THERE had to be separate Christmas shows for infants and juniors at Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin in Caldicot – a small demonstration of the findings of the latest census.

Monmouthshire was one of only two areas in Wales where the proportion of Welsh speakers increased, figures from the 2011 Census released last week show.

Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin opened in 2011 with just 13 pupils in the former Sudbrook Junior School. Today it has more than 100 pupils including a thriving nursery or meithrin.

Headteacher Mrs Diane Ebo said: "The school has seen a steady growth in numbers and more parents are wanting their children educated through the medium of Welsh.

"I think parents are attracted by the ethos of the school and the quality of teaching and learning and that children leave us fully bilingual.

"Language skills are becoming more and more important in the world and parents are recognising that.

"There was a time when we would have got everyone in the school hall at Christmas but that is no longer the case."

The infant children performed The Animals' Christmas while the junior show was called Sparkle.

The rise in the proportion of Welsh speakers from 9.3 per cent to 9.9 per cent over 10 years was welcomed by the deputy leader of Monmouthshire Council Councillor Phil Hobson.

He said: "People tend to think of Monmouthshire, due to its proximity to the border as having little desire or love for the Welsh language.

"The census of 2011 may well have dispelled that theory."

Our pictures show Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin's show The Animals' Christmas.

•See the Chepstow & Caldicot News for more photographs.