Heolddu Comprehensive School
Encyclopedia
Heolddu Comprehensive School is a school located in the town of Bargoed
, South Wales
, and serves the town of Bargoed as well as the villages of Deri, Aberbargoed and Brithdir in the Caerphilly LEA. Currently there are over 770 pupils on roll, including over 80 pupils in a vibrant 6th form, with 47 teaching staff, mastered by headteacher Mr. P. M. Jones.
).
, attended the school as a teenager. He has since gone on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
. He still regularly returns to Heolddu, his last visit being as recent as March 2009, when he performed a song for a selection of pupils. The school proudly boasts a signed poster on its corridor wall, wishing the staff and pupils all the best.
, the 15 year old Olympic diver, paid a visit to Heolddu to swim with selected pupils to promote the sport. The pupils were selected through the 'healthy eating' ladder, in which pupils gain points for purchases healthy meals. Following the spell in the leisure centre, he attended the schools canteen to also help encourage several pupils to eat healthier. A signed plaque is also on display in the corridors.
Shortly after his visit, strong rumours began to escalate that the young talent was considering moving permanently to the school, after believed 'bullying' at his current school. However the rumours shortly died out and have since been forgotten.
Adam Jones
, Welsh rugby player who plays for the Ospreys and the British and Irish Lions
, annually attends the schools' celebration of achievement evening, presenting awards and GCSE certificates to successful candidates.
With kick-boxing, karate, street dancing, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, ICT, revision clubs, music lessons, language classes, technology groups and traditional sporting fixtures there is little time for boredom at Heolddu. Recently the school secured county successes in a technology competition and the Young Consumers competition.
The school's leisure centre is open, after school hours, to the general public. It has facilities to accommodate badminton, squash, netball and basketball, indoor football, gymnastics, circuit training, and a gym.
It also supplies a swimming where one can swim, and even do general water sports like polo and kayaking.
Finally, the school owns a rugby and football field, opposite the school's facade and over the road. These accommodate the school's teams, also used for physical education.
Current pupils Micahel Adams, Josh Evans and Aaron Hughes all play for Newport Gwent Dragons
U-16 team.
Bargoed
Bargoed is a town in the Rhymney Valley, Wales, one of the South Wales Valleys. It lies on the Rhymney River in the county borough of Caerphilly and straddles ancient boundary of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. 'Greater Bargoed', as defined by the local authority Caerphilly County Borough Council,...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and serves the town of Bargoed as well as the villages of Deri, Aberbargoed and Brithdir in the Caerphilly LEA. Currently there are over 770 pupils on roll, including over 80 pupils in a vibrant 6th form, with 47 teaching staff, mastered by headteacher Mr. P. M. Jones.
Background
The building itself was constructed in 1977, originally as a temporary school. Its motto is "opportunity for all" and can be read on the school badge on the school uniform (in WelshWelsh 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...
).
Notable former pupils
James Richard Mullett, 33-year-old singer , pianist and guitarist, better known as James FoxJames Fox (singer)
James Fox, real name . is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul...
, attended the school as a teenager. He has since gone on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. He still regularly returns to Heolddu, his last visit being as recent as March 2009, when he performed a song for a selection of pupils. The school proudly boasts a signed poster on its corridor wall, wishing the staff and pupils all the best.
Other Famous Visitors
In May 2009, Tom DaleyTom Daley (diver)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Daley is an English diver who specialises in the 10 metre platform event and was the 2009 FINA World Champion in the individual event at the age of 15. He started diving at the age of seven and is a member of Plymouth Diving Club. He has made an impact in national and...
, the 15 year old Olympic diver, paid a visit to Heolddu to swim with selected pupils to promote the sport. The pupils were selected through the 'healthy eating' ladder, in which pupils gain points for purchases healthy meals. Following the spell in the leisure centre, he attended the schools canteen to also help encourage several pupils to eat healthier. A signed plaque is also on display in the corridors.
Shortly after his visit, strong rumours began to escalate that the young talent was considering moving permanently to the school, after believed 'bullying' at his current school. However the rumours shortly died out and have since been forgotten.
Adam Jones
Adam Rhys Jones
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. His usual position is at tighthead prop...
, Welsh rugby player who plays for the Ospreys and the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, annually attends the schools' celebration of achievement evening, presenting awards and GCSE certificates to successful candidates.
Results and success
Including a 100% pass rate at sixth form. In terms of GCSE pass rate, the school every year very closely competes with the likes of Blackwood Comprehensive, Lewis Boys of Pengam, and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymney of Fleur De Lys, the four schools have very close pass rates on an average of 96-97%, with Heolddu showing their 100% A-G pass rate at GCSE.With kick-boxing, karate, street dancing, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, ICT, revision clubs, music lessons, language classes, technology groups and traditional sporting fixtures there is little time for boredom at Heolddu. Recently the school secured county successes in a technology competition and the Young Consumers competition.
Charity
The school excels for charity causes, readily raising over £1000 for both Children in Need and Red Nose Day. For example, Children in Need 2009 saw the school raise a record breaking £1700. It annually holds many events for such causes, and is also a chance to get pupils out of the class for a fun-day, and increase awareness of the relevant issues.Sports and Leisure Centre
Adjacent to the car park is an astroturf field, which is open for the school and public to play football on. It was built in the summer of 2006 and refurbished in the summer of 2008 after excessive vandalism.The school's leisure centre is open, after school hours, to the general public. It has facilities to accommodate badminton, squash, netball and basketball, indoor football, gymnastics, circuit training, and a gym.
It also supplies a swimming where one can swim, and even do general water sports like polo and kayaking.
Finally, the school owns a rugby and football field, opposite the school's facade and over the road. These accommodate the school's teams, also used for physical education.
Current pupils Micahel Adams, Josh Evans and Aaron Hughes all play for Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
U-16 team.