Sabbatical course stars celebrated at the National Eisteddfod
Sêr y Sabothol yn cael eu dathlu yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol
A special celebration was held in Pentref y Garreg Las at the National Eisteddfod today to honour the ‘Stars of the Sabbatical’ course – education practitioners from Pembrokeshire, who have benefitted from intensive Welsh sabbatical courses during the fifteen years since the scheme was first established.
The sabbatical course enables teachers and classroom assistants to be released from their school duties in order to attend intensive Welsh courses, strengthening their language skills and gaining the confidence to teach and use Welsh in their schools.
Dr Lowri Lloyd, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and a member of the original team that set up the provision said:
“It’s important to celebrate the huge success of the intensive sabbatical learning provision and its far reaching impact on the Welsh language in English medium schools in Pembrokeshire and across Wales. This is a chance to take pride in the success of these innovative courses and thank the team of specialist lecturers and tutors who have run them over the years, as well as the teachers and the teaching assistants for their dedication and their enthusiasm for the Welsh language.”
Catrin Phillips, Welsh Development Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council added:
“The sabbatical courses have been invaluable to us in Pembrokeshire over the years. They have supported teachers and teaching assistants, not only to develop their Welsh language skills and their confidence to use the language in class, but also to deepen their understanding of the best methodology for teaching Welsh. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed towards the success of the scheme during the last fifteen years.”
During the event, contributions were made by a number of individuals who have been involved in the sabbatical scheme. Personal experiences of the effect the training had had on their careers were shared, as well as examples of how schools have transformed the way they teach and celebrate the Welsh language from day to day.
The sabbatical courses are now organised by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. The celebration was opened by Meinir Ebbsworth, the Centre’s Strategic Director, who said:
“Developing the Welsh language skills of the education workforce is a key priority in order to achieve the aims of the Welsh Language and Education Act. The National Centre for Learning Welsh leads a comprehensive training programme for the education workforce which includes the sabbatical scheme. The opportunity to learn Welsh intensively though this scheme is a transformative experience, creating teachers who are confident to speak Welsh and to lead on the development of the Welsh language in their schools.”
The celebration marks an important milestone for the sabbatical courses, highlighting their significant contribution towards developing a bilingual education workforce, and strengthening the use of Welsh in schools across Pembrokeshire and beyond over the last fifteen years.
Pictured are: Eleri Powell UWTSD, Jo Bowers - Ysgol Sageston, Cloe Ormond - Ysgol Arberth, Jazz Owen = Ysgol Tafarnspite, Jacob Jones - Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi; Cara Lews UWTSD, Catrin Phillips PCC, Menir Ebbsworth - National Centre for Learning Welsh.