Cyfarthfa High School
Encyclopedia
Cyfarthfa High School is a comprehensive school
, based in the town and borough of Merthyr Tydfil
, Wales
, that was established in 1970. Cyfarthfa means "Place of the barking (dog)" in Welsh
and the school crest
reflects this.
operating as separate boys` and girls` schools. In 1945, they amalgamated, and in accordance with the then government policy the school was redesignated as a Grammar school
under the name of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School. Georgetown Secondary Modern School was located at Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil.
, built on fields adjoining a farm, in Cae Mari Dwn in 1981.
The new site is based a few miles away from the lower school and provides a range of purpose based facilities. It has a brick built building with a hall and external playing fields. The two storey site includes a dedicated science wing, sports hall, a range of general purpose classrooms, a flood-lit Astroturf.
site, vacated by the Upper School.
The current Lower School premises are within a park with considerable grounds and outstanding gardens as well as a museum and swimming pool.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, based in the town and borough of Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, that was established in 1970. Cyfarthfa means "Place of the barking (dog)" in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and the school crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
reflects this.
Origins
The school was formed by the amalgamation of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School and Georgetown Secondary Modern School. Cyfarthfa Grammar School, opened in 1913, was based in Cyfarthfa CastleCyfarthfa Castle
Cyfarthfa Castle is the former home of the Crawshay family, historical ironmasters of Cyfarthfa Ironworks in Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Despite appearing superficially to be a fortified building it is a house built in the style of a large mansion...
operating as separate boys` and girls` schools. In 1945, they amalgamated, and in accordance with the then government policy the school was redesignated as a Grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
under the name of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School. Georgetown Secondary Modern School was located at Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil.
Upper School
Initially, the Upper School was located in the Grammar School premises at Cyfarthfa Castle. The Upper School moved to a new campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
, built on fields adjoining a farm, in Cae Mari Dwn in 1981.
The new site is based a few miles away from the lower school and provides a range of purpose based facilities. It has a brick built building with a hall and external playing fields. The two storey site includes a dedicated science wing, sports hall, a range of general purpose classrooms, a flood-lit Astroturf.
Lower School
The original lower school was situated in Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil. At that site it had two wings plus an annex providing science and metalwork facilities. External portable units provided woodwork and language labs. In 1981 the Lower School relocated to the Cyfarthfa CastleCyfarthfa Castle
Cyfarthfa Castle is the former home of the Crawshay family, historical ironmasters of Cyfarthfa Ironworks in Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Despite appearing superficially to be a fortified building it is a house built in the style of a large mansion...
site, vacated by the Upper School.
The current Lower School premises are within a park with considerable grounds and outstanding gardens as well as a museum and swimming pool.
External links
- Official site
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: Cyfarthfa High School - Historical Photographs of Cyfarthfa High School.
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School - Historical Photographs of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School.
- Estyn Report on Cyfarthfa - Wales' Education Body Report on the school
- icWales - 99.6% pass rate at Cyfarthfa