Neath’s Llangatwg Community School is celebrating after being named Swansea City FC’s Secondary School of the Year 2019.
The Cadoxton based school picked up the award at the annual Swansea City AFC Community Trust annual awards evening at the club’s iconic Liberty Stadium.
The awards are aimed at rewarding work done with the trust by people and organisations in South West Wales.
Llangatwg Community School got the prize for its excellent relationship with the club through the Community Trust and its involvement in a range of projects including Premier League Enterprise, Premier League Enterprise Challenge, Premier League Inspires and Premier League Girls.
These are initiatives aimed at inspiring entrepreneurship in young people and increasing girls’ involvement in football.
Pupils, helped by teachers including Rob Shaw and Rhian Collins, access the projects, which involve current and recent Premier League teams, both at their school and at football club facilities, including the Liberty Stadium.
Llangatwg’s Niamh Thomas took home the Community Trust Premier League Girls Participant of the Year award while fellow pupils Charlotte Elias and Ffion Morris were nominated for the prize.
One of the key elements in Llangatwg’s Secondary School of the Year award win was the outstanding effort by its Premier League Enterprise team in reaching the National Final. The four Year 10 pupils who competed were Mia Davies, Millie Thomas, Lauren Moore and Lowri Williams.
After beating representatives from other clubs in the Premier League Enterprise play-offs at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium in January, the team travelled to London’s Ernst & Young offices to compete in the final.
Competing against teams from Stoke City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackpool, the pupils presented their idea of a “bespoke Swansea City student offer”.
The final was hosted by TV presenter Ben Shires and judged by Executive Office Director of the Premier League, Peta Bistany, entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis and former Arsenal and England Lionesses footballer, Alex Scott.
The Swansea City FC Community Trust said of the team’s effort: “The pupils gave an amazing business pitch and were unlucky not to be crowned champions, however they took great confidence from the experience.”
Among those who have worked with Llangatwg Community School this year include Swansea City FC Ambassador and ex Swans striker Lee Trundle and the club's 23-year-old Welsh international right back Connor Roberts - a former Llangatwg pupil.
Llangatwg Community School head teacher Alan Rowlands said: “The School of the Year award is a fitting reward for all the talent, commitment and effort shown by all pupils who have participated this year, along with great support from parents and staff.”
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, Cllr Peter Rees added: “Congratulations to Llangatwg Community School for this award which is thoroughly deserved and reflects a lot of enthusiasm, hard work and innovative thinking.”
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Gwobrwyo ysgol yng Nghastell-nedd am ei gwaith gyda Chlwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe
Mae Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg yng Nghastell-nedd yn dathlu cael ei henwi'n Ysgol Uwchradd y Flwyddyn Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe 2019.
Enillodd yr ysgol yn Llangatwg y wobr yn ystod noson wobrwyo flynyddol Ymddiriedolaeth Gymunedol Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe yn Stadiwm Liberty, sef cartref eiconig y clwb.
Bwriad y gwobrau yw dathlu gwaith gwerthfawr sy'n cael ei wneud gyda'r ymddiriedolaeth gan bobl a sefydliadau yn ne-orllewin Cymru.
Enillodd Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg y wobr am ei pherthynas ardderchog â'r clwb trwy'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gymunedol a'i gwaith mewn amrywiaeth o brosiectau gan gynnwys Premier League Enterprise, Premier League Enterprise Challenge, Premier League Inspires a Premier League Girls.
Bwriad y mentrau hyn yw ysbrydoli pobl ifanc i fod yn entrepreneuriaid a chynyddu nifer y merched sy'n cymryd rhan mewn pêl-droed.
Mae disgyblion, gyda chymorth gan athrawon sy'n cynnwys Rob Shaw a Rhian Collins, yn cael mynediad at y prosiectau, sy'n cynnwys timau presennol a diweddar o'r Uwch-gynghrair, yn eu hysgolion ac yng nghyfleusterau clybiau pêl-droed, gan gynnwys Stadiwm Liberty.
Enillodd Niamh Thomas o Langatwg y wobr ar gyfer Cyfranogwr Uwch-gynghrair y Flwyddyn yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gymunedol a chafodd ei chyd-ddisgyblion Charlotte Elias a Ffion Morris eu henwebu ar gyfer y wobr.
Un o elfennau allweddol gwobr Ysgol Uwchradd y Flwyddyn Llangatwg oedd yr ymdrech arbennig gan ei thîm menter yr Uwch-gynghrair i gyrraedd y rownd derfynol genedlaethol. Y pedwar disgybl blwyddyn 10 oedd wedi cystadlu oedd Mia Davies, Millie Thomas, Lauren Moore a Lowri Williams.
Ar ôl trechu cynrychiolwyr o glybiau eraill yn ystod cystadleuaeth ail gyfle menter yr Uwch-gynghrair yn Stadiwm Molineux Wolverhampton Wanderers ym mis Ionawr, aeth y tîm i swyddfeydd Ernst & Young yn Llundain er mwyn cystadlu yn y rownd derfynol.
Wrth gystadlu yn erbyn timau o Stoke City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion a Blackpool, cyflwynodd y disgyblion eu syniad o "gynnig Dinas Abertawe pwrpasol i fyfyrwyr".
Cafodd y rownd derfynol ei chynnal gan y cyflwynydd teledu Ben Shires a chafodd ei barnu gan Gyfarwyddwr Swyddfa Weithredol yr Uwch-gynghrair, Peta Bistany, entrepreneur a seren Dragons' Den Theo Paphitis a cyn-chwaraewr Arsenal ac un o lewesau Lloegr, Alex Scott.
Meddai Ymddiriedolaeth Gymunedol Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe am ymdrech y tîm, "Rhoddodd y disgyblion gyflwyniad busnes gwych ac roeddent yn anffodus iawn i beidio ag ennill y wobr, ond roedd y profiad wedi rhoi llawer o hyder iddynt."
Ymysg y rhai sydd wedi gweithio gydag Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg eleni yw Llysgennad Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe a chyn-ymosodwr yr Elyrch, Lee Trundle, a chefnwr rhyngwladol 23 oed Cymru a'r clwb, Connor Roberts - cyn-ddisgybl Llangatwg.
Meddai Alan Rowlands, Pennaeth Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg, "Mae gwobr Ysgol y Flwyddyn yn wobr addas am yr holl dalent, ymroddiad ac ymdrech a arddangoswyd gan yr holl ddisgyblion sydd wedi cymryd rhan eleni, yn ogystal â chefnogaeth wych gan rieni a staff."
Meddai'r Cyng. Peter Rees, Aelod Cabinet Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot dros Addysg, Sgiliau a Diwylliant, "Llongyfarchiadau i Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg am y wobr hon sy'n haeddiannol llawn ac sy'n adlewyrchu llawer o frwdfrydedd, gwaith caled a syniadau blaengar."
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