Why The Urdd Eisteddfod Should Be Moved To Easter

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

So this week the Urdd Eisteddfod (essentially the young person's Eisteddfod is being held in Cardiff. I'd like to go. We've been there before when it's been in the Welsh capital.

But we're not going.

Why? Simple. It clashes with daughter's GCSE exams. She's finished her Welsh one but there's obviously others to do. After this half term period finishes she's going to be continuing them. So most of her spare time is spent revising.

And let me stress here that I'm not talking about her taking part in any of the performances. Merely just visiting.

So it got me to thinking. Why is a potential audience for the Urdd Eisteddfod being hampered in this way? Why are sixteen year olds unable to go because of the pressures this time of year brings to them?

In essence Why can't the Urdd Eisteddfod be moved to Easter?

Now I know what you're going to say. Well what about those taking A Level exams (which are held earlier)?  Wouldn't their chances of visiting be compromised? Well yes. But it's the nature of the thing that obviously less children will be taking A Levels than standard  GCSEs.

Also, and I can't stress this enough, whilst it might provide them with an enjoyable day out if a sixteen year old is visiting the Eisteddfod chances are he/she is taking Welsh at GCSE level and so there is a good chance that he/she can practice his/her Welsh at the event which could only help them come exam time. Therefore being able to go somewhere and speak Welsh would surely be helpful to their chances of passing the Welsh oral part of  the exam.

It seems odd to me that the Urdd Eisteddfod (which by the way is for those up to the age of 25) should discriminate against a potentially large young audience and their families this way.

Hey Mistar Urdd. You know what you should do.

Until the next time.