10 October 2025
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
Confidence starts with dignity
Nowhere at LHS is this better expressed than through the empathy of our Rights to Confidence group – Alex, Grace and Matilde.
Our Year 11 girls ensure each one of our students has access to hygiene products, raising funds through bake sales and other enterprises. In the school year 2024-25 they provided over 500 products for our young people.
This week they were restocking the Wellbeing Centre and Learning Support with shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, face wash, deodorants, toothpaste and toothbrushes. They will be coming in to assembly to remind everyone of where they can access products for free.
They will also be seeking some new recruits to carry on their legacy when they move into Sixth Form. So, if anyone is interested, listen out for details.
With the funds raised from the last bake sale running low, they have a new fundraiser coming our way from Monday 13th October.
In the next fortnight, they’ll be running a ‘Guess the Weight’ fundraiser, with a pumpkin from a local allotment. Only £1 a go, so please get involved if you can. The person with the nearest guess will win a £20 Amazon voucher.
However, they’re always looking for donations. You can drop off any toiletries at the Wellbeing Bank or at reception.
With International Day of the Girl this weekend there’s no better time to show our pride and appreciation for what these young ladies are achieving.
Here is a sneak preview of the pumpkin! Guesses can be in kilos or pounds and ounces! The choice will be yours!
Standing Firm in Power and Pride: Lessons from Black History in Wales
As we celebrate Black History Month 2025, our focus is on the powerful and enduring theme: Standing Firm in Power and Pride. This theme is deeply meaningful, reminding us that Power signifies influence, leadership, and the ability to effect positive change, while Pride is the celebration of heritage, cultural identity, and Black excellence.
In assembly every day this week, Miss Lockwood has taken us on a deep dive into a history that is not just international; it is profoundly local. Black people have lived in Wales for centuries, with evidence tracing back to Roman soldiers from North Africa stationed here. However, it was the vibrant 19th-century Cardiff docks that truly cemented the area’s importance, attracting people from Africa and the Caribbean, establishing one of the UK’s oldest Black communities.
The foundations of this community were built on resilience and determination. Consider William Hall, who escaped slavery in the U.S. and settled in Cardiff, publishing his autobiography from Bute Street in 1862. He shared his story, which contained “only a simple and true statement of the cruel and inhuman treatment” he faced, to raise awareness.
The most influential lesson in determination for our students comes from Betty Campbell (1934-2017). Born and raised in Tiger Bay, Betty was an avid reader who excelled academically, winning a scholarship to Lady Margaret High School. Yet, when she told her headteacher of her ambition to teach, the response was stark: “Oh my dear, the problems would be insurmountable”. Betty recalled that she cried, but that moment made her “more determined; I was going to be a teacher by hook or by crook”.
She indeed proved her doubters wrong in the most inspirational way, becoming Wales’s first black headteacher. Throughout her life, she championed a multicultural education and advocated fiercely for the diversity and history of the docks communities she served. Her immense impact led to Nelson Mandela seeking her out during his only visit to Wales, and she is now honoured with the first statue of a real, named Welsh woman in Cardiff city centre. Betty’s philosophy for community unity remains timeless: “We were a good example to the rest of the world, how you can live together regardless of where you come from or the colour of your skin”.
The breadth of Black excellence in Wales is staggering. In sports, we celebrate Clive Sullivan MBE (1943-1985), the first Welsh rugby league captain to break racial barriers, who captained Great Britain to victory in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup. Closer to home, Jeremiah Azu, a former Llanishen High School student, is now a 2025 World and European Indoor Champion and the first Welshman to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds in wind-legal conditions.
Culturally, we celebrate world-famous singer Dame Shirley Bassey from Tiger Bay, known for her powerful voice and recording three James Bond theme songs. And we remember Patti Flynn (1937-2020), a jazz singer and author, who was a founder of the Black History Month movement in Wales and tirelessly campaigned for nearly three decades for a monument honouring Black, Asian, and minority ethnic service members from the World Wars.
Today, Black leaders are shaping Wales’s future. Vaughan Gething became the First Minister of Wales in 2024, making him the first Black leader of any UK government. We also see trailblazers like Gaynor Legall, the first black woman city councillor in Wales, and Professor Uzo Iwobi OBE, who has contributed significantly to national diversity policies and race relations.
For our young people, representation matters hugely. Darcey Corria, the first woman of colour to take the Miss Wales title since 1997, actively works to shape anti-racism legislation. As she notes, it is “extremely important for young women living in Wales who are of mixed ethnicity or black or Asian to feel like they are represented in every aspect of life”. Meanwhile, Jessica Dunrod, believed to be the first black and Welsh children’s author, encourages self-acceptance, sharing the message that “the only way to access that magic is to be who you are and to be proud of who you are”.
The stories of Power and Pride embodied by these figures are vital lessons for every student. They remind us of the strength found in diversity, the necessity of perseverance, and the importance of striving for a truly inclusive community, continuing the legacy established by giants like Betty Campbell.
The LHS Radio Station is live on air!
After months of preparation, it is officially launch week for Llanishen High’s very own radio station, ‘Llais Llanishen.’
We have a full schedule of wonderful shows lined up until Christmas, and many more planned for January 2026! There is a show for everyone so you’ll always find some amazing content to listen to. All shows are hosted and produced by students under the tutorship of Mr Young. Here are some of the shows recorded this week as well as shows we have lined up:
- Abigail and Immie in Year 10 – Crime Book Investigation Podcast
- Youssef, Yudheesha and Caleb in Year 10 – Podcast about everything Chocolate!
- Phoebe and Faye in Year 8 – Celeb Gossip and Pop Music show
- Oscar, Ethan, James and Emma in Year 10 – Rock and Metal show
- Mr Young’s Magical Mystery Tour
Stay tuned for where and how to listen! Here are Youssef, Yudheessha and Caleb in action!
The Evolution of Llanishen Boxing Club
From the air waves to the boys gym. We would like to extend our thanks to Luke Richards for giving our Year 12 BTEC crew the lowdown on the full evolution of Llanishen Boxing Club from its’ humble beginnings to its growing success. A fascinating and very real insight into a real-life sporting enterprise. They were also put through their paces!
In Enrichment this week….
Wednesday was a very busy day as we flew from Enrichment straight into the Open Evening for Years 5 and 6.
In next week’s blog we will shine a light on a few more of the unique activities that students and staff are embracing.
For this week, we return to our Cycling Club.
Having completed the maintenance of our school bike fleet, they are now enjoying the fruits of their labour.
Our sprawling school site provides some varied and challenging terrain for them to traverse.
They navigated cones and limbo action this week! Some of the team even managed this one handed!
Will we have a future Tour De France contender on our hands?!
Next week….
Next week, we’ll bring you the full lowdown from skateboarding, darts and more. For now, a few tasters!
Inclusive to all, including the bugs….
We also want to give a massive shout out to our amazing Sixth Form ASC boys. As part of their SWEET qualification, the boys needed to choose a community project to complete. They decided to a litter pick and to make bug hotels for the Llanishen High wildlife. The bugs will be very grateful boys. Thank you!
A night out in the Welsh music scene!
From the air waves, to boxing, to cycling, to bugs. Clearly, the next port of call today is the Welsh music scene! On the evening of Friday 3rd October, our Year 12 and 13 Welsh students were fortunate to see the Welsh singer-songwriter, TikTok sensation, and BBC Wales star Bronwen Lewis at The Riverfront Theatre in Newport.
Her captivating performance, part of the “Finding Me” tour, showcased her remarkable versatility enchanting a sold-out crowd. The students thoroughly enjoyed her warm style that seamlessly blends country, pop, folk, and blues. Bronwen performed a varied repertoire that delighted the audience.
She offered a mix of original material from her new album, ‘Finding Me’, alongside fan favourites like ‘Ti a Fi’, ‘Fields of Gold’/’Caeau Aur’ and ‘Yma o Hyd’. Her proudly bilingual set was a particular highlight, featuring her characteristic weaving of the Welsh language into popular songs.
The evening served as a pertinent reminder of Bronwen’s talent and her growing status as a rising star in the Welsh music scene. Diolch o galon Bronwen!
A warm welcome to Year 5 and 6 Parents and Students
On Wednesday 8th October we were delighted to share the core principles and vision that guide us as we look forward to welcoming the class of September 2026 and September 2027. Our school is a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse community, home to over 1,765 students, including a growing Sixth Form. This thriving environment is supported by a dedicated body of 200 amazing staff, alongside our supportive Governing body, PTA, and valued community partners.
We pride ourselves on comprehensive support, operating Special Resource Bases for our Hearing-Impaired Unit (HIU) and Autism provision. We also provide extensive support for a wide range of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and English as an Additional Language (EAL), alongside exceptional commitment to Wellbeing and pastoral care through our Flexible Learning Centre and Alternative Pathway Centre. As we set the scene for future cohorts, we were very grateful to our current students for their invaluable support in running the evening. You made us very proud. More photos to follow next week. For now, here is a flavour of what’s to come…
This leaves me wondering…. Could we add a new activity to our Enrichment curriculum for the spring term? Hollywood special effects for action movies? Let’s mull that one over.
Wishing all of our readers a lovely weekend. We are approaching week 7 of an 8-week half-term so we are all starting to feel a tad tired! Dig deep everyone. Two more great weeks of school to enjoy before October half-term.
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher