Mountain Ash Comprehensive School

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  Veteran (guest)

  In the late 1960s, Mountain Ash Comprehensive School was formed by the amalgamation of Mountain Ash Grammar School, Abertaf Selective Secondary Modern (in Abercynon) and Bryngolwg Secondary Modern in Mountain Ash. Initially, the school was based on the three sites, with the younger pupils from Abercynon attending Abertaf, those from Mountain Ash attending the Bryngolwg site, and all older pupils (Form3 [Year 9])attending an extended site in the old Grammar School grounds. This was a disastrous arrangement. Over 2,000 pupils with enduring rivalries, a divided staff, and immense timetabling difficulties. During the 70s, pupils blended and staff, especially the younger element, forged a school with definite qualities, despite an undercurrent of violence. Pupil numbers fell, and the old Grammar School building, formerly the manorial home of the Lords Aberdare, was demolished, and a fortune spent on a new building complex and refurbishment of other buildings, allowing the unification of the school on one site. My knowledge of its development over the past 15 or so years is limited.

  17 years ago | reply | hide comment