Ysgol Llanhari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ysgol Llanhari
Location
Llanharri (nr Pontyclun) , Rhondda Cynon Taf , CF72 9XE Wales
Coordinates	51°30′40″N 3°26′20″W / 51.511°N 3.439°W / 51.511; -3.439
Information
Type	State school
Motto	Gorau gwaith gwasanaeth ('[Your] best work is to serve') and for 90’s to 00’s Pupils - ‘I’r Gad’
Established	1974
Local authority	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Chair	Ceri Morgan
Head	Meinir Thomas
Gender	Both
Age	3 to 18
Enrolment	632 (2017)
Houses	3
Colour(s)	Green, Red, Yellow
Publication	Llanhari
VLE	edysgu.llanhari.com
Website	http://www.llanhari.com/

Ysgol Llanhari is a school in Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It teaches all its subjects in Welsh. This means it is a Welsh-medium school. Students can attend from age 3 all the way up to 18 or 19.

School History

Ysgol Llanhari opened in 1974. It was one of the first secondary schools in the area to teach only in Welsh. It followed Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen in leading the way for Welsh-medium education in South Wales.

When it first opened, the school was in Mid Glamorgan county. It covered a very large area. Students came from places like Tonteg and Cardiff in the east. They also came from Porthcawl and Maesteg in the west.

The school quickly became popular. Many students wanted to join. It became "oversubscribed," meaning there were more students than spaces. Because of this, a new school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, opened in Cardiff in 1978. This new school helped teach students from South Glamorgan.

In 2012, Ysgol Llanhari changed. It added a primary school section. This meant the school now taught children from age 3 to 18. It was officially renamed Ysgol Llanhari.

Feeder Schools

"Feeder schools" are primary schools whose students often go on to a particular secondary school. For Ysgol Llanhari, the current feeder schools for its secondary department are:

• Llantrisant Primary
• Tonyrefail Primary
• Dolau Primary
• The primary section of Ysgol Llanhari itself

Before 2008, some schools from Bridgend county also sent students to Llanhari. These included Ysgol Y Ferch o'r Sger, Ysgol Bro Ogwr, Ysgol Cynwyd Sant, and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Garw. Now, students from these schools go to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd in their own county.

Headteachers of the School

Ysgol Llanhari has had six headteachers since it opened.

• The first headteacher was Mr Merfyn Griffiths, who started in 1974.
• Mr Peter Griffiths took over in 1989. He is the father of actor Ioan Gruffudd.
• Miss T Anne Morris became head in 2003.
• Mr Meirion Stephens was head from 2008 until 2022.
• Mrs Rhian Phillips was the headteacher until August 2022.
• Mrs Meinir Thomas was appointed the new headteacher in September 2022.

Exam Results

The school's exam results have been getting better since 2008.

• In 2012, 75% of students got top grades (A*-C) in their A-Level exams.
• Also, 97% of students passed their A-Levels (grades A-E).
• For GCSEs in 2012, 74.2% of all grades were A*-C.
• And 74.6% of students achieved 5 A*-C grades, which is an important benchmark.

Famous Former Students

Many students from Ysgol Llanhari have gone on to do amazing things. Here are a few:

• Mererid Hopwood: A poet and academic. She was the first woman to win the main poetry prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
• Garnon Davies: An actor known for the TV show Hollyoaks.
• Bethan Ellis Owen: An actress who has appeared in Pobol y Cwm.
• Shelley Rees: Also an actress from Pobol y Cwm.
• Gareth Wyatt: A Welsh international rugby player.
• Scott Gibbs: Another Welsh international rugby player.
• Guto Harri: A journalist who used to be a top political reporter for the BBC.
• Betsan Powys: A journalist and former head of BBC Radio Cymru.
• Rhys Williams: A professional athlete who runs the 400-meter hurdles.
• Aled Siôn Davies: A Paralympian athlete.
• Laura Prosser: A Welsh international rugby player and CrossFit athlete.
• Gemma Hallett: A Welsh international rugby player and a successful business person in technology.
• Paul Amos: An actor.