What is the Urdd all about?
Over the last ten years many children from St. Michael’s have become members of the Urdd organisation and have taken part in singing, reciting, dancing art and craft and sports competitions. We really believe that learning things to a high standard, performing or competing in front of people enables children to develop their self-confidence and this then transfers to many other areas in their work and helps to raise their self-esteem. Usually it is pupils in Yrs 3-6 who take part but it is open to Yr 2 as well.
Membership for 2015-16 costs £7:00 per pupil. If you don’t know much about the Urdd you may like some more information about what your child can take part in the Urdd and you can see if you think it will be 'value for money'.
Our pupils usually take part in the singing and reciting every year and sports competitions every other year. This year we are taking part in the football and netball competitions as a school (usually with only Yrs 5 & 6) details of those will come from Miss Welch later this term. Pupils from Yr 3-6 may also be entered as individuals in the swimming competition if they are able to swim at a competition standard and their parents are prepared to take them.
The eisteddfod is in three parts:
Recitations
Singing competitions
Instrumental (Year 6 and below)
Art and Craft and Photography (in ages - Year 2 and below / Yrs 3&4 / Yrs 5&6)
If you have any queries at all about anything, please get in touch.
Over the last ten years many children from St. Michael’s have become members of the Urdd organisation and have taken part in singing, reciting, dancing art and craft and sports competitions. We really believe that learning things to a high standard, performing or competing in front of people enables children to develop their self-confidence and this then transfers to many other areas in their work and helps to raise their self-esteem. Usually it is pupils in Yrs 3-6 who take part but it is open to Yr 2 as well.
Membership for 2015-16 costs £7:00 per pupil. If you don’t know much about the Urdd you may like some more information about what your child can take part in the Urdd and you can see if you think it will be 'value for money'.
Our pupils usually take part in the singing and reciting every year and sports competitions every other year. This year we are taking part in the football and netball competitions as a school (usually with only Yrs 5 & 6) details of those will come from Miss Welch later this term. Pupils from Yr 3-6 may also be entered as individuals in the swimming competition if they are able to swim at a competition standard and their parents are prepared to take them.
The eisteddfod is in three parts:
- Round 1 is a local round for primary schools in the Newtown/ Llanidloes area (usually in Newtown High School in March). If there are more than 4 or 5 entries for a competition there is a preliminary round (prelims) in the morning and then the ones who are placed first, second and third take part in the 'real' competition on stage in the afternoon.
- Round 2 is the county round for primary schools in Montgomeryshire (also in Newtown High School, a fortnight after round 1 in March). Again there are prelims in the morning and only the first, second and third go on to the stage in the afternoon.
- Round 3 is the national eisteddfod held over 5 days at Whitsun half-term. It is in a different place each year. In 2015-16 it will be held in Flintshire.
- It is very rare that we reach the national eisteddfod but Catrin and Polly did last year with the duet and Jamie Martin in the string competition in 2013-14.
- The songs and recitations which the children have to learn are set pieces chosen by the organisers
- All songs and recitations are in Welsh
- The recitations are chosen especially for children who are learning Welsh as a second language
- The songs are the same ones for learners and Welsh speakers but there is a new competition this year for a Welsh 2nd language singing party which is ideal for schools like ours.
Recitations
- There are individual recitations for children to learn at each age - Year 2 and below / Yrs 3&4 / Yrs 5&6
- Group recitation for up to 12 children for the older juniors.
Singing competitions
- Singing party (parti unsain) for up to 10 children (Year 6 and below)
- Solo (unawd) Year 2 and below / Years 3 & 4 / Years 5 & 6 (the standard is usually high)
- Duet (deuawd) this is only for experienced singers who can hold one tune against another (Yr 6 and below)
- 2 part singing party (parti deulais) for up to 16 children - this is usually quite a difficult thing for us to manage and it is unlikely that we will enter this year. (Year 6 and below)
- We usually enter the choir competition - we can have up to 25 pupils in the choir and usually have someone as a reserve in case someone is ill.
- Places for the choir will go to older children first and then younger ones are considered.
Instrumental (Year 6 and below)
- There are competitions for children who play different instruments - piano / strings / woodwind / brass
- Usually children are at least grade 3 or above
- There are no set pieces for these competitions - you have to decide on what is the best piece to play.
- Pieces must not be more than 3 minutes in length.
- You must provide 2 copies of the music for me to give to the judge.
- If the piece is being accompanied by the piano, you must find someone to do this.
Art and Craft and Photography (in ages - Year 2 and below / Yrs 3&4 / Yrs 5&6)
- All art and craft and photography work is based on a single theme.
- You must write down how your work is linked to that theme so that we can translate it into Welsh.
- This year the theme is 'BELONGING'
- Work must be finished and ready to judge by the beginning of March 2016
- There are many categories children can enter if they are members of the Urdd - Art, drawing, painting, collage, models, ceramics, Knitting, sewing, computer graphics and photography to name a few.
- You need to check the rules e.g. sizes of work that can be entered.
- You can find the syllabus on the Urdd website http://www.urdd.cymru/en/eisteddfod/competitions/syllabus/
- Pupils can enter work they have done at home as well as school work
- Pupils can enter as individuals and also as a group.
If you have any queries at all about anything, please get in touch.