Cardiff pupils bring the Urdd Eisteddfod into the classroom

Attending this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey was beyond the reach of many Pencaerau families. So the Cardiff-based primary school did something else: it brought the Eisteddfod to its own classrooms, met singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis, and collected nationally recognised Arts Award Discover certificates in the process.

On St David’s Day, the Pencaerau School choir performed ‘Eisteddfod Hafod y Gân’ – the official primary choir piece from this year’s Urdd syllabus, using backing tracks from Charanga Cymru. The bilingual digital platform is available free to every school and music service in Wales.

The choir’s performance was also part of a wider Arts Award Discover project, an introductory certificate from exam board Trinity College London that recognises young people’s participation in the arts. Pupils kept creative logs of their activities and researched a professional artist of their choice: Bronwen Lewis, whom they had the chance to meet at the ‘Codi Llais – Raise Your Voice’ event in Cardiff.

‘Because the Eisteddfod was in Anglesey this year, it just wouldn’t have been possible for our teachers, children and families to attend. The cost of travel and accommodation made it unfeasible, so we decided to bring the Eisteddfod to us,’ said Jo Herco-Thomas, teacher at Pencaerau Primary School.

‘Arts Award Discover gave us a fantastic framework for delivering an Urdd-themed project. The children really enjoyed completing their logs, and achieving a certificate for learning about the arts, performing the song and researching a musician is a wonderful accomplishment for the choir.’

Charanga Cymru provides schools across Wales with Urdd-specific backing tracks each year, alongside interactive resources aligned to the Curriculum for Wales, and engaging digital music apps. Through its partnership with the Urdd Eisteddfod, Charanga Cymru provides schools with specially selected backing tracks each year. In addition, schools can access bilingual resources through the platform, which are mapped to Arts Award.

Arts Award recognises learner journeys in all art forms, making it an excellent way to celebrate young people’s engagement with Urdd activities across all creative areas.

Mari Lloyd Pritchard, National Coordinator for the National Music Service for Wales, said: ‘Initiatives like this show how we can remove barriers and ensure every child feels part of the Urdd Eisteddfod, wherever they are, with Charanga Cymru bringing high-quality, bilingual resources and repertoire directly into the classroom. For schools unable to attend or progress to the National Eisteddfod, Arts Award provides a meaningful way to recognise and celebrate pupils’ work, giving their learning purpose, accreditation and a real sense of achievement.’

Sarah Hughes, Business Development Manager for Arts Award and Drama at Trinity College London, added: ‘We are proud to support our collaborators, Charanga, in delivering a range of high-quality, accessible resources for teachers preparing students to take part in the annual Urdd Eisteddfod, echoing our shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of musical talent across Wales. By equipping teachers with practical tools and inspiring materials, these resources help ensure that more children – regardless of background or experience – can confidently take part in Urdd activities and ensure their experience counts towards Arts Award.’

Notes to editors

About Charanga Cymru

Funded by the Welsh Government and delivered through the National Music Service for Wales, Charanga Cymru is available free of charge to every school and music service in Wales. The bilingual platform provides interactive resources aligned with the Curriculum for Wales and First Experiences instrumental programmes, alongside digital music apps and CPD and training. Schools can sign up at musicservice.wales/site/charanga-cymru-sign-up/.

Abouts Arts Award

Arts Award is a suite of qualifications managed by Trinity College London supporting young people to grow as artists and arts leaders. Arts Award Discover recognises participation in arts activities and finding out about creative practitioners. Find out more about Arts Award Discover at: artsaward.org.uk/discover. Bilingual Arts Award resources are available through Charanga Cymru. Schools can sign up at musicservice.wales/site/charanga-cymru-sign-up/.

About the National Music Service for Wales

The National Music Service is responsible for implementing the National Music Plan. The Welsh Government wants to ensure that children and young people can access educational and musical opportunities, regardless of their financial situation. The NMSW works with local authority music services and national and community musical organisations across Wales to give more opportunities to children and young people in their area, opening diverse and beneficial musical paths for everyone.

musicservice.wales/site/