Church in Wales Hosts National Schools Conference at Principality Stadium
Hundreds of educators, community leaders, and national partners came together at Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium for a landmark day in Welsh education as the Church in Wales hosted its flagship national schools conference, Flourishing Together: Celebrating Equity and Excellence in Church in Wales Schools.
The conference centred on a bold, vision-driven commitment: that every young person within the Church in Wales school family – some 27,000 learners – should be known, valued, and supported to reach their full potential. With equity, inclusion, and community cohesion at its core, the event equipped school leaders from across a diverse national network — from large urban secondaries to small rural primaries — with the tools and inspiration to lead confidently into the future.
A Day of National Voices and Local Action
The morning opened with keynote addresses from the Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning (DARPL) Team, exploring what it truly means to foster belonging in schools, followed by Rocio Cifuentes, Children's Commissioner for Wales, speaking on children's rights and educational equity.
In a powerful and distinctive highlight, a live panel discussion was facilitated entirely by learners from St Teilo's Church in Wales High School. The youth-led session placed young people at the table alongside representatives from the Welsh Government, faith leaders, headteachers, and school governors — exploring inclusion and education policy in their own words. Afternoon workshops then shifted focus to practical priorities: modern Religious Values Education (RVE), community cohesion, mental health, and outdoor spirituality.
Why This Conference Mattered
Lisa Taylor, Director of Education for the Church in Wales, said: "Our schools stand at the heart of their communities — places where academic excellence and Christian vision meet, and where equity and inclusion are lived out in practice every day. I am profoundly grateful for the work our educators do: leading schools, supporting communities, nurturing faith, and shaping lives with compassion, courage, and hope. May this day fill us with joy as we seek together the flourishing of all."
The Rt Revd Dorrien Davies, Bishop of St Davids and Church in Wales Bishop with responsibility for education, added: "In every school across Wales there are committed, faithful staff nurturing, teaching and guiding the young people who will shape the future of their communities. I am always impressed by the high standards of behaviour, the lively engagement of learners, and the intelligent questions I am asked — they demonstrate that our schools truly enable children to flourish. As Dewi Sant taught us: 'Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things.'"
The conference closed on a joyful note, with a musical performance by iSingPop and pupils from All Saints VA Church in Wales Primary School.