Richard Carbis

My name is Richard Carbis and I have had the opportunity to lead four Primary Schools.  In the year 2008, in my first role as Headteacher, I opened Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, before moving to become headteacher of Evan James Welsh Primary School, Ysgol Pencae and Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School in Cardiff.  In September 2023, I opened Ysgol Groes-wen. It is a new model that offers a language category 2 stream and a language category 3 stream.  It is a privilege to lead the first school of its kind in Wales and certainly an honour to welcome new parents and guardians to the idea of Welsh as their language.  

Over the course of my career, I was seconded to a variety of roles including Leadership Strategic Lead, Welsh Language Strategic Officer and Systems Lead for the Mid-South Consortium.  

I was trained as a facilitator and have now trained several leaders.  I lead the Middle Leaders course for Welsh Schools to CCD Region. I have also trained as a change manager.  

As Chair of the Federation of Welsh Schools in the Region, I am responsible for creating a professional learning programme and as Chair of Outcome 7 CSCA Cardiff, I am responsible for supporting all recruitment campaigns for Welsh Schools. 

I have a lot of experience as you can see but I do not forget the privilege that I am here to do the best I can for every child in my care. This is what drives me day by day, this that fuels the fire and certainly this that fills the bucket – this is my favourite quote; ‘Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire’ – William Butler Yeats.