Welsh rapper brought into schools to help boost language skills

Schoolchildren across Wales are being encouraged to experiment more with the Welsh language, in the form of beat-boxing and rap.

It's part of ambitious plans to increase the number of Welsh speakers; the Welsh Governments wants a million by 2050.

In Swansea, year five pupils at Ysgol y Login Fach in Waunarlwydd were treated to a masterclass by professional rapper and beat-boxer Ed Holden, also known as Mr Phormula.

His music, performed through the medium of Welsh, has seen him perform all around the world.

He says using Welsh has often provided him with an edge over competitors.

Earlier this year the pupils won a rap challenge, designed to encourage students to write and perform a song about their hometown.

The project was organised by ERW (Education through Regional Working), and organisers say experimenting with words can help show young people that Welsh is relevant, and not "something that exists solely to pass assessments or gain qualifications."

The teaching of the Welsh language is one of our education system's strengths, but we must continue to develop this area in accordance with the new curriculum and to meet the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050 as set out by the Welsh Government.