A SPECIAL set of pupils graduated this week at a Torfaen school’s first year six leaving ceremony.

Ysgol Panteg originally opened in 2010 with 36 children and just two years - nursery and reception.

Over the years the school has undergone many changes, sharing space with Griffithstown Infant School and later amalgamating with Griffithstown Junior School in 2014, forming a primary school.

After outgrowing those buildings in 2014, work began on a new 420-place site and nursery which opened this year after a £10.25 million investment under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme.

A small band of around 20 pupils, who came to the school in reception in 2010, have witnessed all these changes and celebrated the next stage of their lives with a concert at Greenmeadow Community Farm.

Head teacher Euros Jones, who started at the school in September 2015, said: “Parents have been on this journey as well and obviously we have moved into a brand new school this year.

“This has brought the whole school together and we now have over 350 pupils. In particular, the year sixes have been fantastic all along and they’re equipped with the skills that are needed to go onto the next year”.

He added: “We want to wish them well and hope they leave our school with lots of memories and have a love for Wales and the Welsh language.”

The pupils will be moving on to Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw and their parting concert included a talent show format with singing, dancing and sketches.

As previously reported, Welsh Government education minister, Kirsty Williams, opened the school earlier this year and said Ysgol Panteg was an example of plans to boost the number of Welsh speakers by 2050.

She said: “We know that education plays a vital role in meeting the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers. It gives parents the opportunity to choose a Welsh medium education for their children and the successful team at Ysgol Panteg demonstrates the real demand for it.”

“When you think back to the school starting with just 36 pupils compared to the number they now have on roll it’s quite something. This shows the growth and demand for Welsh language education in this part of the world”.

The school’s logo has daffodils to represent the 36 daffodils planted - one for each pupil - when the school opened.

Head teacher Euros Jones added: “We certainly haven’t got enough daffodils to go around anymore but there is lots of daffodil planting to be done to meet the demand for Welsh Medium Education in the Pontypool area”.