Ysgol Morgan Llwyd facts for kids
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd is a high school in Wrexham, Wales. It teaches everything through the Welsh language. This school was the first and is still the only Welsh-medium secondary school in the whole of Wrexham County Borough. It's named after Morgan Llwyd, who was a famous preacher and writer from the 1600s. The school moved to its current spot on Cefn Road in the year 2000. Before that, it was on Stockwell Grove. The Headteacher is Ms. Catrin Prichard.
About 800 students attend Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. They are split into seven different groups or "houses." These houses are called Alun, Bers, Clywedog, Dyfrdwy, Erddig, Gwenfro, and Hafod. Their names come from local rivers and places. For example, the River Alun, Bersham, and Erddig are all nearby. In 2014, a report showed that 40% of students had at least one parent who spoke Welsh at home.
Contents
School History: How It Started
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd first opened its doors in 1963. It started with just 36 students. This made it the very first Welsh-medium high school in Wrexham. The school was first located in old army buildings. A new school building was built later. It opened in 1975 with its main entrance on Stockwell Grove. More and more students joined the school over the years.
In the 1990s, the school needed an even bigger home. They found a new place on Cefn Road. This used to be a college for training teachers. The school moved to its new, expanded site in 2000. Another school, St. Christopher's School, then moved into the old building on Stockwell Grove. From 2005, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd was part of a special program. This program helped test out the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.
In 2018, construction began on a new building. This building was for the sixth form students. It was planned to have eight classrooms and other facilities. The new block was expected to open in 2019. It cost about £1.5 million to build.
Schools That Feed Into Ysgol Morgan Llwyd
Many students who come to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd transfer from certain primary schools. These are called "feeder schools." Most students from these schools choose to come here. Also, many students from other schools join, whether they speak Welsh or English at home.
Here are some of the feeder schools:
- Ysgol Plas Coch, Wrexham
- Ysgol Bryn Tabor, Coedpoeth
- Ysgol I.D. Hooson, Rhosllannerchrugog
- Ysgol Bodhyfryd, Wrexham
- Ysgol Min-Y-Ddol, Cefn Mawr
- Ysgol Llanarmon, Llanarmon-yn-Iâl
- Ysgol Cynddelw, Glyn Ceiriog
- Ysgol Bro Alun, Gwersyllt
Fun Activities and Sports
Students at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd have many chances to get involved. Year 7 students can visit Glan Llyn. This is an Urdd outdoor activity center near Lake Bala. Older students (Years 10 to 13) can join the Duke of Edinburgh award program. This program helps young people develop new skills. The school has also organized trips to other countries. Students have visited Germany, France, and even America!
All students can take part in Urdd events. These events lead up to the National Eisteddfod. The school choir has been very successful. They have won awards at the Urdd Eisteddfod and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. In 2014, their show choir won a big competition at Llangollen.
The school also holds its own Eisteddfod every year. This usually happens on St. David's Day. Students from Years 7 to 10 compete in many different activities. These include singing in a choir, playing in a band, and even whistling! In the past, the Theatr y Ddraig drama club put on plays. These included Sweeney Todd and Grease.
For sports, students play football and netball. They compete against other schools in Wrexham. There is also a Tae Kwon Do club for those interested in martial arts.
What You Can Study
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd offers many different subjects. Students can study a wide range of topics. Some subjects are compulsory until Year 11. Others can be chosen for GCSE and A-Level qualifications.
Here are some of the subjects available:
- Welsh (Language and Literature)
- English (Language and Literature)
- Mathematics
- French
- Spanish
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Art
- Geography
- History
- Religious Education (compulsory until Year 11)
- Politics (A-Level only)
- Child Development
- Physical Education (compulsory until Year 11)
- Information Technology
- Design and Technology (like Resistant Materials, Graphics, Food)
- Leisure and Tourism
- Media Studies
- Construction (BTEC level 1)
Evening Courses
The school also offers some subjects as "Twilight courses." These are usually held after regular school hours.
- Psychology (GCSE)
- French (GCSE and NVQ)
- Spanish (GCSE and NVQ)
Famous Former Students
Many talented people have studied at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. Here are a few examples:
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas (born 1953) became a politician. He was a Minister in the Welsh Government.
- Jane Dodds (born 1963) is also a politician. She leads the Welsh Liberal Democrats party.
- Llŷr Williams (born 1976) is a very talented concert pianist.
- Mike Williams (born 1979) became a well-known journalist. He was the Editor in Chief of NME.
- Lowri Tynan (born 1987) is a swimmer. She represented Wales in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- Dewi Penrhyn Jones (born 1994) plays cricket. He plays for Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
