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Education in Clydach 1861 - The only existing school in the area was in Glais and this was restricted to the children of the workers of Ynispenllwch Tinplate Works. A committee formed to establish a school in Clydach. School fees abolished. 1862 - A “British” School was erected in Twynybedw Road (now Clydach Infants). Funded by voluntary contributions. A “National” school (Church of England) was built at Saint Johns (this replaced the works
school at Glais). This cost £246/2/6. 1870 - Education Act authorised setting up of School Boards in all parishes. 1875 - Last year as British and National Schools. RhyndwyClydach School Board elected. Board paid £280 to Clydach British School committee. 1877 - Isaac White, Headmaster of Saint John’s given notice for his failure to keep the ‘School Fees Book’.
Clydach schools reorganised.
Girls and Infants in the Twynybedw building . Headteacher Miss Mary Ann Nisbet.
Boys at St. John’s School. Headteacher Mr George Gordon. 1879 - Attendance at school made compulsory for children of 5 – 13 who lived within 2 miles of a school.
An Attendance Officer was appointed. 1880 - Infants’ School closed for six weeks between the end of May 31st to July 12th due to measles and scarlet fever epidemic. – 20 children died. Two more died after the school reopened. 1881 - Average numbers in attendance were: Boys 182, Girls 133, Infants 136. 1883 - Twynybedw British School enlarged. The extension cost £467/14/0.
Girls School now measured 57ft. by 22ft and partitioned classroom of 181/2ft by 17ft.
Infants School was 57ft by 22ft and partitioned classroom of 11ft by 22ft. 1891 - School fees abolished. 1893 - Numbers attending continued to increase so Board resolved to build a new Boys’ School at Twynybedw Road (later Clydach Junior). 1894 - Twynybedw Road Boys’ School opened in October. Build cost £1,407. Headteacher George Gordon. The original Twynybedw School enlarged again at a cost of £483. While work going on the Infants were housed in the old boys school St. Johns until the Vicar, Rev. Evan Davies stopped the infants using the school until the Board paid for damage alleged to have been done to the building while the boys were in residence. So Hebron Vestry was used as an Infants School and later one class was removed to Calfaria vestry. 1895 - On July 9th the infants returned to the enlarged school at Twynybedw. The Babies class had 100 children in the charge of two pupils teachers, one aged 171/2 and the other nearly 16 years old! 1903 - On Sept 30th the School Board came to an end and the Glamorgan County Council became the new Authority. 1908 - First time children of Clydach were medically examined under Section 13 of the Education Administrative Provisions Act of 1907. 1909 - Corridor added to Girls School. 1913 - On April 28th the Girls Standard VII transferred to the Wesley Mission Hall. 1914 - In May the Girls Standard III was transferred to Carmel Vestry. 1921 - On Sept 12th two classes moved into temporary buildings erected in the School Yard. Later these were converted into a dining room for the Infants. 1926 - A new Boys School erected at Gellionen Road, known as the Ty Gwyn Site. Boys moved out of Upper Twynybedw School. Too small and one class had to be kept in the Infants’ School. Upper Twynybedw School occupied by Girls. The old Girls’ school became part of the Twynybedw Infants School. 1937 - Gellionen Road School became a Senior Mixed School.
Twynybedw Road Girls School became the Junior Mixed School. 1939 - Magnificent gymnasium added to Gellionen Road School. 1953 - Clydach Junior School bulging at the seams after the war so the Church Hall in Down Street became the home of the Welsh Section of the School. 1955 - A new block consisting of a fine laboratory and a well appointed Art Room was added to Gellionen Road School. 1962 - Temporary buildings erected in 1921 converted into a dining room for the Infants. 1994 - Classroom partition removed and a small hall created in the school building. Funds raised to purchase gym equipment and pupils are finally able to do P.E. at the school. 1995 - New headteacher, Mrs Rhian Thomas, appointed. 1999 - Full Estyn Inspection. Core subjects of English, Maths and Science found to be Very Good. An excellent report. 2005 - In April building work begins on a new extension. In November a time capsule is buried in the wall of the new extention. In December an Estyn Inspection. School receives top grades for the seven key questions - 5 Grade 1s and 2 Grade 2s (see Estyn). 2006 - New Multi Purpose Hall officially opened in May by The Lord Mayor of Swansea, The Right Worshipful Councillor Christopher Holley. |
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