Neath Port Talbot
Ysgol Bae Baglan (YBB), a 3–16 all‑through school in Neath Port Talbot, has proudly achieved the GOLD Armed Forces Friendly School status from SSCE Cymru. This follows their earlier Bronze and Silver awards and recognises the school’s commitment to listening to Service children and creating meaningful opportunities for them to share their experiences.
Despite having a relatively small group of Service children, nine pupils in total, YBB demonstrates the powerful impact a small club can have on both its members and the wider school community. Their work shows that size is no barrier to creating a strong, supportive environment.
The school has appointed two passionate Service Children School Champions:
Mr Mark Morgan, Senior Leadership Team member and Army veteran
Mrs Abby Challenger, Design & Technology teacher with a personal connection to the Armed Forces through her serving husband
Together, they work closely with SSCE Cymru to ensure Service children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
The school’s Service Children Club, formed in April 2025, has already made a significant impact. Members have collaborated on projects such as:
Celebrating Month of the Military Child with neighbouring schools
Organising a whole school and community Remembrance event
Mr Morgan shared details of one of the school’s most meaningful events:
“On Tuesday 11th November we conducted a Whole School Remembrance Service at Ysgol Bae Baglan. In addition to our pupils and staff, we were joined by 25 local veterans, Service children from our cluster schools, invited guests from across the Local Authority, and the family of Jonathan Hetherington.”
Jonathan Hetherington, an ex‑pupil who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan in 2006, is honoured on the school’s permanent Remembrance Memorial in the Quad Yard.
The day began with a reception hosted by Service children and Year 7 & 8 leaders. Guests valued the chance to speak informally with pupils and hear their experiences. At 10:35, Service children, many proudly wearing cadet uniforms, led guests to the service area.
More than 1,300 pupils and staff, along with 100 guests, gathered to:
Read Remembrance poetry in Welsh and English
Observe the two‑minute silence
Reflect together as a community
Visitors praised the pupils’ respect, maturity, and conduct throughout the event.
“This was a wonderful event, thoroughly enjoyed by all, and we are very grateful for your support in enabling it to take place on such a large scale.”
YBB’s commitment to empowering Service children is further reflected in their appointment of a Service Children Ambassador, Logan (Year 9). Logan worked with SSCE Cymru to create a short video on what Remembrance means to him and recently represented the school at the Neath Port Talbot Service Pupil Promise event at Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School. Another very successful day!
Da iawn, Ysgol Bae Baglan! Diolch am weithio gyda ni.
"Being a military child is hard, but it also gets you a lot of new experiences that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise".
Esme-Jane
"For military children they [Mount Street Junior School] do a club called Little Troopers, they've done a Remembrance service, purple up day. We celebrate Holi and Dawali".
Arushi
"My Mum is my parent that is in the Armed Forces. She is a reservist. So when I was younger it was a lot worse, she travelled around a lot. I've lived in the same house my whole life, but she has moved around me. I was in a constant cycle of saying goodbye".
Emma
"My Dad, he's in the Army and he works in the Engineers and he goes away on week days and comes back on weekends"
Emily
"Dad often goes away. It is a bit worrying not knowing where your Dad is going. It does worry me and my sister. Yeah, you just never know when he's coming home".
Joe
"In June or July, my Dad is going away quite far. He's in the Army, he's a chef. Having your Dad gone is so sad."
Josie
"I've lived in many places. So, I was born in Cyprus, after that I've been to Germany, then I went to this place called Stafford. Then another place which is Wales."
Dominic
"I've moved seven times in fourteen years."
Lilia
"Now we've got a forever home. I never have to worry about leaving or how long until I am leaving. I feel like I belong here a lot more, that's always great."
Oliver
"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."
Aiden
"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."
Ashim
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Chloe
"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."
Chloe
"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."
Georgia
"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."
Lewis
"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."
Harry
"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."
Ieuan
"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."
Mia
"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."
Oliver
"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."
Ryan
"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."
Shana
"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."
Sianed
"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"
Sanjog
"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."
Piaras
"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."
Dan
Welsh Local Government Association
One Canal Parade
Dumballs Road
Cardiff
CF10 5BF
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