which will introduce the concepts of democracy and representation. As the Palace is the working home of the UK Parliament, we may not see everything but the visit will include: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, a visit to the Public Gallery to observe MPs, and Westminster Hall. After the tour there will be a workshop on the passing of laws and legislation and an interactive quiz, which uses voting pod technology to encourage participation from all students. Hopefully, it may even inspire some of them to a future in politics – who knows! I look forward to telling you all about our visit here in the summer newsletter.
Exploring the World of Broadcasting: BBC Tour Adventure
As part of the school’s provision for MAT pupils in years 7, we are taking our identified Most Able pupils on an educational visit to the BBC studios in Cardiff in May. Again, I look forward to telling you all about this visit in our summer newsletter.
International Women's Day 2025
This year, to mark International Women’s Day, we wanted to do something meaningful to honour the inspiring women who have been part of our school community and inspire the girls who currently attend Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar.
We reached out via social media, inviting former students to share their stories and successes, with the aim of inspiring our current learners.
The response was truly overwhelming: we received a range of thoughtful, uplifting messages that highlighted the many paths our alumni have taken since leaving school. We were able to collate a genuine celebration of the diverse achievements of the women in our alumni community who serve as powerful role models for the next generation.
To view the social media video we created, please see below. To view the response in full, follow the link to our school website.
Attendance Matters
Every Day Counts!
For those pupils who regularly attend school we believe it is important to recognise and reward those pupils for their efforts. As well as collecting Pride Points for attending school, there have been lots of other incentives and rewards for pupils to enjoy…just for regularly attending school!
Our whole school attendance league means that pupils have to work collectively as a form class to ensure that they meet the target of 93% to make it to the premier league. Every form class has been striving with their form tutors and Learning Coordinators to ensure that form classes make the premier or championship leagues as no one wants the shame of being in leagues 1 or 2!
Every week the form class who has made the most improvement is rewarded and every fortnight the best attending form class in each year group are also rewarded for their efforts. Raffle tickets are distributed weekly by form tutors to enter into a prize draw. This term prizes have included a tablet, Spotify vouchers and ear pods and Nando’s and cinema vouchers. There has been some fierce competition between the form classes across the school however 10E remain at the top of the Premier League. Well done to Team 10E!!!
Our Summer Term reward trip has been organised for Wednesday 19th July. Pupils have a choice of enjoying a day at Heatherton Park, Delta Force Paintballing Centre or McArthur Glen Retail Outlet. Letters have been distributed to all pupils and criteria starts on Monday 28th April. A huge thank you is extended to Learning Coordinators for organising these trips and to the staff who support and supervise the children.
This term we have also challenged our learners with our 100% Club and March Marathon. Those pupils who attended for just 19 days in those respective months were automatically entered into a prize draw. We had 10 lucky winners in each year group for both incentives and it was fantastic to see so many pupils with 100%.
Winners of the 100% Club were Owain M and Charlie L (Year 7), Cameron O and Harley C (Year 8), Alfie W and Lacey C (Year 9), Milee T and Thomas H (Year 10), Ryan H and Imogen D (Year 11).
March Marathon winners were Sonny B and Tayla Rae P (Year 7), Harley C and Maxwell S (Year 8), Warren S and Kayden T (Year 9), Courtney K and Layla J (Year 10), Rosie L and Taylor H (Year 11).
Our school works very closely with Blaenau Gwent’s Education Welfare Service to promote the importance of regular school attendance. As parents and carers, you have a legal responsibility to ensure your child attends school.
As part of our whole school attendance strategy, we will be monitoring and addressing patterns of school attendance through the ‘traffic lights’ scheme. You will be receiving a letter informing you of your child’s ‘Attendance Zone’ throughout the school year.
Attendance below 90%
The 3 different attendance zones are:
Unauthorised Absences
Parents / carers must inform the school on each day of your child’s absence and provide a reason why your child is missing school. To safeguard pupils, we will notify the Education Welfare Officer and/or Children’s Services if we do not receive information about pupil absence.
Following 10 sessions of unauthorised absence (the equivalent to 5 days) the school will require medical evidence from parents / carers to support a child’s absence from school. This can be a letter from your child’s GP or medical professional, a prescription or medication etc.
If your child’s absence falls below 93%, parents / carers will be expected to attend an Attendance Improvement Meeting with your child’s Learning Coordinator, the Attendance Officer and/or Assistant Headteacher and Education Welfare Officer. Further deterioration in attendance will result in a referral to the Education Welfare Service. This could result in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.
Holidays
Holidays taken during term time will not be authorised by the school unless there is an extraordinary circumstance and the Headteacher approves the holiday. Parents / carers must request an ‘unauthorised absence’ form from the school’s attendance team. The form must be completed and returned to the school. Unauthorised holidays over 10 sessions will count towards your child’s overall attendance figure. There are a total of 175 non-school days every year to take holidays and arrange other family visits and activities so families are asked to book holidays during school holidays only.
How Parents and Carers can help
- Ensure your child attends every day to ensure the positive habit and structured routine of attending school is maintained.
- Contact the school before 8.30am each morning of your child’s absence. You can contact school by calling 01495 713000 and speaking with the school Attendance Team or you can email attendance@tredegarschool.cymru
- Make every effort to arrange medical appointments outside of school hours.
- If your child’s medical appointment falls during the school day, please notify the school of your child’s collection time. Make every effort to ensure your child attends school prior to and after their appointment where feasible.
- Support the school in ensuring that your child arrives promptly at school each morning.
- Contact the school to discuss any problems or emerging issues with your child.
- Book family holidays during school holidays
- Praise and reward your child’s achievements at school.
Exam Notices for Students Sitting Exams
The Summer Exam Period is nearly upon us! The first GCSE exam will be taking place on Friday 9th May. Year 10 and Year 11 pupils have been given personalised timetables and copies have also been sent home to parents and carers.
A reminder that mobile phones are not permitted in exams under ANY circumstances. If a pupil is found to have a mobile phone, even if they have no intention of using it, they will be disqualified from their exam. The same applies to MP3/4 players and all watches. All devices must be kept in pupils’ bags and must be switched off.
Pupils are only allowed to take a drink (in a clear bottle with the label removed), writing equipment and a calculator (where applicable) into their exam. We expect pupils to attend exams with a minimum of two black pens, a pencil, a ruler and an eraser. Any pencil cases must be see-through with any labels removed.
We also ask that pupils arrive 10 minutes before the start of the exam.
Further details of exam procedures are included in the “guide to sitting your exams” which is printed on the reverse of the exam timetables and is also included in this newsletter.
A GUIDE TO SITTING YOUR EXAMS
Your Exam Timetable
You are responsible for checking the exact time and date of each exam as shown on your individual exam timetable. You must report any problems with your timetable to Mrs Farmer, the Exams Officer, immediately.
Be on time!
Please make sure you are outside your exam room 10 minutes before the start of each exam. Morning exams start at 8.30am and afternoon exams start at 1.00pm, unless otherwise stated. If you are late, your work might not be accepted. Also, make sure you have been to the toilet before you arrive at the exam.
Illness
If you are ill and cannot sit an exam you must contact the school immediately by ringing 01495 713000. You must also submit a doctor’s certificate to Mrs Farmer no later than 5 days after the exam you missed, otherwise your parent/carer may be charged the exam fee.
Important Notices
There will be seating plans outside the Hall so you can see where you’ll be sitting before entering the room. You must only sit at your allocated desk. Please make sure you read the ‘Information for Candidates’ and ‘Unauthorised Items’ posters which will be displayed outside each of the exam rooms. These notices set out the basic rules of all exam boards.
Invigilators
An invigilator oversees the smooth running of the exam. Invigilators have exactly the same authority as any teacher so you must listen to the invigilator and follow their instructions at all times. Although invigilators cannot explain any of the questions to you, they have been trained both to help you with any request or concerns you may have and also to monitor behaviour throughout the exam. If you need to ask the invigilator a question, please put up your hand and wait quietly.
Candidate Behaviour
You must wait outside the exam room until a member of staff says you can enter the room. Once you are in the exam room you must not communicate with any other candidate. If you try to cheat, or break the rules in any way, you could be disqualified from all your subjects. Invigilators will monitor behaviour throughout the exam and any inappropriate behaviour will be reported to your learning co-ordinator.
Personal Belongings
You are only allowed to take a drink (in a clear bottle with the label removed), writing equipment and a calculator (where applicable) to your desk. You must bring two black pens and any other equipment you will need to the exam with you. Only take into the exam room the materials and equipment which are allowed. You are allowed to have your equipment in a pencil case but it must be see-through with any labels removed. You must not have your mobile phone with you in an exam, even if it is switched off. Watches are also not allowed. Possession of unauthorised items is breaking the rules so could result in disqualification from all your subjects.
During the exam
Check you have been given the exam paper for the correct subject and for the level you have been entered for (for example, Foundation or Higher).
After you have filled in the details on the cover of the exam paper, please make sure you read the instructions carefully. In some exams you may only be required to answer certain questions and the instructions on the front page will guide you towards the correct one.
You must write in black ink. Coloured pencils or inks may be used only for diagrams, maps & charts. You are not allowed to use tippex, gel pens or highlighters.
There will be a clock in every exam room and also a notice showing the start and finish time of the exam.
Remember…
The exams are your chance to prove what you have learnt throughout your course and gain the best grade for you move to college or employment. Don’t panic if at first you don’t understand the question. Take time to read each question carefully and make the most of the time allowed.
We want everyone to do their very best in their exams and it is our responsibility to provide each candidate with the best environment in which to sit their exam, ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance of obtaining the best grade possible. If any issues arise during the exam which you feel may hinder your performance, please raise your hand and wait quietly for an invigilator. Explain the problem and if the problem cannot be resolved straight away, the Exams Officer will be informed.
Finally remember to do your very best!
Uniform
The standard of uniform at Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School is very important to us to ensure high standards are maintained at all times. We will not apologise for these high standards under any circumstances. The uniform policy can be found on the school website should you need to refer to it. https://www.tredegarschool.cymru/Uniform/
A few reminders of our school uniform policy…
During the colder months of the year, pupils are permitted to wear a plain black or navy V neck jumper under their school blazer. Hoodies are strictly prohibited and must be removed on entry to the school building.
Leggings, combat trousers or jeans are not allowed to be worn. Black trousers or a knee length skirt only.
Shoes must not show any markings or embellishments. Dr Martins or high top boots are not permitted. Socks must be black. Trainer socks which are worn below the ankle are not acceptable.
Wrist watches may be worn and handed to staff for security when necessary. SMART / ‘i’ watches are not to be worn. Pupils may, wear a single pair of stud earrings, preferably in the lobes of the ears. Facial piercings are strictly prohibited. No other jewellery is allowed.
Hair styles/colour should be such that they do not draw attention. No unnatural colours or extreme styles will be permitted. Natural and minimal make-up will be allowed. Pupils not conforming will be required to remove it. False nails and false eyelashes are not permitted. Long hair must be tied back in practical situations. For safety reasons, permitted jewellery should be removed during PE/Games lessons.
We are very proud of our school uniform and insist all pupils wear their uniform with pride.
Pre-loved Uniform
We are always grateful of donations of uniform that have been pre-loved or unwanted. Should you wish to donate any items of uniform, please drop these off at main reception.
Pupil Services
We have a wide range of uniform items available for learners at Pupil Services that are either pre-loved but are in excellent condition and fully laundered or brand new. Families are welcome to contact main reception for any items that are needed. Parents and carers are also welcome to come into school to look through our stock after normal school hours. These items are free of charge. Please contact main reception or your child’s Learning Coordinator if you are in need of uniform items or would like to browse through our stock.
Chloe’s Community Cupboard
Chloe’s Community Cupboard has a wide range of uniform items. The shop can be found at 107 Commercial St, Tredegar NP22 3DW. Telephone 07960 771403 and ask for Helen or Chloe who are always willing to help and support our learners and families of Tredegar.
As a school community, we would like to wish you all a happy and restful Easter break. We will return to school on Monday 28th of April. The next half-term will last for four weeks and will conclude Friday 23rd May.
We look forward to continuing to work together for success.