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Teaching
& Learning

At Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, the learning and teaching is of the highest standard to ensure that our learners receive the best possible provision.

Curriculum Statement 2025

Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed is a designated Welsh-medium secondary school for learners between the ages of 11 and 18. It is run by Newport City Council and serves Newport and South Monmouth. The official language of Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed is Welsh and it is the medium of learning and examination of all subjects apart from English. All pupils will study Welsh as a subject and take first language exams only in Welsh.

Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed is inclusive. Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed follows the standard admissions procedure and is open to all pupils ared 11+ and of any ability and additional need. All pupils are given the opportunity to develop to the best of their ability academically, socially, culturally and physically. All pupils are prepared for the demands of the world of work. Offer the same equal opportunity to everyone without discrimination based on ability, gender, race or religion.

The school has developed the ‘Pillars of Pedagogy’ which are, 'Ingredients' of what is needed to ensure pedagogy of the highest quality in lessons at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed.

We developed our Pedagogy Pillars together by gathering the ideas of all the teachers about what is essential in a good lesson or lessons.

The five pillars of pedagogy form the basis of what we agree is our aim in any lesson or series of lessons - the progress and engagement of our learners. Each of the pillars contributes to achieving that goal.

Within each pillar there are pedagogic practices, training on research that staff receive and carry out in order to facilitate pedagogy of the highest quality

Pillars

Behaviour
for Learning

Aim for the Stars

Careful
Planning

Assessment

The Skills Literacy, Numeracy and
Digital Competence

At Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, developing learners’ skills is of paramount importance. The three skills are an integral part of teaching and learning and are embedded into lessons.

Literacy

Writing

At Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed we utilise a broad range of strategies to support our learners in becoming able and confident writers across the curriculum. Strategies used include: developing subject specific vocabulary, extending sentences, powerful paragraphs and structure strips to develop our learners’ cross curricular writing skills.

Oracy

Inspired by Voice 21, Talk the Talk and pedagogical research, our ‘Llafar llwyddiannus’ strategies are an integral part of the teaching tools used by all teachers at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed. With an emphasis on developing physical, linguistic, cognitive and social and emotional skills we use a plethora of strategies to ensure that our learners are skilled speakers who can express themselves with confidence and are also attentive listeners.

Reading

The definition of the word reading is: “the activity or skill of looking at and comprehending the meaning of written or printed matter by interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed“. By developing our learners’ higher level reading skills, and promoting reading across the curriculum and for pleasure, our aim is to raise our learners’ confidence when reading and enable them to develop their interests and achieve their full potential.

Numeracy

Developing numeracy skills across the curriculum is an integral part of our work here at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed. By working with high‑demand areas such as Science and Technology and Humanities, learners are given opportunities to develop numeracy skills in the context of subjects outside the discipline. To give clear focus to this work, we concentrate on seven elements under the banner “Sgleinio’r Saith”. The skills developed are:

The Four Operations
Fractions and Percentages
Averages
Time

Ratios and Proportion
Constructing and Interpreting Graphs
Units of Measurement

Clear branding is visible for the seven skills to embed learners’ understanding that the skills they see in their Mathematics lessons can be used across the Areas of Learning.

The Digital Competency Framework at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed

Developing learners’ digital skills across the curriculum is a core part of our work here at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed. Through collaboration with all the Areas of Learning and Experience, we ensure that pupils apply and strengthen their digital competence in meaningful, authentic contexts. Whether working in the Languages, Literacy and Communication, Humanities, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Mathematics and Numeracy or Science and Technology, areas of learning and experience, learners encounter purposeful opportunities to use digital tools safely, creatively and effectively.

To give clear focus to this provision, we organise our digital learning under four key pillars of the Welsh Digital Competence Framework. These pillars guide our planning and help learners understand the broad range of digital skills they are developing.

Learners develop the knowledge and behaviours needed to participate safely and responsibly online. This includes understanding digital identity, evaluating online information, and recognising how their actions affect themselves and others in digital spaces.
Through digital communication and collaborative platforms, learners build confidence in working with others by sharing content, co‑creating work, and managing digital projects effectively.
Pupils learn to design, create and refine digital content for different audiences and purposes. They develop skills in areas such as multimedia creation, data handling, digital writing, and presenting information clearly and accurately.
Learners develop logical thinking, problem‑solving and data literacy skills through activities involving pattern recognition, sequencing, algorithms and simple programming concepts.

Clear, consistent branding across the school helps reinforce the message that digital skills are not
taught in isolation and that they are part of everyday learning across all subjects. By embedding the Digital Competence Framework throughout the curriculum, we aim to ensure that all learners become confident, ethical and capable users of technology, ready to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Year 9 - Options

It is an exciting time in the life of year 9 learners. This is a period of change, a period of choice that should lead to a successful and prosperous career. Many subjects studied at KS3 are also offered in year 10, but there will now be an opportunity to choose a personal direction; this new path could be a specialised one, or could include numerous options to allow for a wider choice at a later stage.

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Year 11 – Options

Year 11 marks an exciting and important stage in your educational journey. In our Sixth Form, you will have the freedom to specialise in the subjects that inspire you most, building on the strong foundations you have developed throughout Key Stage 4. Whether you already have a clear direction in mind or want to keep your options broad, our range of courses allows you to create a personalised pathway that supports your ambitions.

Choosing to stay with us for your post-16 studies means that you are joining a supportive, ambitious, and vibrant Welsh medium learning environment where you will be challenged and guided towards the next stage of your life, be that university, an apprenticeship or entering the world of work. By continuing your education here at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed you will also be taught by teachers who know you and know how to help you achieve your full academic potential.

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