St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Flint
Encyclopedia
St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School is an oversubscribed 11-18 mixed Catholic comprehensive school serving the population of Flintshire
in North Wales
. It was founded in 1954 to serve the Catholic population of Flintshire.
It is one of three Catholic secondary schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham, the others being St Joseph's RC High School, Wrexham
and Blessed Edward Jones RC High School
, Rhyl
.
It is a mixed school, currently serving close to 1000 pupils (including a mixed sixth form
of over 120). It draws its pupils and students from the Roman Catholic parishes of Flint
, Holywell
, Queensferry
, Mold
, Saltney
, Buckley
, Connah's Quay
, Hawarden
and Pantasaph
.
The most recent 2008 Estyn
and Diocesan Inspections quotes:
"This is an Outstanding Catholic School", "Outstanding pupil motivation and behaviour", "Outstanding pastoral care, respect for diversity and working relationships", "Outstanding leadership and management", "Outstanding GCSE results", "Outstanding working relationship with parents" "We haven't seen such an entire school behaving so well before" (Inspector comment)
Its patron Saint, St. Richard Gwyn, was canonized in 1970; prior to this, the school was called "Blessed
Richard Gwyn Roman Catholic High School". The school observes his feast day on 17 October with a whole school Mass
; every year, this is preceded by a week of religious observance and themed lessons as part of a "whole school retreat" that is called a faith 'focus week'.
The school is currently without a head teacher as Mr. Derek Doran recently retired (2005-2011). He was preceded by Mr. Tom Quinn (2002–2005). Other headmasters include Mr. Mark Philpot (currently President of the World Union of Catholic Teachers), Mr. Patrick Dominic Bryon OBE
(For services to Education in Wales) (Currently Lead Assessor, National Professional Qualification for Headship)
Some of the extra-curricular activities available to pupils are the Activities week, the Focus week, Theatrical and Musical Performances, Art Exhibitions, Science Shows, Eisteddfod and Faith Retreats.
In 1995 the school added a new block which houses the Religious Education and Music departments. The school has a theatre with tiered seating and a lighting rig to serve it. During 1996 its North Block was converted into science laboratories. During 2001 the school added a new restaurant, doubling its former capacity.
In each year from years 7 to 11 there are usually 6 form groups consisting of letters H, Q, M, S, F, B (C and P have also been used in the past if there is a big year group)
From when the school officially opened in 1954 there has been a head boy and girl system. Since 2008 there has been a supposedly successful House System - Dewi, Gwen and Beuno. Named after St. David, St. Winefride and St. Beuno.
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
in North 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...
. It was founded in 1954 to serve the Catholic population of Flintshire.
It is one of three Catholic secondary schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham, the others being St Joseph's RC High School, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and Blessed Edward Jones RC High School
Blessed Edward Jones RC High School
Blessed Edward Jones RC High School, , Cefndy Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire, is a secondary school situated in Rhyl, Denbighshire...
, Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
.
It is a mixed school, currently serving close to 1000 pupils (including a mixed sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
of over 120). It draws its pupils and students from the Roman Catholic parishes of Flint
Flint, Flintshire
Flint is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. It was the county town of the historic county of Flintshire and today is the third largest town in Flintshire. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804...
, Holywell
Holywell
Holywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
, Queensferry
Queensferry, Flintshire
Queensferry is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee near the border with England.Queensferry lies along the B5441 and B5129 roads, and is bypassed by the A494 dual carriageway. It is contiguous with Deeside...
, Mold
Mold, Flintshire
Mold is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, and was also the county town of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996...
, Saltney
Saltney
Saltney is a small town in Flintshire, Wales. It is immediately to the west of the border with Cheshire in England and is contiguous with the Chester urban area.The name is derived from the former salt marshes on which it is built, lying on the River Dee...
, Buckley
Buckley
Buckley is a town and community in Flintshire, located in north-east Wales. It is situated 2 miles from the county town of Mold and is contiguous with the nearby villages of Ewloe, Alltami and Mynydd Isa...
, Connah's Quay
Connah's Quay
Connah's Quay is the largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee, near the border with England. It can be accessed by road from the A550, by rail from the nearby Shotton station and also lies on the National Cycle Network Route 5. It is situated near the region's industrial...
, Hawarden
Hawarden
Hawarden is a village in Flintshire, North Wales. Hawarden forms part of the Deeside conurbation on the Welsh/English border. At the 2001 Census, the population of Hawarden Ward was 1,858...
and Pantasaph
Pantasaph
Pantasaph is a small village in Flintshire, north-east Wales, two miles south of Holywell. It is notable for its large Franciscan Retreat Centre on the main street....
.
The most recent 2008 Estyn
Estyn
Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb meaning "to extend". Its mission is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales by providing an independent, high quality inspection and advice service to the Welsh Assembly Government and...
and Diocesan Inspections quotes:
"This is an Outstanding Catholic School", "Outstanding pupil motivation and behaviour", "Outstanding pastoral care, respect for diversity and working relationships", "Outstanding leadership and management", "Outstanding GCSE results", "Outstanding working relationship with parents" "We haven't seen such an entire school behaving so well before" (Inspector comment)
Its patron Saint, St. Richard Gwyn, was canonized in 1970; prior to this, the school was called "Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Richard Gwyn Roman Catholic High School". The school observes his feast day on 17 October with a whole school Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
; every year, this is preceded by a week of religious observance and themed lessons as part of a "whole school retreat" that is called a faith 'focus week'.
The school is currently without a head teacher as Mr. Derek Doran recently retired (2005-2011). He was preceded by Mr. Tom Quinn (2002–2005). Other headmasters include Mr. Mark Philpot (currently President of the World Union of Catholic Teachers), Mr. Patrick Dominic Bryon OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(For services to Education in Wales) (Currently Lead Assessor, National Professional Qualification for Headship)
Some of the extra-curricular activities available to pupils are the Activities week, the Focus week, Theatrical and Musical Performances, Art Exhibitions, Science Shows, Eisteddfod and Faith Retreats.
In 1995 the school added a new block which houses the Religious Education and Music departments. The school has a theatre with tiered seating and a lighting rig to serve it. During 1996 its North Block was converted into science laboratories. During 2001 the school added a new restaurant, doubling its former capacity.
In each year from years 7 to 11 there are usually 6 form groups consisting of letters H, Q, M, S, F, B (C and P have also been used in the past if there is a big year group)
- H = HolywellHolywellHolywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
, - Q = Queensferry,
- M = MoldMoldMolds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
, - S = ShottonShotton-Places:England* Shotton, Northumberland, a village in the County of Northumberland* Shotton, Peterlee, a village in County Durham* Shotton, Sedgefield, a village in County Durham* Shotton Colliery, a village in County DurhamWales...
, - F = FlintFlintFlint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, - B = BuckleyBuckleyBuckley is a town and community in Flintshire, located in north-east Wales. It is situated 2 miles from the county town of Mold and is contiguous with the nearby villages of Ewloe, Alltami and Mynydd Isa...
, - (C = Connah's QuayConnah's QuayConnah's Quay is the largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee, near the border with England. It can be accessed by road from the A550, by rail from the nearby Shotton station and also lies on the National Cycle Network Route 5. It is situated near the region's industrial...
) - (P = PenyfforddPenyfforddPenyffordd is a village in Flintshire, North Wales, situated to the south west of Buckley and to the west of Chester. The name is derived from the Welsh Pen Y Ffordd - meaning, literally, "head of the road"...
)
From when the school officially opened in 1954 there has been a head boy and girl system. Since 2008 there has been a supposedly successful House System - Dewi, Gwen and Beuno. Named after St. David, St. Winefride and St. Beuno.
Notable former pupils
- Paul Draper, lead singer of the band MansunMansunMansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
. - Claire FoxClaire FoxClaire Fox , also known as Claire Foster, is a British writer. She is the director and founder of the British think tank, the Institute of Ideas, and a prominent former member of the Revolutionary Communist Party....
, director of the Institute of Ideas. - Fiona FoxFiona Fox (UK press officer)Fiona Fox is a British writer. She is the director of the Science Media Centre and a former leading member of the Revolutionary Communist Party.-Early Professional career:Fox started her career at Thames Polytechnic as an assistant PR officer...
, director of the Science Media CentreScience Media CentreThe Science Media Centre is an organisation which formed following to the United Kingdom House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's third report on "Science and Society" in 2000....
. - Ian RushIan RushIan James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
, footballer. - Simon Nixon, Founder of Money SupermarketMoney SupermarketMoneysupermarket.com Group PLC is a British price comparison website-based business specialising in financial services. The website enables consumers to compare prices on a range of products, including mortgages, credit cards and loans...
and the third richest man in Wales