Welsh Award Ceremony 2019

Logo of the "The Welsh Schools Heritage Initiative" (WHSI)
Logo of the "The Welsh Schools Heritage Initiative" (WHSI)

The 29th award ceremony of the Welsh EUSTORY History Competition was held on 5 July 2019 at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. It was a most interesting event, featuring descriptions of the work of each entrant as well as musical items and an actor playing a historical character in role.

The competition’s organisers were grateful to receive a message of support from the First Minister for Wales, Welsh Government, The Rt Hon Mark Drakeford. This reads: "I am very pleased to support The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative. It contributes to the knowledge and understanding that our young people have of their history and heritage and encourages them to explore and learn from the past. My best wishes go to all entrants to the annual competition for heritage projects in schools in Wales." Once again the competition’s organisers of »The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative« (WHSI) received generous support from a range of sponsors. The 2018-19 competition attracted fifty-three entries. About 4,858 young people participated in this year’s competition and set out to research on the topic of “My Heritage”.

Alun Morgan, Chair of WHSI, stated: "The quality of work was once again of a generally very high quality. This was especially, but not exclusively, true of the competitions for Primary and Special Schools. Many projects were inspirational. Much of the work should serve as examples of very good practice for the »Successful Futures Curriculum«, which is being implemented in schools in Wales over the next few years." Furthermore, he said: "The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative greatly values its membership of EUSTORY and the most generous encouragement and support EUSTORY provides."

Schools planned creative, exciting and very high quality projects covering a wide range of topics. Many of the schools have shared their work with parents, governors and the wider community and this has been widely valued.

The winners of each category were as follows:

  1. Foundation Phase (3-7 year olds): Maerdy Community Primary School (Rhonnda Cynon Taf) - »Sun, Sea and Charabancs…Maerdy’s Sizzling Summers«
  2. Special Schools (3-19 year olds): Portfield School (Pembrokeshire) - »Wales, The Land of Legends«
  3. Primary and Junior Schools (7-11 year olds): Darran Park Primary School (Rhondda Cynon Taf) - »That’s Entertainment: The History of Leisure and Tourism in Ferndale and Blaenllechau«
  4. Cross Phase (Primary and Secondary Schools combined): Llanfyllin High School Cluster (Powys) - »Who lived in the Dolydd?«
  5. Secondary Schools: (11-19 year olds): Aberdare Community School (Rhondda Cynon Taf) - »Aberdare: A Community at War«

WHSI was launched in 1990, under the auspices of the Institute of Welsh Affairs. Its aim is to encourage young people in schools in Wales to take a greater interest in their heritage and the contribution made to it by their families and communities.

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