Cynefin is used as a vehicle to drive learning. For example, funding from ‘Learning through Landscapes’, facilitated professional learning and acquisition of key resources for den building, fire lighting equipment and an orienteering course. Staff research resulted in learning strategies having authentic commissions. Pupils’ development of skills is associated with real life contexts linked to the four purposes. Learning has focused on local and national themes with pupils:
- Being commissioned as content creators to research and create Olympic websites, for example when interviewing and writing about ex-pupil Jasmine Joyce, an Olympic and Welsh International rugby player.
- Becoming event managers for an Olympic event at Whitesands Beach. Pupils were trained by the Royal Signals regiment based at Brawdy.
- Creating theatre production teams to launch, market, cost, produce and perform the Lion King and raising £3000 for Ukrainian pupils at the school.
- Staging numerous exhibitions at Oriel y Parc, (tourist information centre), including art exhibitions and ‘What makes Wales Wonderful’ 2022.
- Working on sustainability, biodiversity and zero input farming which involved workshops with Car Y Môr, (the first commercial seaweed and shellfish farm in Wales) and visits to Ramsey Island with RSPB.
- Completing projects with Pembrokeshire Coastal forum, Darwin Science and Dŵr Cymru on Climate Change and coastal pollution.
Pupils regularly visit Erw Dewi (a local sustainable community garden) and Lower Treginnis, Farms for City Children, to help grow, weigh and bag produce which is sold in aid of the local food bank. Learning has involved design of a natural playground, ‘bio blitzes’ and learning about life processes.
Pupils utilise community resources during ‘Thrilling Thursday’. This includes setting up pop-up shops to sell items made in school. There are ‘litter free zones’ in association with Caru Cymru (Keep Wales Tidy) and pupils participate in regular community litter picks as ethically informed citizens.
The school community has strong global links. A ‘virtual walk’ to Lesotho in July 2022 and a ‘North Peninsula Big Switch Off’ preceded a visit to a partner school in Lesotho, to collaborate and drive learning on sustainable development goals and pupil wellbeing. Pupils from the school participated in an exchange with pupils from Wexford to learn about the shared heritage, pilgrimage and culture.