Lewis School, Pengam
Encyclopedia
Lewis School, Pengam is a comprehensive school founded in 1729 in the town of Pengam
and, latterly, nearby Gilfach
, in the Rhymney Valley
in south
Wales.
, provided for around 300 younger secondary pupils between 1973 and 2002. This third site was purchased in 2003 by Ystrad Mynach College
, whose Ystrad Mynach campus lies adjacent to the Graddfa site. Until circa 1853, the school was located in Gelligaer
.
In 1986 the school was criticised by STOPP for its use of corporal punishment (caning), after an inspectors' report stated that 60 out of 360 boys in the lower school had been caned
in the course of one year.
Pengam
Pengam is a former coal community in the Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly county borough, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 3,842.-Location and population:...
and, latterly, nearby Gilfach
Gilfach
Gilfach is the small district that lies between Bargoed and Pengam, situated in the Caerphilly county borough, seven miles north of Caerphilly, within the historic boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales....
, in the Rhymney Valley
Rhymney Valley
The Rhymney Valley is a valley encompassing the villages of Abertysswg, Fochriw, Pontlottyn, Tirphil, New Tredegar, Aberbargoed, Rhymney, and Ystrad Mynach, and the towns of Bargoed and Caerphilly, in south-east Wales, formerly famous for its coal mining and iron industries.-Geography:Created as a...
in south
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...
Wales.
Location
The school currently comprises a new facility, opened in 2002, in Gilfach at the northern perimeter of one of its former Pengam sites. Before 2002, the site was in adjacent Pengam, across two sites, with a bridge spanning the main road between them. A third site, at the former Graddfa Secondary Modern School in Ystrad MynachYstrad Mynach
Ystrad Mynach is a town in the County Borough of Caerphilly, previously within the ancient traditional county of Glamorgan, Wales, and is 5 miles north of Caerphilly town. It has a population of around 13,500 and stands in the Rhymney Valley . Before the Industrial Revolution and the coming of coal...
, provided for around 300 younger secondary pupils between 1973 and 2002. This third site was purchased in 2003 by Ystrad Mynach College
Ystrad Mynach College
Ystrad Mynach College is a college of further education based in Ystrad Mynach in Caerphilly county borough, Wales. It has over 13,000 students ranging from school leavers to adult mature students...
, whose Ystrad Mynach campus lies adjacent to the Graddfa site. Until circa 1853, the school was located in Gelligaer
Gelligaer
Gelligaer is a town and parish in the County Borough of Caerphilly, Wales, in the Rhymney River valley. The parish also includes the villages of Cefn Hengoed and Hengoed to the south.- History :...
.
History
Established as a Grammar School, it was originally a school for boys, hence also known as Lewis Boys' School. The school is associated with Lewis Girls' School in Ystrad Mynach. Girls are now admitted to the sixth form.In 1986 the school was criticised by STOPP for its use of corporal punishment (caning), after an inspectors' report stated that 60 out of 360 boys in the lower school had been caned
Caning
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
in the course of one year.
Notable former staff
- Alfred Evans (politician), headmaster, 1966-1968
- Alun LewisAlun LewisAlun Lewis , was a poet of the Anglo-Welsh school, and is regarded by many as Britain's finest Second World War poet.- Education :...
(poet), teacher - David Wynne (composer), teacher
Notable old Ludovicans
- Paul AthertonPaul AthertonPaul Atherton is managing director of and its sister not-for-profit company, . He is the first producer/ director to have his work broadcast on the Coca-Cola billboard in Piccadilly Circus, London with his film The Ballet of Change....
, Television/Film Producer - Ray BishopRay BishopRaymond John Bishop is a former Welsh professional footballer.Ray Bishop, a forward, began his football career with Bargoed Youth Club....
, Footballer, (Brighton, Cardiff and Newport County) - Iwan Davies, aka StradStradStrad may refer to:* Stradivarius, a stringed instrument* Steradian, the measurement of solid angles* The Strad, a classical music magazine...
, journalist with the South Wales ArgusSouth Wales ArgusThe South Wales Argus is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Newport, south Wales. The Argus is distributed in Newport and the historic area of Monmouthshire.... - John DawesJohn DawesSydney John Dawes OBE is a former Welsh rugby union player, playing at centre, and later coach. He captained London Welsh, Wales, the Barbarians and the British Lions...
, international Rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player - Bradley DredgeBradley DredgeBradley Dredge is a Welsh professional golfer.Dredge was born in Tredegar. He turned professional in 1996.Dredge attempted to gain his card on the European Tour via the qualifying school in 1995 and 1996, the second time doing sufficiently well to gain a place on the Challenge Tour for 1997...
, Professional Golfer, European Tour winner - Geoff EalesGeoff EalesGeoff Eales is regarded as one of the UK's most inspirational jazz pianists and composers.-Musical education:Born in Aberbargoed in the south Wales valleys, his musical education began at the age of eight, in the late 1950s. His father Horace, pianist in a well-known local dance band, taught him...
, Jazz musician - Iorwerth EvansIorwerth EvansIorwerth Evans Evans was a rugby union footballer of the 1930s who at representative level played for Wales, and at club level for Bedford Athletic RFC, Bedford RFC, and London Welsh RFC, playing at Hooker, i.e...
, rugby player - Jonathan Evans, politician
- George Fisher, dramatist, director
- Julian HodgeJulian HodgeSir Julian Hodge was a London-born entrepreneur and banker who lived in Wales for most of his life, from the age of five. He formed the Bank of Wales , and later the Julian Hodge Bank in Cardiff.- Background and beginnings :As the son of a plumber, he came from humble beginnings...
, financier - Peter Hubbard-MilesPeter Hubbard-MilesPeter Charles Hubbard-Miles was a British Conservative Party politician.Hubbard-Miles was educated at Lewis School in Pengam. From 1967 onwards, he was a member at various times of Glamorgan County Council, Porthcawl Unitary District Council, West Glamorgan County Council and Ogwr Borough Council...
, politician - Berwyn JonesBerwyn JonesThomas Berwyn Jones was a Welsh sprint athlete, and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s who at representative level played rugby league for Great Britain, and Commonwealth XIII, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Northern, and St. Helens, playing at , i.e...
, Athlete, rugby player - Humphrey Owen JonesHumphrey Owen JonesHumphrey Owen Jones was a Welsh chemist and mountaineer.-Life:Jones was born at Goginan, Cardiganshire, and educated at Lewis School, Pengam, and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He subsequently studied natural sciences at Clare College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1899 and MA in...
, chemist and mountaineer. - Neil KinnockNeil KinnockNeil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
, politician - Derek Morgan, international rugby player, President of the Rugby Football UnionRugby Football UnionThe Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
- Prof Gareth Morgan, Medic, Professor of Paediatrics and Immunology at Swansea University
- Tecwen Morgan, aka Tecwen Whittock, lecturer, quiz cheat
- Victor Erle Nash-WilliamsVictor Erle Nash-WilliamsVictor Erle Nash-Williams was a noted Welsh archaeologist.Educated at the Lewis School, Pengam, and at the University College in Cardiff, he was appointed Keeper at the National Museum of Wales...
Welsh archaeologist - John O'Shea (rugby player)John O'Shea (rugby player)John Patrick O'Shea is a former international rugby union player.Educated at Lewis School Pengam, along with John Dawes, he was capped five times for Wales as a prop between 1967 and 1968....
, international Rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand... - Berwyn PriceBerwyn PriceBerwyn Price is a former Welsh international athlete. Price was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, and studied at Lewis School, Pengam and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth....
, athlete - David Rocyn-JonesDavid Rocyn-JonesSir David Thomas Rocyn-Jones CBE, K St J, DL, JP was a Welsh medical officer of health and servant of multiple professional bodies within Wales.-Professional career:...
Medic, former president of the Welsh Rugby UnionWelsh Rugby UnionThe Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the... - Richard VaughanRichard Vaughan (badminton)Richard Vaughan is a Welsh badminton player from Llanbradach, Caerphilly, Wales. Vaughan is currently the Chief Executive of Badminton Ireland and has a MBA from Leicester University; MA Sports Development from Bath University, having previously achieved a BSc in Economics and Politics.Vaughan...
, Badminton Player, 2000 & 2004 Olympian - Simon WestonSimon WestonSimon Weston OBE is a former British Army soldier who became well known throughout the United Kingdom for his recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.-Early life:...
, Falklands War Veteran, Charity Worker - Dr G A (Tony) Warwick, Engineer, Technologist, Businessman and Entrepreneur
- Phil Williams, politician, scientist