A group of pupils at a Cwmbran school have created a new motto and badge.
Pupils from every year at Cwmbran High Schoo were asked to come up with suggestions. Form representatives, the student leadership team and headteacher Matthew Sims then created a a shortlist.
The winning motto is ‘Strive, Believe, Achieve’ and the new badge, featuring a dragon, will be used on uniforms from September.
Georgie, year 11, who is Head Girl and part of the student leadership team, said: “I really love the new school badge, I believe that the dragon not only represents Wales, but also the strength and confidence within our school to grow.
“We are incredibly proud of the final design and everyone within the school will wear them with pride from September.”
Head Boy Lewis, also a year 11 pupil, said: “I feel that the new badge marks a new era for Cwmbran high school, along with the new school motto – strive, believe, achieve, being embedded across the school. This reflects our values of positivity, kindness, resilience, respect and creatively.”
They are among a number of changes being introduced, alongside a new school development plan and website, new staff appointments, plans for an expansion to the canteen area and creation of a new outdoor dining area.
Headteacher Matthew Sims, who was appointed last September, said: “Pupils and parents are critical to the success of any school, and I wanted to make sure they were at the heart of shaping a new culture at Cwmbran High, which recognises and values the importance of education.
“I have spent a lot of time listening and talking to pupils and they liked the idea of rebranding the school along the values they felt were important.
“We will be keeping the school colours because pupils like them but we will be introducing a new uniform policy from September and every pupil will be given a tie featuring the new school logo.
“Pupils also told me the canteen is too small so we will be building an extension and creating outdoor seating so more pupils can sit and eat lunch with their friends.”