Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School

The Higher School Certificate was an examination taken by pupils at the age of about 18 years, roughly equivalent to GCE Advanced level. The School Certificate was an examination taken by pupils at the age of about 16 years. In some ways it was equivalent to the O-level and GCSE examinations that superseded the ‘Certificate’ in 1951 and 1988 respectively. A significant difference from the two following schemes however, was the requirement that a School Certificate was issued only if a set minimum number of subjects was passed, at a certain standard, and from combinations of subjects that were specified by the Central Welsh Board.

The Higher results of 1930 resulted in the award of four State Scholarships, a feat that the school never surpassed. The scholarships were awarded to the first four boys mentioned in the list. You will find three of these boys, Tom Barling, Handel Davies and Mansel Morris Davies in the Former Pupils section of this website. A.G.C. Cox, currently not in the list of Former Pupils, was one of the Headmaster’s four children. He went on to be a physician - as indeed did the other three of the Headmaster’s children.

Of the others, in the Highers Section:

• after a period in the forces, Walter T. Morgan spent the rest of his life working at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth;
• Anelyf Wyn Rees, after a period in the S.O.E. of the armed forces, eventually became Principal of Renison College, Waterloo, Canada.

and girls:

• Margaret Elizabeth Abraham became a Geography Mistress at Brecon Grammar School.
• Helen Jones should be listed as Ellen Jones, who later became Mrs Watts and taught Biology at her old school.
• Gwenllian Forey married D.H. Samuel, the parents of John Samuel who helped write these notes. Mrs Samuel also taught at her old school.

In the School Certificate Section:

• David Daniel Davies spent 29 years as Head of Biology at the School;
• Spencer R. Jones became Headmaster of Bryngolwg School, he also has an entry in Former Pupils;
• David Walter Morris became a primary school headmaster and has two extended articles on this website;
• Tom Roderick later worked for the NCB, was secretary of Calfaria chapel, Monk Street, a Councillor (Independent) for the Town Ward, and J.P.;
• Howard Sweet became a master at Gadlys School and was a keen golfer;
• Melvyn Watkins became a teacher at Park School, and was one-time secretary of Aberdare Trades & Labour Council.

and girls

• Irene Eynon became Biology mistress at Whitchurch Grammar School, Cardiff;
• Aerona Lewis became headteacher of the Open Air School, Park Lane, Trecynon.
  
  

Supplementary Level was an examination available in single subjects, and was taken by a small number of candidates one year after School Certificate. Of these boys,

• Gwydol Morgan Evans taught in London and has an entry in the Former Pupils section of this website;
• After a period in the army O.J. Timothy made a career in educational administration - he married Mattie Abraham, who as Mrs Timothy taught at both the Boys and Girls Grammar Schools;
• D.H. Samuel became a primary Headmaster and lived in Park View Terrace, Abernant.

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