Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth
Encyclopedia
Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth is a Welsh language
primary school in the university town of Aberystwyth
in Ceredigion
, Wales
. It was established as a private school in 1939 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards
and was originally named Ysgol Gymraeg yr Urdd. The school was the first Welsh school in Wales.
The school originally had seven pupils, but has grown significantly since then and now educates around 400 children. The school expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s as parents began to see the academic value in bilingual education. Although 95% of the students speak Welsh to a first language level, only 65% come from homes where Welsh is the main language spoken. Today, the school has 18 teachers, over 20 assistants and 15 auxiliary staff. The school is sponsored by Oriel y Bont (Bridge Gallery) and HSBC
. A 2003 school report by Estyn
found it to be a good school, which has successfully established "a happy and organised community that promotes high values and standards."
The prominent Welsh children's author Mary Vaughan Jones
was a teacher at the school between 1953 and 1958. Another much loved teacher there was Margaret Thomas, who worked as head of the Music department for many years. Aled Haydn Jones
a BBC
radio producer on the The Chris Moyles Show
was a pupil.
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...
primary school in the university town of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, 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 established as a private school in 1939 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards
Ifan ab Owen Edwards
Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards , was a Welsh academic, writer and film-maker, best known as the founder of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the Welsh League of Youth....
and was originally named Ysgol Gymraeg yr Urdd. The school was the first Welsh school in Wales.
The school originally had seven pupils, but has grown significantly since then and now educates around 400 children. The school expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s as parents began to see the academic value in bilingual education. Although 95% of the students speak Welsh to a first language level, only 65% come from homes where Welsh is the main language spoken. Today, the school has 18 teachers, over 20 assistants and 15 auxiliary staff. The school is sponsored by Oriel y Bont (Bridge Gallery) and HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
. A 2003 school report by 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...
found it to be a good school, which has successfully established "a happy and organised community that promotes high values and standards."
The prominent Welsh children's author Mary Vaughan Jones
Mary Vaughan Jones
Mary Vaughan Jones was a celebrated Welsh children's author and schoolteacher.She was born at 'Firs Cottage', Maenan near Llanrwst in 1918, and died in the Rhuddlan area, Clwyd in 1983...
was a teacher at the school between 1953 and 1958. Another much loved teacher there was Margaret Thomas, who worked as head of the Music department for many years. Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones is a Welsh radio producer and radio presenter. Since 2004 he has worked on The Chris Moyles Show.-Personal history:...
a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio producer on the The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
was a pupil.