Cathedral service helps school leavers celebrate end of term

Pupils leaving primary school this year will be celebrating their time there and preparing for the giant leap up to secondary school at the first “school leavers” service at Llandaff Cathedral next Monday.

More than 400 pupils from across South Wales will take part in the service which will be led by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan. As well as singing hymns and songs learnt in school, they will take with them personal mementoes to remind them of their time spent in primary school.

The pupils come from 20 Church in Wales schools across the Diocese of Llandaff – from Aberdare to Neath, Pendoylan to Grangetown. They will be 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. Clergy directly involved with the life of the primary schools will also be present.

Dr 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 will be an opportunity for them to pause and reflect on their whole experience of primary school and their expectations for the future. It will also remind them that 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.”

Rev Edwin Counsell, director for education for Llandaff Diocese, said, “This is a very special event because it brings 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 looks back at their years in primary school and also looks to the future as they prepare for new schools, new friends, new challenges and new opportunities.”