From nativity plays to school trips, from playing Splatt! in the yard with foam dice to tidying up in the classroom to the strains of Led Zeppelin – pupils from all over South Wales swapped their favourite memories of primary school at a special service for school leavers this week.

More than 400 Year Six pupils from across South Wales gathered at Llandaff Cathedral to celebrate the end of their time at primary school and to prepare for their next giant step up to secondary school. They were joined by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, who gave an address and presented each one with a bookmark. 

The pupils come from 20 Church in Wales schools across the Diocese of Llandaff – from Aberdare to Neath, Pendoylan to Grangetown (full list below). They were joined by the head teachers of two Church in Wales secondary schools, Chris Hollowood, of the Bishop of Llandaff High School, Cardiff, and Tim Pratt, of St Teilo’s High School, Cardiff, and a representative from St John the Baptist High School, Aberdare.  Clergy directly involved with the life of the primary schools were also present.

The Archbishop, Dr Barry Morgan said, “Leaving primary school is one of those major stepping stones in your life which children these days mark in all sorts of ways. This service was an opportunity for them to pause and reflect on their whole experience of primary school and their expectations for the future. It also reminded them that although they come from different schools, they all belong together -  they are part of a large church family which will help and support them right through school, regardless of whether they are top or bottom of the class. Whatever difficulties they will face, they are not alone and that alongside them is God who loves us, cares for us and strengthens us.”  

Revd Edwin Counsell, director for education for Llandaff Diocese, who led the service, said, “This was a very special event because it brought together children from schools across the Llandaff Diocese. Year Six is an exciting time with lots of new responsibilities and interesting things to learn.  It is also tinged with sadness, because children will be saying goodbye to friends and teachers who they have known throughout their time in school.  This service looked back at their years in primary school and also looked to the future as they prepare for new schools, new friends, new challenges and new opportunities.”

  Most of the children took with them personal mementoes which they had chosen to remind them of key moments of their time in primary school. These were placed on a table at the front of the church and included an eye-catching poster with photographs of the pupils from Gwenfo Church in Wales School when they were in Year One.

During the service, several of the pupils spoke about their favourite memories. Cai Jones, 11, from Peterston-Super-Ely school described his Year Two nativity play in which Mary had to be re-cast at the last moment due to sickness and he, as the Narrator, was the only one not allowed to dress up. Dylan Williams, meanwhile, of Aberdare Town school, recalled his amazement at being able to make a battery circuit when he was in Reception. Other pupils had fond memories of games of Splatt! played with foam dice, summer trips and tidying up the classroom to the music of Led Zeppelin.

It was the first School Leavers service to be held at Llandaff Cathedral. The schools taking part were: Aberdare Town, Bryncoch, Archdeacon John Lewis, Alderman Davies, Cwmbach, Gwenfo, Pendoylan, Peterston, St Andrew’s Major, St Anne’s, St Brides Major, St David’s , St Fagan’s, St Mary the Virgin, St Monica’s, St Nicholas, St Paul’s, Tredegarville and Wick.

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