Flexible, welcoming and professional, the new website for Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed has transformed the way the school connects with pupils, parents and the wider community.
As Newport’s only Welsh-medium secondary school, the website was designed with a Welsh-first approach, celebrating both the language and the rich cultural identity that sits at the heart of the school.
Education
Scope
• Bilingual
• Website
• Photography
• Videography
Meet Layer — a fresh marketing & comms agency rooted in regeneration, placemaking and the built environment.
We created a warm, confident brand and user-friendly website to help Layer stand out, build trust and make an impact from day one.
Scope
• Branding
• Tone of voice
• Digital
• Strategy
Private
School Business Manager, Mr Ryan Owen approached Icon with a clear ambition: to create a modern, engaging digital platform that reflected the school’s vision, values and inclusive learning environment.
The previous website, launched shortly after the school opened in 2016, no longer reflected the vibrant and approachable ethos of the school. Navigation was difficult, content lacked structure and the visual identity felt outdated.
The redesign centred around a strong bilingual approach, ensuring both languages were fully integrated throughout the user experience rather than treated as separate or secondary. The new platform reflects the importance of Welsh within everyday school life while also supporting families from a wide range of backgrounds.
With fewer than 10% of pupils speaking Welsh at home, the website plays an important role in demonstrating how students are supported to grow in confidence academically, socially and culturally through Welsh-medium education.
Layer is a fresh marketing and communications agency founded by Victoria Holloway, a senior marketeer with over 25 years of commercial-sector experience. Rooted in regeneration, placemaking and urban development, Layer was created to bring clarity, insight and strategic thinking to the built environment sector. From the outset, Icon was commissioned to develop a contemporary brand and website that would help the agency stand out, clearly articulate its offer and establish credibility from day one. Offering exceptional client service at its core and unrivalled industry knowledge spanning London and beyond, Layer set its sights on becoming a leading provider of PR and marketing support for organisations operating within the built environment. With a client base ranging from private property investors managing £500m+ portfolios to London Council regeneration teams, it was essential that the brand positioned Layer as a trusted, knowledgeable partner across multiple sectors.
The redesign focused heavily on usability and communication, creating a more intuitive experience for parents, students, staff and the wider community. Clear navigation, streamlined content and responsive layouts ensure visitors can quickly access the information they need across desktop and mobile devices.
Visually, the transformation was equally important. A refreshed colour palette and bespoke design system helped strengthen the school’s identity, while professional photography and video content brought authenticity and personality to every page. By showcasing real students and real spaces, the website now reflects the confidence, inclusivity and energy of everyday life at Gwent Is Coed.
Built on an easy-to-manage platform and supported by a staff training session led by Icon, the website also gives staff the flexibility to update content quickly and efficiently.
Integrated social media links provide additional communication channels, helping the school stay connected with students and families in real time.
An extended thank you to headteacher Mrs Eirian Jones and staff at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed who fully embraced the direction of the website redesign, providing inspiration and insight into shaping young people’s education in this corner of south east Wales.
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To find out more, click here
Layer is a fresh marketing and communications agency founded by Victoria Holloway, a senior marketeer with over 25 years of commercial-sector experience.
Rooted in regeneration, placemaking and urban development, Layer was created to bring clarity, insight and strategic thinking to the built environment sector. From the outset, Icon was commissioned to develop a contemporary brand and website that would help the agency stand out, clearly articulate its offer and establish credibility from day one.
Offering exceptional client service at its core and unrivalled industry knowledge spanning London and beyond, Layer set its sights on becoming a leading provider of PR and marketing support for organisations operating within the built environment.
With a client base ranging from private property investors managing £500m+ portfolios to London Council regeneration teams, it was essential that the brand positioned Layer as a trusted, knowledgeable partner across multiple sectors.
The result is a brand identity that is honest, impactful and upbeat, perfectly reflecting Layer’s relationship-driven approach to building meaningful conversations and long-term partnerships. These values are echoed through a vibrant colour palette and considered imagery, adding a strong human dimension to the brand ie. where people and place meet. The brand truly comes to life through the launch of a new website, providing a strong digital foundation for the next phase of Layer’s journey. Designed to support a new brand at launch, the site plays a critical role in establishing presence, credibility and clarity — acting as both a shop window and a strategic business tool.
Layer is a fresh marketing and communications agency founded by Victoria Holloway, a senior marketeer with over 25 years of commercial-sector experience.
Rooted in regeneration, placemaking and urban development, Layer was created to bring clarity, insight and strategic thinking to the built environment sector. From the outset, Icon was commissioned to develop a contemporary brand and website that would help the agency stand out, clearly articulate its offer and establish credibility from day one.
Offering exceptional client service at its core and unrivalled industry knowledge spanning London and beyond, Layer set its sights on becoming a leading provider of PR and marketing support for organisations operating within the built environment.
With a client base ranging from private property investors managing £500m+ portfolios to London Council regeneration teams, it was essential that the brand positioned Layer as a trusted, knowledgeable partner across multiple sectors.
From layout composition to spacing and flow, every element has been carefully crafted to guide users effortlessly through Layer’s services, people and projects, while reinforcing the professionalism and expertise the team bring to their work. User experience was central to the design process. Smooth scrolling interactions, subtle animations and a mobile-first, fully responsive build ensure the website feels intuitive, engaging and easy to navigate across all devices. Clear messaging, considered structure and accessible content help visitors quickly understand who Layer are, what they do and why they are different — creating confidence from the very first interaction. As Layer continues to deliver strategic marketing and communications solutions across the property and regeneration sectors, its website now reflects the same level of expertise, commitment and creativity that defines its female-founded brand.
We're so pleased to launch our new website that communicates the personality, confidence and ethos of the Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed community. Thanks to Icon for their collaboration from the start.
Ryan Owen, School Business Manager, Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed
“Icon’s vision and creative flair have helped make our undergraduate campaign a huge success; we have seen significant increases in prospectus distribution, up 30% on the previous year in some areas of the U.K. and a subsequent rise in open day bookings.”
Gemma Williamson,
Head of Marketing, Digital and Creative Services,
Swansea University