The Aberdare Boys' Grammar School

Contents

Latest additions

Updated  September 3rd 2010

Established September 2001

September 2010

Welcome to the website of the old Aberdare Boys' Grammar School. The web server continues to provide pages to visitors from all over the world, and the website continues to grow thanks to your contributions. If you have any photos or documents to share please let us know - our email addresses can be found in the panel on the right. Alternatively, you may wish to make a suggestion for an entry in the Former Pupils section, if so please let us have details, and a picture if possible. To see full details of what has been added recently, click the link shown below 'Latest Additions' in the column on the left. Thank you again to all those who have made contributions by writing short articles or by sending in photos.

News

At the end of the summer term 2010, three significant retirements took place. The individuals concerned were the last remaining staff to have taught at the school while it was still a grammar school. They were as follows: Judith Griffiths, Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum) and previously Head of English and teacher of English, 1975-2010; Ted Pritchard (Head of Welsh) 1975-2010; and Graham Jenkins (History) 1977-2010. Between them they clocked up 103 years of service! Miss Griffiths will continue to be associated with the school in connection with the Cynon Valley 16+ Consortium (See the Introduction Video at the bottom their page).

At the end of July, The Archbishop of Wales made a statement (link opens in new window) about the proposed reorganisation of secondary education in Aberdare, in which he supported the retention of sixth forms in schools. Rhondda Cynon Tâf County Borough Council have been considering the reorganisation of secondary education in Aberdare for several months and have already published options for change, available on the Internet. Some of the options would involve the closure of one or more of the present secondary schools and the loss of the sixth form from others. In a recent issue, the on-line digest of the Cynon Valley Leader published the current state of the plans. Click here to see the article, (opens in a new window). The RCT document outlining the four options is available here (large pdf file, opens in new window).

Background Information From September 1st, 2009 the school that inherited the buildings of the grammar school in Cwmdare Road and known from 1978 as Aberdare Boys Comprehensive School, has been renamed Aberdare High School (opens in new window). The school has a new badge, which shows a similarity to the original grammar school design with 'dragon and book'. The picture, right, shows the school as it was in 1978. If you have not had the opportunity of visiting the school recently, there is now a large sports hall on the site behind the two-story block on the right. This is both a school and community facility. In addition, there is the large red-brick extension which would be to the left of the picture; this was built many years ago.

School Clock

The clock tower residence was featured in both the South Wales Echo and the Cynon Valley Leader in the third week of July 2009. The Echo article was particularly impressive with a three-page spread, including a full-page photo of the building on the front page of the homeWALES supplement. There has been a further reduction in the asking price to £299,950. It turns out that the current owner is Ray Radnedge of Radnedge Architectural Antiques in Llanelli. In the article he says he initially purchased the clock only. But he then heard that the tower was to be demolished by the developer, so he bought that too. The inside pages show several views of both the exterior and of the internal fittings. Details of the property can be seen on the estate agent's website by clicking here. A gallery of photographs showing the reinstatement of the clock can be found in the School Building section. The weather vane now completes the architectural fittings at the top of the dome, and the clock faces are now illuminated.

The clock had been removed for restoration and repair. It consists of a two-and-a-half tonne structure made of solid oak with cast iron facings, copper roof, and a 10 ft pendulum. The other structural alterations are now complete, and the tower and adjacent room have been converted to a house.

Contacts

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Related Link

Aberdare Girls Grammar School

Aerial Views

Aberdare is one of the areas in the UK where the online satellite maps from Google Maps are of a high resolution. Go to Google Maps to look down on the old school site and explore the rest of the town.