Caedraw Primary School in Merthyr Tydfil has recorded a national first after winning the Into Film Award for Best Animation 5–11 years for a second year running. The school was honoured at a red-carpet ceremony in Leicester Square, London, when pupils collected the prize for their stop‑motion film 'The Letter', which explores themes of loneliness, courage and taking the first step.
National stage for a small, inclusive school
The victory cements Caedraw's reputation for sustained commitment to film education. The school previously won the same category with last year’s film, and organisers say no other school has claimed consecutive wins in this award since the Into Film Awards began in 2015. Pupils were presented with the trophy amid a celebrity-packed event hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq.
Class teacher Alex McCabe praised the pupils and the wider school community for their achievement. At the ceremony he said:
“We are absolutely over the moon to win this award again. This year’s class has very much been inspired by their friends from last year and the result is something they should be enormously proud of.”
Caedraw is noted locally as a small school with a higher-than-average proportion of children with additional learning needs. Staff say the award highlights what can be achieved when film is woven into everyday learning.
Wales successes and local context
Wales took three awards at this year’s ceremony. Alongside Caedraw’s win, the Filmmaking Champion accolade went to Ben Gregory from Yr Orsaf community hub in Penygroes, Gwynedd, and 17‑year‑old Araminta Stuart from Conwy was named in the Ones to Watch category.
- Winner (Merthyr Tydfil): Caedraw Primary School — Best Animation 5–11 years ('The Letter')
- Filmmaking Champion (Wales): Ben Gregory, Yr Orsaf, Penygroes
- Ones to Watch (Wales): Araminta Stuart, Conwy
| Category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Best Animation 5–11 years | Caedraw Primary School ('The Letter') |
| Filmmaking Champion | Ben Gregory (Yr Orsaf, Penygroes) |
| Ones to Watch | Araminta Stuart (Conwy) |
For Merthyr Tydfil, the back-to-back win is a welcome reminder of the creative work happening in local classrooms. It also underlines the benefits of providing pupils with hands-on, project-based learning that crosses subject boundaries: literacy, art, design and digital skills all play a part in making films.
As schools across the county plan their curriculum and extra-curricular offers for the coming year, Caedraw’s achievement may encourage other primary settings to explore film as a route to engagement and inclusion.
