Anyone with dc at Llandovery College or Christ College Brecon?

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

We have an academically very capable and sporty child.

He is currently thriving in year 10 at a Welsh Medium school but we are wondering whether he might benefit socially and educationally from a change to boarding for sixth form.

Llandovery College and Christ College are our 2 closest schools which would allow us to visit for sports matches, him to come home for weekends if he wanted etc so we’re keen to find out more but my initial enquiries are very disappointing in terms of how much importance the Welsh language is given.

Does anyone currently have dc in either of these schools and can give insight from a parents point of view?

I don't know llandovery but Brecon is no academic power house and very small.

Thanks. I think we’ve ruled Christ College out for both of those reasons. Not enough challenge partly due to small numbers and unlikely to have many new students with ds at sixth form. Extra curricular offerings seem less than at their current state school and from his experience playing against them in sports, they’re not particularly strong either, again due to the small size of the school.

Looking into Llandovery I’m really disappointed how little emphasis is placed on Welsh. They’re currently not running Welsh A level which I found astounding and very disappointing.

we don’t have to make any decisions yet but it’s looking more and more likely that private sixth form is unable to offer what ds is looking for.

Have you looked at St. Michaels in Llanelli? I don’t think Welsh is a huge priority there though, and they don’t have great sports facilities. You don’t say which subjects he intends to study for A level, but it may be worth checking their website to see if it’s right for your son.

st mikes offer welsh at A level. Their boarding is really small though.

We did look at St Michael’s but the small numbers boarding is a concern as well as the weak sport provision. He’s looking at doing Maths, Welsh, Music and PE but that could all change as he’s only in year 10 currently.

The lack of ‘Welshness’ in Welsh private schools is a real eye opener. I thought they’d all be promoting the culture and language of where the children live. Instead it seems to be ignored and definitely not something to be proud of.

A friend of ours is academic and in a Welsh state school and couldn't finish welsh fast enough.

Monmouth? But not wildly academic and probably no Welsh..

Maybe consider Atlantic College? I think they celebrate welsh culture but as part of a programme of celebrating all nations. I think at subsid level students can choose a language to study independently.

Thanks, we have looked at all of your suggestions.

It’s actually made the choices far clearer and looks as if staying where he is is likely to be the best answer.