Powys school to strengthen partnership after French twinning visit

Ysgol Dôlafon in Llanwrtyd Wells has welcomed visitors from France as part of the twinning between Llanwrtyd Wells and Mériel.

The visitors received a warm welcome from members of the school council, who proudly gave them a tour of their school.

The pupils also created flags and banners to welcome their special visitors.

The whole school came together for an afternoon full of fun, music and singing.

The children enjoyed learning French songs, making music together with kazoos and teaching the visitors their whole-school song that was composed and written by the pupils themselves.

It was a joyful and memorable experience for everyone involved.

The school also welcomed back Mr Bryn Davies and Mrs Gill Lloyd, former headteachers of Ysgol Dôlafon who began the link between France and the school.

Mr Chris Davies, acting headteacher said: “This was a truly special and memorable moment for our school community. Our friends from France were incredibly welcoming and uplifting, entertaining us all with live music and singing - something we are passionate about at Ysgol Dôlafon.

“Their performances brought smiles, energy and a real sense of togetherness, making the visit even more meaningful.

“It was a pleasure to welcome our visitors into our school. The children proudly showed them around, giving them an insight into our learning environment and sharing our vision, values and aims.

“The afternoon was filled with joy, laughter and shared learning, as we explored the special partnership between Llanwrtyd Wells and Mériel. Through music and singing, we celebrated not only our cultural links but also the friendships that continue to grow between our communities.

“We are excited to continue strengthening this partnership, building lasting connections and creating rich, authentic and meaningful experiences for our children at Ysgol Dôlafon.”

Stéphanie Chevallier, president of the association said: “From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with a wonderful welcome. Very quickly, we realised that this school is far more than just a place of learning: it is a vibrant and inspiring environment, where every wall tells a story and every activity has meaning.

“What a lovely surprise it was to discover that the pupils had prepared for our visit! French flags had been carefully drawn, and one pupil had even crocheted a flag – a touching gesture that meant a great deal to us.

“Together, we sang songs before the children taught us a song they had written themselves. It was a truly special moment, full of emotion, sincerity and shared joy

“Seeing the children perform their own words with such sensitivity, and then playing together on the kazoo, is something we will always remember.

“We left feeling genuinely moved, with a strong belief that the twinning between our towns offers a wonderful opportunity to build lasting connections between young people, beyond borders and cultures. We are already looking forward to developing joyful and meaningful shared projects between the children of Llanwrtyd Wells and those of Mériel.

“A heartfelt thank you to the entire team at Ysgol Dôlafon for their warm welcome, generosity, and for this inspiring lesson in education and humanity.”

The school has already begun discussions on how they will further develop and strengthen this renewed partnership.