For over 35 years, the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative has celebrated the rich heritage of Wales and the stories, people, places, and traditions that have shaped our nation.

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Our aim is simple: to inspire teachers and young people to explore Welsh and local history in creative, meaningful, and memorable ways. Our competition is not just about producing a final piece of work. It is about inspiring curiosity, developing historical understanding, building skills, and helping young people connect with the heritage of Wales and their local community

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How the Competition Works?

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1. Register Your School

Schools must register their entry before the January deadline.

There are separate competition categories for:

• Primary Schools

• Secondary Schools

• Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and Special Provision Settings

• Foundation Phase

Please note: Only one entry may be submitted per school.

For Sixth Form students, we also run a separate competition called EUSTORY.

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2. Choose a Topic

Select any aspect of Welsh and/or local history that interests your school and pupils.

Topics can focus on people, places, events, industries, communities, traditions, or heritage sites. Top tip: The most successful projects are often structured around a clear enquiry question, encouraging pupils to investigate, analyse evidence, and reach their own conclusions.

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3. Bring History to Life

Design a learning experience that inspires your pupils and develops their understanding of the chosen topic that fits around your curriculum.

How you do this is entirely up to you. Schools are encouraged to be as creative as possible through activities such as but not limited to:

• Educational visits

• Guest speakers and community partnerships

• Creating museums or exhibitions

• Producing websites, podcasts, or films

• Organising memorial or community events

• Creative art projects

The possibilities are endless. We celebrate creativity, innovation, and meaningful engagement with history.

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4. Gather Evidence of Learning

Throughout the project, collect evidence that demonstrates the learning journey and impact of the work. This may include photographs, pupil reflections,  workbooks, research, digital products, recordings, displays, or examples of community engagement.

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5. Host a Judging Visit

Before Easter, one of our judges will arrange a visit to your school to learn about your project and celebrate the achievements of your pupils. They will meet you as educators as well as talk to pupils.

Projects are judged on:

• The originality and/or importance of the topic and the work undertaken

• The enthusiasm, engagement, and historical knowledge demonstrated by pupils

• The development of skills, including historical enquiry, research, interpretation, literacy, communication, and digital competence

• The impact of the project on pupils, the school, and the wider community

 

6. Celebrate Success

The most successful schools will be invited to our annual awards ceremony, where we celebrate outstanding work in Welsh and local history.

Winning schools receive prizes and a prestigious Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative plaque, recognising their school as a centre of excellence in the teaching and promotion of Welsh history and heritage.