Back
The Update: 20 June 2025
Here is your Friday update, covering:
- Road Closures for the Pride Cymru Parade on June 21st
- Work underway to explore options to secure future of Cardiff's Historic Mansion House
- Celebrating major milestones in Welsh Language growth and bilingual services
- Ysgol Y Berllan Deg praised by Estyn for its caring ethos and commitment to Welsh language education
Road Closures for the Pride Cymru Parade on June 21st
Pride Cymru is back with a two-day festival planned in Cardiff City Centre on June 21st and June 22nd.
The parade will take place on June 21st with road closures in place to ensure that the parade can take place safely.
At 11am, people will gather on Westgate Street, before the parade starts its two-mile journey along Castle Street moving onto High Street, onto St Mary Street, back into the Hayes, onto St. John Street, along Queen Street, up Park Place, back along Greyfriars Road, onto Kingsway and finishing on Castle Street.
To facilitate the events that will be taking place, the following roads will be closed during the following times on June 21st.
Work underway to explore options to secure future of Cardiff's Historic Mansion House
Cardiff Council has begun the process of looking at alternative ownership options for the city's Mansion House, securing the future of the civic building.
The move follows a report approved by members of the Council's Cabinet in November 2024 which included a recommendation to undertake an open market exercise to explore ownership options for the building
Once the open market exercise has been completed, the Council's Cabinet is expected to meet again in the Autumn to decide the preferred option for the building.
Although Cardiff Council has been able to undertake essential repairs, the property requires significant capital investment to address issues with the fabric and structure of the building, and its mechanical and electrical systems.
The level of investment required would, according to the November report, "only be justified if the Council had a long-term operational use for the property" but unfortunately, due to its limitations, the Council has been unable to identify a suitable alternative use. The report also stated that the Grade II Listed building is currently "underutilised with the first floor rarely used and the second floor mothballed due to its poor condition", which has been the case for over a quarter of a century. As such, it is surplus to the Council's requirements.
Celebrating major milestones in Welsh Language growth and bilingual services
Cardiff Council's Welsh Language Standards Annual Report for 2024/25 reveals significant progress in promoting the Welsh language across the capital.
The report highlights key achievements in workforce training, education, and public engagement, reinforcing Cardiff's ambition to become a truly bilingual city.
Those key achievements include:
A 10% increase in Welsh-speaking staff, with 1,480 Council employees now reporting Welsh language skills—representing nearly 19% of the Council's workforce.
Over 1,400 staff have received Welsh language training, surpassing the Council's 2027 target two years ahead of schedule.
In excess of 13.8 million words were translated by the Bilingual Cardiff team, supporting both internal services and external partners.
689 hours of simultaneous translation was provided to support 252 bilingual events and meetings.
17.7% of reception pupils and an increase to 19.7% of nursery children enrolled in Welsh-medium schools.
Over 700 students attended the Gyrfa Gymraeg careers fair, promoting Welsh language career pathways.
Welsh language social media reach grew to nearly 5,000 followers, generating over 450,000 impressions.
Ysgol Y Berllan Deg praised by Estyn for its caring ethos and commitment to Welsh language education
Ysgol Y Berllan Deg in Llanedeyrn has been praised in its latest inspection by Estyn with recognition given to the school's strong leadership, inclusive community and dedication to nurturing a positive Welsh-medium learning environment.
Inspectors found that at the heart of the school's success, is purposeful leadership and a dedicated staff team committed to creating a caring, inspiring, and respectful atmosphere. The headteacher and leadership team have set a clear strategic direction, fostering a happy and inclusive school community that values both mutual respect and Welsh identity.
The report notes that pupils demonstrate mature, respectful behaviour and a strong sense of community. The school's nurturing environment ensures all learners feel safe and supported, with most pupils making good progress throughout their time at the school. Pupils with additional learning needs are particularly well supported, benefitting from close collaboration between staff and external services.
Staff have been commended for providing engaging and creative learning experiences, including educational visits and performing arts projects and it has been noted that stimulating lessons that cater to a broad range of abilities are planned. These efforts result in pupils showing positive attitudes toward learning and pride in their school.
