26 May 2009
A county borough pupil has been selected to represent the UK at the prestigious Commonwealth Good Practice in Education Awards in Kuala Lumpur this summer.
Megan Jones, a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, was selected out of 189 participating schools to accompany the DFID Global School Partnership as a finalist in the awards ceremony at the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Malaysia in June.
To secure a place on the team, Megan wowed the judges with a presentation on Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni's link with Ghana. In 2006, the school established a partnership with Gowrie Senior Secondary School from Bolgatanga in the North of Ghana. Every year since then, the school has applied to the British Council/DFID Global School Partnership fund for a grant which has enabled pupils and staff from both schools to undertake joint curricular projects and visit each other's countries.
Last November, three teachers and three Year 12 students, who were selected through an interview process, visited Ghana. Megan was one of these pupils. In total, 10 members of staff have had the opportunity to further their Professional Development with a reciprocal visit, with another five due to travel in 2009 with five pupils accompanying them.
Year 12 pupil Megan, 17, is currently studying Welsh, French, Maths and Physics and would like to study Law at university. As well as presenting her slideshow at the awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, she will also be representing UK schools at a Youth Forum. Her accompanying teacher, Lisa Williams will be attending a Teacher Forum.
Megan said, "I am very proud and honoured, not only to be representing myself and my school, but also Wales and the UK at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Malaysia in June. The competition presented itself as a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore and engage with another culture and country. It's a privilege to have the chance to raise a wider awareness of the work achieved as a result of our partnership and to put Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Caerphilly Borough County Council and Wales on the International map. I feel very fortunate and can't wait to fly out to the East."
Cllr Bevan, Cabinet Member of Education and Leisure, said, "I was delighted to hear of Megan's success and on behalf of the authority I would like to wish her the best of luck in representing her school, the county borough, Wales and the UK at this first-class event."
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