Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
The history of Wales is a complex tapestry of different but overlapping stories and experiences that reflect the diversity of the nation’s people and communities. Some of these stories stretch back millennia. Others have more recent roots. Some are rooted in the land and geography of Wales. Others reach out across the globe. Understanding and valuing the diverse range of experiences of the peoples and communities of Wales can help us better appreciate what makes Wales what it is. It can help us see that diversity is a strength rather than a weakness.
Image: Corb Davies
The Curriculum for Wales seeks to ensure that children in Wales have rich, engaging and authentic opportunities to learn about, and understand this history.
To help achieve this, the Welsh Government set up our Expert Group in 2024 to advise on the creation of resources that would support and inspire schools in their teaching of Welsh history in all its variety. Our initial brief focused only on the development of a single timeline resource, but it was clear to us that much more needed to be done to fully empower educators and enrich learners’ understanding of Welsh history.
We have developed a vision statement for embedding Welsh History in the Curriculum for Wales:
To deliver a sustained and coherent offer of accessible and bilingual resources and professional learning, across the 3-16 continuum that will inspire and equip teachers and learners to explore and discover the breadth, richness and diversity of Welsh history in a local, national and international context through the Curriculum for Wales.
We have proposed the creation of an accessible and comprehensive platform of innovative and modern resources that will support and help enable impactful and engaging teaching of Welsh history. We want to see a package of high quality, bilingual resources that are easy for teachers to find and to use. Resources are needed that align with wider curriculum principles, enhance teachers’ knowledge and understanding and support them to design authentic and engaging learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom. All teachers know that good learning builds on direct experience, so history, like geography, is best learned when grounded in learners’ familiar environment – their cynefin.
We want the new platform to be a place where teachers can be inspired and enthused by the breadth and depth of Welsh history. We want a platform where they can consider new perspectives and viewpoints, and where they can find up to date, interesting and authentic resources that help them to inspire the next generation.
We hope that this will enable schools to build upon the many strengths that already exist in the teaching of Welsh history. The prizes awarded annually by Menter Ysgolion y Dreftadaeth Gymreig/Welsh Schools’ Heritage Initiative demonstrate the impactful teaching that is already taking place in schools across Wales. We want to enable schools to build upon their strengths and to share and reflect on the best ways of teaching Welsh history.
This vision is now starting to take shape. Adnodd (the National body responsible for resource development) has this week launched a dedicated Hanes Cymru Collection on Hwb. This subject-specific collection is arranged in a timeline format, providing a chronological framework and thematic collection to reflect Welsh history in all its richness and diversity. Working in close collaboration with Dysgu (the new National Professional Learning body), we are pleased to see that Adnodd is committed to bringing our vision for Welsh history to life.
We look forward to seeing this work continue to evolve and to supporting educators across Wales in delivering rich, inclusive, and meaningful Welsh history education.
With thanks to the History Expert Panel
Professor Charlotte Williams
Dr Elin Jones
Professor Martin Johnes
Nicky Hagendyk