Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen ("Ogwen Valley School") is a bilingual secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 19 years. It is situated in Bethesda in the

Ogwen valley Dyffryn Ogwen, or Ogwen Valley, is a valley mostly located in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The upper section of the valley, east of Llyn Ogwen, lies in the county of Conwy. Geography The valley lies to the south of Bangor. It is bordered on ...

in Gwynedd,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. As of 2022, there were 454 pupils on roll at the school. Some of the buildings date from 1895 when a County School (

grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...

) was established here, but the present comprehensive school dates from 1951. An extension to the school was opened by Professor Sir

Idris Foster Sir Idris Llewelyn Foster (23 July 1911 – 18 June 1984) was a Welsh scholar and Jesus Professor of Celtic at the University of Oxford from 1947 until 1978. He was born in Carneddi, Bethesda, Caernarfonshire, Wales, and studied Latin and Welsh ...

. The motto of the school is "''Bydded goleuni''" ("Let there be light", Gen. 1.3) The school is fed by primary schools in the surrounding villages: Ysgol Llanllechid, Ysgol Pen y Bryn, Ysgol Rhiwlas, Ysgol Tregarth and Ysgol Bodfeurig. The school has an intake of 70-90 pupils per year. Around a quarter of pupils will go on to study A-Levels. According to the latest Estyn report, 84% of pupils come from homes where Welsh is spoken by at least one parent.

2006 Estyn Inspection Report

The 2006

Estyn Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb ''estyn'' meaning "to reach (out), stretch or extend". Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality ...

School Report noted: All pupils belong to the white ethnic group. Seventy eight per cent 8%of pupils come from homes in which Welsh is the main language and 22% from homes in which English is the main language. All pupils come from an economically disadvantaged area. According to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000, the two most populous wards in the school's catchment area are amongst the 15% most deprived wards in Gwynedd, with one of the two wards amongst the 3% most deprived in Wales in terms of income deprivation. In both wards also, the unemployment rate is double the national figure. Seventeen per cent 7%of the pupils are registered as entitled to free school meals, which is 5% higher than the county’s average figure of 12%, and 1% higher than the average figure for Wales (16%). In 2006, only 27% of pupils in the year gained A*-C grades in GCSE science, compared to 56% in the county and 48% throughout Wales. In 2006, the percentage gaining five GCSE grades A*-C was 46%, in comparison with 60% in the county and 53% throughout Wales. In 2006, performance in GCSE English was poor, with only 31% of boys gaining grades A*-C. In 2006, 59% of students in the sixth form gained at least two A-C grades at A-level, in comparison with 68% in the county and Wales. Throughout the school years, pupils with special educational needs are challenged appropriately and achieve good standards. However the challenge for more able pupils is more limited. This limits their achievement and subsequently their attainment.

Notable former pupils

* Y

Prifardd Y Prifardd,http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eisteddfod2008/sites/guide/history/pages/gorsedd.shtml BBC Guide to the Eisteddfod literally ''The Chief Bard'', is the Welsh language, Welsh title given to bards who have won either the Chairing of the Bard, c ...

(Chief bard) Emrys Edwards - poet * Sir

- Jesus Professor of Celtic Studies at the University of Oxford * Lisa Jên - founder and member of

9Bach 9Bach is an alternative folk group formed by Welsh singer-songwriter and pianist Lisa Jên and guitarist Martin Hoyland, a veteran of 1990s alt-rock band Pusherman. The group now includes Dan Swain (bass guitar), Esyllt Glyn Jones (harp, vocals ...

Caradog Prichard Caradog Prichard (3 November 1904 – 25 February 1980) was a Welsh poet and novelist writing in Welsh. His daughter, Mari Prichard, was married to the late Humphrey Carpenter. Caradog Prichard was born and grew up in the Gwynedd slate-quarrying ...

- poet, novelist, journalist *

John Ogwen John Ogwen (born 25 April 1944) is a Welsh actor. Early life Ogwen was born and raised in Sling near Bethesda in the Ogwen Valley, from which his surname derives. He attended Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen, then studied English and Welsh at the Universit ...

- actor *

Gruff Rhys Gruffudd Maredudd Bowen Rhys (; born 18 July 1970) is a Welsh musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. He performs solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed ...

of the

Super Furry Animals Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff in 1993. For the duration of their professional career, the band consisted of Gruff Rhys (lead vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (lead guitar, vocals), Guto Pryce (bass guitar), Cian Ciar ...

Goronwy Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts Goronwy Owen Goronwy-Roberts, Baron Goronwy-Roberts, FRSA PC (20 September 1913 – 23 July 1981), was a Welsh Labour Member of Parliament. Early life Roberts was the younger son of Edward and Amelia Roberts from Bethesda, Gwynedd, where his ...

- former Labour Government Foreign Minister * T. Gwynn Jones (Gwynn Tregarth) - National Eisteddfod of Wales Music Director and Sword Bearer * Members of Maffia Mr Huws (a 1980s band) attended the school. *Gethin from popular pop band Dusky Grey * Ieuan Wyn - Prifardd (Chief Bard)

References

External links

School Website

Estyn Report 2006
{{authority control Secondary schools in Gwynedd Bethesda, Gwynedd Educational institutions established in 1951 1951 establishments in Wales