Llongau a Chapteiniaid

We are the Ship Captains and Vice-Captains for 2025–2026. We are all Year 6 pupils and were chosen by the school staff. Our main job is to be excellent role models to the children of the school, showing how to behave and take part responsibly in the daily life and work of the school. We represent the school at certain community events. We also lead part of the Friday Rewards Assembly. Being a captain or vice-captain at Kingsland School is a great honour for us.

The House System

Children are allocated an imaginary ‘Ship’ (Llong in Welsh) which becomes their house, or team, for the duration of their time with us at Kingsland.  The four ships, Anglia, Cambria, Hibernia and Scotia are used to foster a team ethic of cooperation.  Teachers use the Ships to encourage good behaviour and performance in class.  For pupils the week ends in a prize giving ceremony which rewards good effort, behaviour, manners, attendance and achievements.  This assembly culminates in the holding aloft of a trophy adorned in ribbons of the colour belonging to the week’s victorious Ship.  The Ships are led by Captains from Year 6. 

The ship system has been operational in school since 2009. Here are the results for every year:

Year 2009
Winning Ship - Anglia
Captain’s Surname - Wright

Year 2010
Winning Ship - Hibernia
Captain’s Surname - Thomas

Year 2011
Winning Ship - Hibernia
Captain’s Surname - Childes

Year 2012
Winning Ship - Scotia
Captain’s Surname - Hetherington

Year 2013
Winning Ship - Hibernia
Captain’s Surname - Brugts

Year 2014
Winning Ship - Cambria
Captain’s Surname - Mitchell

Year 2015
Winning Ship - Scotia
Captain’s Surname - Williams

Year 2016
Winning Ship - Scotia
Captain’s Surname - Roberts

Year 2017
Winning Ship - Scotia
Captain’s Surname - Williams

Year 2018
Winning Ship - Cambria
Captain’s Surname - McMullan

Year 2019
Winning Ship - Scotia
Captain’s Surname - Davies

Year 2020
Winning Ship - Hibernia
Captain’s Surname - Williams

Year 2021
Winning Ship - Cambria
Captain’s Surname - Williams

Year 2022
Winning Ship - Cambria
Captain’s Surname - Moore

Year 2023
Winning Ship - TBC
Captain’s Surname - TBC

Year 2024
Winning Ship - Anglia
Captain’s Surname - Williams

Why ships?

Holyhead is a historic port town. Cambria, Anglia, Hibernia and Scotia are ships with links to the town. 

Holyhead Ships – Cambria, Anglia, Hibernia & Scotia

The ships Cambria, Anglia, Hibernia, and Scotia played an important role in the history of Holyhead. The first ships to carry these names were built in 1847–1848 as paddle steamers. Later, a new set of four ships with the same names were built between 1897 and 1902 by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), which operated both the railway from London Euston to Holyhead and the ferry service to Ireland.

These 1897–1902 ships are the vessels most closely linked with Ysgol Kingsland, as they were active during the First World War. Two of them — Anglia and Hibernia — were lost to enemy action. Holyhead sailors who died while serving on these ships are remembered on the town’s Cenotaph War Memorial.

In later years, newer Cambria and Hibernia vessels continued the service until 1975–76, keeping Holyhead as a vital link between Wales and Ireland.

CAMBRIA

Built in 1897, Cambria served on the Holyhead–Dublin route. During WWI she became a hospital ship and survived the war before being renamed Arvonia and scrapped in 1925.

ANGLIA

Completed in 1900, Anglia worked the Holyhead–Dublin service. She was converted into a hospital ship in WWI but tragically sank in 1915 after hitting a mine.

HIBERNIA

Hibernia (built 1900) was taken over by the Admiralty in WWI and renamed HMS Tara. She was torpedoed and sunk in 1915.

SCOTIA

Built in 1902, Scotia also served between Holyhead and Dublin. She survived the war, later becoming Menevia in 1920 before being scrapped in 1928.

Holyhead’s Maritime Legacy

These ships helped make Holyhead one of the most important ports linking Wales and Ireland. Their stories — especially the wartime losses — remain an important part of local heritage.

Holyhead Railway Ships at War (PDF)