Heywood Shines at the Devizes Eisteddfod

Over the past few weeks, many of our Heywood children have participated in the Devizes Eisteddfod, and it has been truly wonderful to see so many embrace the opportunity to perform and showcase their talents. Traditionally, we have supported this event by sending a select group of Speech and Drama pupils, instrumentalists, and choirs to compete. However, this year, we raised the bar even further!

As Headmaster, I firmly believe in the importance of providing our pupils with a wide range of opportunities to shine. Whether through speaking, singing, or playing an instrument, competitions like the Eisteddfod offer much more than the chance to win. They help children develop critical skills such as resilience, self-expression, and teamwork, all while building confidence that will serve them well beyond the stage. For many of the children who performed this year, it was their first time appearing before both a judge and an audience. I am immensely proud of how they embraced the challenge and gave their absolute best. Each child received thoughtful verbal and written feedback on their performance, providing valuable insights to help them grow and refine their skills for the future.

I had the privilege of attending the competition and was blown away by the calibre of our children representing Heywood. Their confidence, poise, and maturity on stage were truly inspiring. I am also delighted to share that we entered over 100 candidates across the festival—an incredible milestone for our school!

One of the highlights of the event was seeing the Heywood Harmonies choir, alongside a very talented Year 6 pupil, invited to perform at the prestigious Junior Showcase. To top it all off, Heywood Prep was awarded the Junior School of the Year trophy, recognising the outstanding quality of our entries throughout the festival.

To me, every child who participated is a winner. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them, and I cannot wait to see what they will accomplish next!

Mr O’Connell
Headmaster