Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf is a Welsh-medium coeducational secondary school in Llandaff North, a district in the north of Cardiff, Wales; it is the largest of its kind in the country. Of the three Welsh-medium secondary schools serving Cardiff, it was the first to be established; the others are Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern. As of 2017, 36% of pupils came from Welsh-speaking homes.[1]

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Main entrance to reception
Address
Map
Bridge Road

,
CF14 2JL

Coordinates51°30′04″N 3°13′34″W / 51.50120°N 3.22605°W / 51.50120; -3.22605
Information
TypeState school
Motto'Coron Gwlad Ei Mamiaith'
('A Country's Crown is Her Mother Tongue')
Established1978
Department for Education URN401885 Tables
Head TeacherMatthew Evans
GenderAll
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1,453 (2023)
HousesDewi, Dyfrig, Illtud, Teilo
Colour(s)Light and dark blue
Websitewww.glantaf.cymru

History

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Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf was founded in 1978, initially sharing premises with the English-language Glantaf High School, before expanding to occupy the entire building. Its first headmaster was J E Malcolm Thomas, who was succeeded upon his retirement in 1995 by Huw S Thomas, and then by headmistress Rhiannon Lloyd from Rhydywaun School. In early 2010, the board of governors announced that from September 2010, the former head of Rhydywaun School would take over from Rhiannon Lloyd. From September 2010, Alun Davies was headmaster prior to Mathew Evans joining the school in September 2020 as headteacher from Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur.[2]

Pupil numbers at the school increased into four figures during the mid-1980s, necessitating the annexing of the buildings of the old Waterhall School in Fairwater to form the Ysgol Isaf (Lower School), which housed the first and second forms (later years 7 and 8) of the school from 1986. This split-site arrangement continued until the opening of Cardiff's second Welsh-medium comprehensive school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, in 1998, from which point the Llandaff North site again housed the entirety of Glantaf's pupils.

Welsh-medium education

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Education in Wales differs in certain respects from the systems used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf is a Welsh-medium school, which means that all lessons except English language and literature should take place in the Welsh language. The social use of Welsh is also highly encouraged, in order to ensure the pupils' fluency in the language. Ysgol Glantaf presents sixth form students for the Welsh Baccalaureate examination.

Ethos

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The school's motto is Coron Gwlad Ei Mamiaith, which translates to 'A Country's Crown is Her Mother Tongue'. The school colours are light and dark blue.

Houses

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The school's four houses are named after Welsh saints: Dewi (house colour: yellow), Dyfrig (green), Illtud (red) and Teilo (blue). The four houses annually compete in the "Gŵyl Glantaf" (Glantaf Festival), in which there is a day of sports and a day of singing, playing instruments, reciting and numerous other events in the theme of the Eisteddfod.

Results

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In 2008, 76% of pupils at GCSE (or equivalent) (ages 15 to 16) year achieved five or more A* - C grades at GCSE,[3] and 76% of pupils at A/AS level (or equivalent) (ages 17 to 18) achieved two or more A - C grades.[3]

Awards

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In 2019, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf was named Welsh Secondary School of the year by the Sunday Times.[4]

Notable alumni

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Arts and media
Sport
Politics
  • Rhys ab Owen, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd 2021-
  • Eluned Morgan, Labour Party Member of the Senedd 2015-, Welsh First Minister 2024-

See also

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  • Emyr Currie-Jones, Chairman of the Education Committee of Cardiff City Council, promoted the foundation of the school

References

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  1. ^ "Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf | Estyn". www.estyn.gov.wales. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf web site". Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b http://www.npd-wales.gov.uk/pagecontent/shared/PublicDocs/681/SEC/6814071E.pdf[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Wightwick, Abbie (23 November 2019). "Sunday Times reveals its best secondary schools in Wales". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Stars are on opposite sides of the fence". South Wales Echo. 24 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Weighlifting: Darius Jokarzadeh confident he can realise Olympic dream". Wales Online. 2 May 2012.
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