22 January 2026
23rd January 2026
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
Oxford bound
The students from LHS are nothing if not sophisticated and they set their ambitions high. On Monday 12th January, our Year 12 Scholars visited Jesus College, Oxford, to attend a lecture by Professor Matthew Williams. As always he got the students to think carefully about a range of philosophical problems, encouraging them to think outside the box. After eating in the very impressive college dining room, students were also given a tour of the university’s most famous sites, including The Radcliffe Camera, The Bodleian Library and The Sheldonian Theatre.
Cardiff Rotary Young Musician of the Year
Equally sophisticated was the jaunt (on a cold Wednesday evening) to the Whitchurch High School Dutch Barn. This meant only one thing – it was time again for the annual Cardiff Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition. Usually Llanishen only has one entry in the competition, however, we had an entry in both the vocal and instrumental competitions, gratefully sponsored by the Llanishen Rotary Club.
The vocal competition was first with Ruben Kelman singing for Llanishen, who was ably accompanied by Mr Dwyer. The judges commented on Ruben’s ‘rich baritone voice’, and someone who is ‘powerful and confident in the higher range’. Mr Grimstead thought that his rendition of ‘Stars’. from Les Miserables was stunning. We then moved onto Bryn Pitt-Pladdy on the piano, who was entered into the instrumental category. The judges said that Bryn performed with a ‘lovely tranquil feel’ and ‘captured the mood really well’ with a ‘free, lovely swing to the music’.
Although neither Ruben or Bryn placed in their respective competitions, we are incredibly proud of them for performing in front of two professional adjudicators and audience of parents and performers. The standard was ridiculously high, so for them to be playing alongside (and holding their own) within a such a group of competitors is fantastic. They represented the school, and the Rotary, really well. Good job boys.
Celebrating Our Diverse Community
Back at LHS, World Religion Day offered a timely reminder of something we live and breathe every day in our school: we are one community, strengthened—not divided—by our differences. While religion can sometimes be associated with tension or conflict in the wider world, our school stands proudly as a place where young people learn about one another with curiosity, kindness and respect.
Our students and families represent a wonderfully rich mix of beliefs and worldviews, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and those with no religious affiliation at all. This diversity is not simply acknowledged; it is embraced as an essential part of who we are. It shapes our conversations, broadens our perspectives and helps our young people grow into thoughtful, compassionate citizens.
We are fortunate to offer a range of clubs where students can explore faith, ask questions and share ideas in a safe and welcoming environment. These groups are not about promoting one belief over another—they are about understanding, dialogue and community.
Our Christian Union, for example, now has more than 50 members from across the school and recently tackled one of life’s biggest questions: Does God exist? Moments like these show the power of open discussion and the value of creating space for young people to think deeply.
Whatever our individual beliefs, we walk the same corridors, learn in the same classrooms and support one another every day. That is what makes us one school—one diverse, respectful, united community.
Our inclusive Christian Union welcomes students from all year groups, 7 to 13, and embraces students from all the different bases and provisions in our school.
They meet after school on a Wednesday in Mrs Bradley’s teaching room on the top floor of the science block.
LHS presents Hamlet
A vibrant, ambitious cast has poured heart and energy into bringing Hamlet to life, and the result is a production that deserves a packed audience. This will be the third dramatic performance by our Shakespeare players and it’s a chance to see students challenge themselves with one of theatre’s greatest stories, blending creativity, teamwork, and real emotional depth.
Parents will be proud, students will be inspired, and the whole community will share in two evenings that celebrates what young people can achieve when they take on something bold.
Please join us to support their hard work, and experience a performance that promises talent, passion, and a few unforgettable surprises along the way.
Believe Memorial Garden
This week we were so pleased to be able to donate a plum tree from our LHS garden to the Believe Memorial Garden which is located in the Northern Cemetery in Thornhill. The plum tree was dug up by the Year 7 ecological representatives and then transplanted up to the garden by donor family Elizabeth Bates.
As this was the first “transplanted” tree to be planted, it was located at the base of the heart. A very poignant day and an opportunity to reflect on the transformational power of transplantation in many forms.
The Believe Memorial Garden in Thornhill was created to honour organ donors and support families affected by organ donation. It was developed by the charity Believe Organ Donation Support, founded by Anna‑Louise Bates, and officially opened on1st December 2025.
It is a calm, reflective environment designed to support wellbeing and offer comfort to families. The large heart-shaped design is actually visible from above, including on Google Earth, so we are very proud to have transplanted the first tree to the garden.
Year 8 Parents Evening and Learning Pathways Evening
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for the Year 8 Parents’ Evening and the GCSE Options talks. Your support makes a real difference, and it was wonderful to see such a strong turnout. With an impressive 85% attendance, the evening felt warm, positive, and genuinely focused on helping students make confident choices for the future.
We are keen to reiterate that the evening marked the start of the process. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries. Here’s a reminder of that all-important section of the website where you’ll find the Learning Pathways Booklet and the link to the free choice survey.
https://www.llanishenhighschool.co.uk/
In order to make Parents Evenings slightly easier to navigate, we have introduced subject flags so that parents can find subjects a little easier to pick out in the crowds.
Many thanks to our Year 10 Product Design students for assembling them. They also re-assembled the ones that I messed up. They read the instructions before starting the assembly process (game changer).
Staff Seren yr wythnos
This week, our student Criw Cymraeg group have nominated Miss McCulloch for her use of the Welsh language. Staff can be nominated for their effort or their accuracy and pronunciation! Well done Miss! Da iawn!
With one more school week of January to go, can we wish all of our readers a very happy and healthy weekend.
We look forward to seeing Year 10 Parents next Thursday 29th January. Look out for the flags!
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher