Cyfarthfa High School is a

comprehensive school A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is res ...

, based in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, that was established in 1970. Cyfarthfa means "Place of the barking (dog)" in Welsh and the school crest reflects this.

Origins

The school was formed by the amalgamation of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School and Georgetown Secondary Modern School. Cyfarthfa Grammar School, opened in 1913, was based in Cyfarthfa Castle operating as separate boys' and girls' schools. In 1945, they amalgamated, and in accordance with the then government policy the school was redesignated as a Grammar school under the name of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School. Georgetown Secondary Modern School was located at Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil.

Upper School

Initially, the Upper School was located in the Grammar School premises at Cyfarthfa Castle. The Upper School moved to a new

campus A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a college campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls, student centers or dining halls, and park-like se ...

in Cae Mari Dwn in 1981. The new site is based a few miles away from the lower school and provides a range of purpose based facilities. It has a brick built building with a hall and external playing fields. The two storey site includes a dedicated science wing, sports hall, a range of general purpose classrooms, a flood-lit Astroturf.

Lower School

The original lower school was situated in Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil. At that site it had two wings plus an annex providing science and metalwork facilities. External portable units provided woodwork and language labs. In 1981 the Lower School relocated to the Cyfarthfa Castle site, vacated by the Upper School. The lower school was also later vacated in 2013, leaving the school disused The current Lower School premises are within a park with considerable grounds and outstanding gardens as well as a museum and swimming pool.

Notable alumni

Merryl Wyn Davies Merryl Wyn Davies (23 June 1948 – 1 February 2021) was a Welsh people, Welsh Muslim scholar, writer and broadcaster who specialised in Islam, and the co-author of books and articles with Ziauddin Sardar. An exponent of Islamic anthropology, she ...

Philip Madoc Philip Madoc (born Philip Arvon Jones; 5 July 1934 – 5 March 2012) was a Welsh actor. He performed many stage, television, radio and film roles, and was recognised for having a "rich, sonorous voice" and often playing villains and office ...

Ursula Masson Ursula Masson (1945–2008), born Ursula O'Connor, was a Welsh academic and writer who worked closely with Jane Aaron and Honno Press/Gwasg Honno, the Welsh Women's Press, on the imprint Welsh Women's Classics – to bring back into print the w ...

References

External links

Official site
- Historical Photographs of Cyfarthfa High School.

- Historical Photographs of Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School.
Estyn Report on Cyfarthfa
- Wales' Education Body Report on the school

- 99.6% pass rate at Cyfarthfa {{authority control Secondary schools in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough 1970 establishments in Wales Educational institutions established in 1970