Dear Parents/Carers
The end of the Spring Term is always a point of contrast in secondary schools. As younger pupils look forward to the two-week break, their older brothers and sisters see a vital time in revising and preparing for their examinations. This also comes after a very busy term which usually includes NEAs, coursework deadlines and an acceleration towards those summer modules. My message to every young person is to use that time wisely. To balance well-earned rest with the revision and preparation you need. Above all, to spend time with your family and to recharge ahead of an important summer term.
As ever, the Spring Term was packed and eventful. My thanks go to everyone involved in the wider life of the school. High points since Christmas have included a joyful production of The Sound of Music; the Spanish Exchange and Euro Disney trips; success at the Rosslyn Park 7s tournaments and national awards for work with Young Enterprise and the NEWID Enhanced Provision group, amongst many other achievements. Diolch yn fawr to everyone in the school community who has helped in any way.
The Spring Term this year coincided with Ramadan and Eid and also with Hannukah and the Chinese New Year. All reflect the wonderful and varied diversity of the school community, united by our shared values.
This is also reflected in ongoing work bound up with the school vision of locating our learners a sense of 'cynefin'. We are developing visual materials for the school, designed by pupils, which we hope will culminate in a wall mural celebrating our wonderful young people - watch this space!
I wish you all a peaceful and restful Easter break. A reminder that pupils return on Monday 28th April. Diolch to you all for your ongoing support, which is much appreciated. Mr J Kennedy, Headteacher.
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Regular attendance at school is essential for your child’s academic progress, personal development, and future aspirations. Studies show that pupils with high attendance are more likely to achieve better grades, build stronger friendships, and develop good habits for life beyond school. Conversely, frequent absences can lead to gaps in learning, reduced confidence, and difficulty keeping up with their peers.
We fully understand that illness and unforeseen circumstances may occasionally prevent attendance. However, we ask for your continued support in ensuring that your child attends school every day unless absolutely unavoidable. If your child is unwell or unable to attend, please inform the school as soon as possible and provide any necessary documentation.
To support high attendance, we kindly ask that:
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Medical and dental appointments are arranged outside of school hours whenever possible.
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Holidays are not taken during term time.
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Any concerns about attendance are discussed with the school, so we can work together to support your child.
We appreciate your ongoing partnership in reinforcing the importance of school attendance with your child. If you have any questions or require support in improving attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Andrew Charles, Assistant Headteacher.
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Absence Reporting Procedure
If your child is unwell or going to be absent for any reason, we kindly ask that you register the reason for their absence through the Class Charts Portal or by calling our absence line 01792 534300 (Option 1). Please refrain from using School Comms via Gateway or email.
If you wish to inform us of a long term absence with more detail please email pastoral@olchfa.org.uk
How to get started with Class Charts
Please follow the steps below to get started:
· 2. Enter your email address.
· 3. Choose ‘I don't have an account yet.’
· 4. Enter your parent access code and name.
· 5. Choose a password.
· 6. Click log-in.
Along the top for the page select Report Absence - Report New Absence
If you have not already started with Class Charts either call the above number or email into the school and we will be able to provide you with the Parent Access Code.
Thank you for your cooperation
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Year 8 Homework Trial
We have recently launched the Year 8 homework trial across all departments. This initiative aims to reinforce learning, encourage independent study, and help pupils develop key skills across all subjects.
Teachers from every department are participating, ensuring that homework is assigned regularly and meaningfully. Alongside this, during form time, we are also running Learner Effectiveness Day, where form tutors are supporting, mentoring, and teaching pupils about organisation and time management. These sessions aim to help students manage their workload effectively, balance their commitments, and develop strategies for success. We encourage students to stay organised, manage their workload effectively, and reach out for support if needed.
We will continue to monitor the impact of this trial and will be asking for initial feedback from pupils, parents and carers, and staff straight after the Easter holidays. Thank you for your support in helping us enhance learning beyond the classroom.
If you have any questions about the research, please don't hesitate to contact us at research@olchfa.org.uk. We appreciate your involvement, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Diolch.
Ways to support your child with homework.
At Home:
? Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the best part of your day?”
? Set a routine for homework and reading.
? Encourage curiosity by exploring topics they enjoy.
At School:
? Attend parent/carer-teacher meetings and school events when possible.
? Volunteer in small ways—reading with kids, helping at events, or sharing your skills.
? Stay connected through emails, newsletters, and school apps.
In the Community:
? Encourage participation in local libraries, clubs, or activities that support learning.
? Connect with other parents/carers to share ideas and support one another.
How We Can Support You
We’re here to help. Let us know what works for you and what challenges you face—every family’s journey is different, and every effort counts!
Thank you for all you do to support your child’s learning.
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The STF celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on Friday 21st March. The goal is to help people understand and support those with Down syndrome better. The date being the 21st day of the 3rd month was chosen to represent the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. We wore odd socks and held a small bake sale raising almost £100!
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Easter Egg Donations
Thank you for all of your Easter egg donations. As you can see, we have received a huge number of donations! The eggs will be delivered to Ty Olwen during the last week of term.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
The School Advisory Team
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School Advisory Board News!
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This has been a busy and productive term for the SAB, welcoming 10 new members to the team! After the launch of a competition,a new logo has been adopted and members of the SAB have been given badges to make their members more recognisable in the wider school community! A huge “well done” to Jana Radwan for designing the winning the competition and providing us with our wonderful logo. The SAB have also launched "Pupil Voice Friday": "Your Voice, Our Community", where each group has the chance to regularly feed back on their excellent work! Below is an update from each of the SAB’s subgroups:
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Community - Since our last update the community team have been busy organising and overseeing a number of fundraising events. The Christmas Jumper Day was a festive success, raising funds for Maggie's and Llys Nini.
We would like to thank our generous and supportive community for all the donations that were gratefully received for both the annual Ty Olwen stocking appeal and the Llys Nini Appeal.
This term, we have been collecting for the annual Easter Egg Drive, our donations will be collected and delivered to Ty Olwen shortly.
We continue to support Maggies and Sketty food bank and are so grateful for the support of our wider school community for your ongoing support and generosity!
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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion -This term the EDI team have been working with the wonderful caterers to run a competition for pupils to create a menu to celebrate Eid- we are sure the winning entry will be delicious!
We have also been planning for Olchfa’s Culture Week and deciding on an internationally-inspired Culture Week Menu
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Environment - Continuing with the competitions, the environment subgroup have been organising a Year 7 Competition centred around growing the best sunflower and decorating a plant pot. Good luck to all those who take part!
We also Impressed a Welsh Assembly member, who specifically complimented the team's enthusiasm and school presence in his report on Olchfa's recycling system, which passed with flying colours.
We are currently rejuvenating the Memorial Garden and look forward to sharing our progress in the next letter!
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Wellbeing - Following the success of the wellbeing fayre last October, the wellbeing group have been busy carrying out and processing feedback from the pupils on the Wellbeing Fayre. They are planning to act and amend the Fayre accordingly and are also continuing to explore other potential ways of increasing opportunities to engage with a range of wellbeing agencies!
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Teaching and Learning - We have been working on designing and conducting student research about the benefits of various assessment methods. We were delighted to receive so many responses, over 150 across Year 10 and Year 11 and we are hoping we can use our findings to support teaching and learning.
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This newsletter contains a snapshot of school news. Please visit our social media sites to view more news!
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Disneyland Paris
The pupils had an incredible time celebrating St David’s Day at Disneyland Paris. They represented the school fantastically around the park and built brilliant relationships with staff. Pupils made the most of their time at the park by going on all the rides and were able to watch schools perform in Welsh at the park too.
Diolch for supporting this experience and allowing us to run to trip again. Pupils and parents have been in touch expressing their appreciation and how valuable the experience was to pupils; which has been very pleasing to read. Charlotte Nelson.
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The Olchfa Spanish Exchange
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¡Una experiencia inolvidable! An unforgettable experience! Amser bythgofiadwy!
Back in February half term, Mrs Smart and I accompanied a group of GCSE Spanish students to Cádiz in Spain for the first half of the first half of the exchange—an experience I am sure will be remembered by all who took part for a very long time. We received a warm welcome from our partner school ‘El Centro Inglés’ in the beautiful town of Puerto Santa María, where our students and their Spanish buddies took part in a week full of language skills, cultural exchange and fun. Our students attended sessions in the school each morning, spent time with host families and visited a variety of beautiful places on daily excursions. The Olchfa students truly got a real flavour and taste for what it means to live life in Spain.
In March we took the role of hosts. We welcomed our friends from Spain along with some new faces on the half exchange. We have enjoyed showing them what life in our school and homes is like, as well as the sunny sights of Swansea and the surrounding areas. We have been so impressed by the friendships that have formed and the positive attitudes of all those who have taken part. They have entered into the true spirit of this cultural language exchange which has included Spanish, Welsh and English. It has been a really positive experience for all involved and a lifetime of memories has been made.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible both here in Swansea and over in Cádiz. To Mrs Smart who organised this trip for us,
To Mrs Smart who organised this trip for us, to all the parents who welcomed students into their homes, the teachers who accompanied trips and delivered lessons, and, last but not least, the students. Without your positive engagement and welcoming attitude, none of this would have been possible!
Gracias, Thank you, Diolch! Miss Salmon
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Humanities Department News
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Sixth Form Students Gain First-Hand Insight into the Justice System
In February, our Year 12 and 13 Sociology and Law students had the invaluable opportunity to visit Cardiff Crown Court for a guided tour and to observe live court proceedings. This real-world learning experience gave them first-hand insight into the legal system and the wider social issues surrounding crime and justice.
Pupils received a tour from a court usher and were able to sit in on a range of intense and thought-provoking cases. They explored key aspects of the trial process, sentencing, and patterns in the criminal justice system. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with students highlighting how this visit brought their classroom learning to life.
Year 12 Geography Fieldwork
Year 12 Geography students have been conducting fieldwork in Swansea city centre to investigate whether it can be classified as a ‘Clone Town’—a place dominated by chain stores with little independent retail character. Through shopper questionnaires, land use surveys, and Clone Town Index assessments, pupils gathered valuable data on the city’s retail landscape. Their findings suggest Swansea sits on the ‘Border Town’ spectrum, with a mix of chains and independent businesses.
This hands-on fieldwork has provided students with a deeper understanding of urban geography and retail change, while also allowing them to experiment with a range of data presentation techniques, including heat maps and located pie charts.
Olchfa Pupils Recognised at Swansea’s Holocaust Memorial Day Event
A group of our Year 10 History pupils proudly represented Olchfa at Swansea’s Holocaust Memorial Day event on 27th January. Their thoughtful and moving presentation demonstrated a deep understanding of the significance of this commemoration, reflecting on the tragedies of genocide and the importance of remembrance.
This was further supported by KS3 and KS4 lessons on antisemitism and the Holocaust, ensuring all pupils at Olchfa engage with this vital history. We were honoured to receive a letter of thanks from the Lord Mayor of Swansea, who praised our pupils for their maturity, insight, and unique contributions to the event. Moments like these highlight the power of History in shaping responsible, informed citizens.
Year 9 iThink 'Map of Me': Exploring Identity Through Personal History
Year 9 pupils have been on an exciting journey of self-discovery through the 'Map of Me' project in their iThink lessons, investigating their own identity and heritage. Using family trees, historic newspapers, and personal storytelling, they have explored the people and places that have shaped who they are today. This has culminated in the creation of their own ‘Map of Me’—a personalised project where they have documented their findings in creative and meaningful ways.
This project has not only developed pupils’ research and analytical skills but has also encouraged deep reflection on personal history and community. The variety of final pieces has been truly impressive, from detailed written accounts to artistic representations, demonstrating the diverse ways our pupils connect with their past.
Year 8 iThink: Exploring Easter and Eid
As part of the Year 8 iThink scheme of learning on Easter and Eid, pupils visited St Hilary’s Church to take part in the Easter Experience. This visit allowed them to engage with key events of the Easter story in an interactive and reflective way.
A huge thank you to Reverend Layfetta Masih and the volunteers from the church for delivering these workshops. Opportunities like this enriched our pupils’ understanding of religious traditions and the role of faith communities in today’s world.
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Maths and Computing
Intermediate UK Maths Challenge
On Wednesday, January 29th, 65 pupils in Y9, 56 pupils in Y10 and 56 pupils in Y11 sat the Intermediate UK Maths challenge, and we celebrated their success and the impressive results in assembly. Overall: 12 gold awards, 18 silver awards and 61 bronze awards.
Year 9: 2 gold, 2 silver and 23 bronze, Year 10: 4 gold, 6 silver and 18 bronze, Year 11: 6 gold, 10 silver and 20 bronze
Isaiah and Aydin in Year 9 have qualified for the Grey Kangaroo. Joel in Year 10 and Abishan, Rishan and Sophie in Year 11 have qualified for the Pink Kangaroo. These competitions will take place on Thursday March 20th.
UK Maths Trust Teams Challenge
On Friday March 7th, Olchfa hosted the Junior Maths Challenge. We welcomed teams of Year 8 and Year 9 pupils from 16 schools. The Team Maths Challenge promotes mathematical dexterity, teamwork and communication skills. The teams competed against each other in four rounds – The Group, The Crossnumber, The Shuttle and The Relay. A team of sixth formers volunteered to help us run the event and contributed positively to the success of this event. Ana and Mercy from Year 9 and Bella and Fay from Year 8 made us proud with lots of hard thinking and running!
 
Ritangle 2024
A Year 12 team from Olchfa participated in the Ritangle 2024 organised by MEI (Mathematics Education Innovation). Sam, Tristan, Theo, Kevin, Jerry, Tomasz and the team captain Yusef, demonstrated great team work and embarked in lots of mathematical discussions to tackle the challenges set over 10 weeks. Our school team features in the commendable teams who solved at least 2 of the Stage 3 puzzles! Well done!
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School Production - The Sound of Music
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Pack-a-Pren, a Year 10 Young Enterprise team, competed in the regional finals in March at Bridgend College. From September 2024, the team have started up a business manufacturing and selling model sustainable stadiums made from recycled plywood. These enterprising, creative individuals are now on the way to the Welsh finals to compete against other regional winners in Wales. Llongyfarchiadau Pack-a-Pren!
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Time Out For Parents - The Teenage Years - NEW SESSIONS COMING SOON!
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Every good parent wants to be an excellent one - so come along to meet other parents and get equipped to support your teenager through this season of life. These sessions are the closest things you will get to a handbook of how to navigate the teenage years!
Starting Wednesday 30th April, 7-9pm for six weeks until 18th June (with two week break 28th May and 4th June). Cost £10 (via the Gateway app). To sign up or for other enquiries, please contact Hannah Vincent - VincentH@hwbcymru.net
"The course was AMAZING!! Very useful, excellently presented - friendly and encouraging environment. Has given me invaluable advice and guidance for life with a teenager!" - Olchfa Parent
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Congratulations to Millie in Year 11 who was recently selected to captain the Welsh girls team for the Schools International Cross Country race in Falkirk, Scotland. Well done Millie!
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Congratulations to Erin in Yr 7 who competed in Deeside at Welsh Grades in April and came overall 4th out of 28 gymnasts across Wales. She now goes on to compete at British Finals in May representing Wales.
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Congratulations to Cedric in Yr 11 who represented Wales at the Antwerp International Tournament in April. He had a great performance, in a group of almost 50 competitors, Cedric had 7 fights winning a fantastic Bronze medal in the under 18s 60kg category. He was the only member of the Welsh Team to secure a medal at u18s, having recently moved up to this weight category and still having over a year in the u18s this was a great result. Next week he travels to Derry for the Northern Irish International Open before taking a break from competition to focus on his exams.
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Congratulations to the U18 Boys Rugby team who finished as runners-up in the National Urdd 7s Plate competition, losing to Ysgol Glantaf in the final.
The pupils were outstanding throughout the day – showing exceptional teamwork and resilience throughout the day. They represented the school with pride and were a real credit to our community.
Mr Reeves
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A huge congratulations to our Year 10 Netball Squad who successfully won the Swansea Schools Netball League, a feat that has not been achieved by any year group at Olchfa since covid. Throughout the season the squad won a number of games convincingly but managed to clinch a tough decider versus Bishopston on Wednesday to secure the league title and remain undefeated. A special mention to Grace, who was nominated by her competitors as player of the season for Olchfa!
Miss Brown
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