A PONTYPOOL school pupil joined a panel including Wales’ first minister to discuss the future of the Welsh language.

So impressive in early hustings meetings was Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw’s Molly Williams, that the deputy head girl was invited to a crunch conference on the future of Welsh last week in Aberystwyth.

Molly sat on a panel in the afternoon session which included first minister Carwyn Jones and the Welsh language commissioner, Meri Hughes.

The Y Gynhadledd Fawr (Have Your Say) meeting came after figures in the most recent census data suggested the number of Welsh speakers was falling.

The conference discussed why young people no longer used their Welsh after school and what barriers there were to people using it in the work place or in social environments.

For example one of the questions in Molly’s session asked what opportunities there were for young people to use Welsh outside the classroom.

Richard Davies, the school’s head of drama also attended the conference.

He said: “Councils across Gwent need to show strong leadership and make sure there are facilities for the medium of Welsh”.

He said he felt there needed to be extra Welsh medium school places in Gwent but also called on fellow Welsh speakers and learners to “keep this corner of Wales Welsh”.

Mr Jones said: “The response we have had to the conversation so far shows how strongly people feel about the future of the Welsh language. It is part of our cultural identity and it is right that people are protective of it”.

Ion Thomas, the school’s head of contemporary and cultural studies said: “We are very proud of Molly and Jac’s participation in the big discussion”.