Catrin Morris

My name is Catrin Morris, and I am currently a teacher at Ysgol y Frenni, Crymych, South West Wales. I am a Music graduate, and it was my love of music combined with teaching that attracted me to this profession. I feel the skill set associated with being a musician gave me the foundation to reap the rewards of making a difference and developing a mind; allowing a child to reach their full potential.

Ysgol y Frenni is situated in a rural village surrounded by the picturesque Preseli mountains. We are a Welsh medium primary school with 160 pupils ranging from 3-11 years of age. The school’s family ethos, in which every child is known by every member of staff allows us to foster a sense of community within the school, with teaching the children about their local area being a priority in their education. We strive to make each child resilient, compassionate, and hard working through our moto ‘Dringwn, cipiwn y copa’, which translates to ‘We’ll climb together and conquer the summit’.

I began teaching in Ysgol y Frenni in 2018. I was fortunate enough to spend my last teaching practice during my training year at the school and gained a post there shortly after as a Year 3 teacher. It was my vision to continue aspects of the Foundation Phase through to Key Stage 2, experimenting with my Year 3 class. This was to enhance the children’s independence. This vision is now a developed concept being practised throughout the whole of Key Stage Two in the school.

Working in a rural school is unique. Community and the local area in a rural setting contribute greatly to the children’s education and their sense of belonging. In these small pockets of rural life, the challenges lie in being able to connect with the rest of the world and giving children first-hand experiences of what is beyond the Preseli mountains.