Ysgol y Strade

Ysgol Gyfun y Strade (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈəsɡɔl ˈɡəvɨn ə ˈstradɛ]) is a Welsh medium secondary school and sixth form in the town of Llanelli, Wales. It opened in September 1977 as a comprehensive school for boys and girls. As of 2020, there were 1,177 pupils enrolled at the school.[1]

The school's motto is "Nid da lle gellir gwell" — literally, (it is) not good where capable of (being) better, i.e. never settle for second-best; or, there is always room for improvement.

Ysgol y Strade
Location
Carmarthenshire
,
SA15 4DL

Wales
,
United Kingdom
Information
School typeSecondary & Sixth Form
MottoNid da lle gellir gwell
([it is] not good where capable of [being] better)
Religious affiliation(s)Christianity
Established1977
AuthorityCarmarthenshire County Council
School code6694052
Head teacherGeoff Evans
Secondary years taughtYear 7 to Year 11
Age range11-18
Enrollment1214 (2020-2021)
Student to teacher ratio17.6
LanguageWelsh
SportsRugby
Budget£4,585 per pupil
Websitehttp://www.ysgolystrade.cymru/en/
Last updated: 2022-07-24

The current headmaster is Geoff Evans.[2][3][4] He took over from the previous headmistress, Heather Lewis, in 2017. Lewis became headmistress in 2009.[5]

The school has a successful rugby team which competes in the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens annually. They were runners up to Millfield School in 2003. The school lost in the semi-final the National Urdd Sevens Tournament in 2010. The school's year 8 team won the Urdd National Sevens in 2010 and the same year group also won the under 15s Urdd National Sevens tournament in 2012 and were unbeaten throughout both tournaments. The under 15s also won the Urdd National Sevens tournament in 2013 and were unbeaten in the tournament.

In 2013, the school performed an original musical 'Grav' that was based on the life of late rugby star, Ray Gravell. The musical was completely in Welsh and performed by pupils from the school of all ages. It attracted a large audience throughout South Wales; resulting in a shortened version being performed in the National Eisteddfod the following year in Llanelli.

The arts department within the school has also achieved many accolades throughout the nation. The choir have featured numerous times on the BBC in competitions such as Songs of Praise,[6][7][8] with some members also taking part in the Eurovision Choir of the Year competition in 2017. Many awards have also been won in The National Eisteddfod with recitation groups, choirs, drama performances, solo and duet singing, and public speaking.[9]

The school featured in S4C's Hip neu Sgip?: Yn erbyn y cloc in 2011, in a cafeteria makeover which took place at the school in September 2010.[10]

Extensions and Improvements
A picture taken outside depicting the rear of the school's extension with a blue sky overhead
The rear of the school's extension in 2015

In 2015, a standalone extension for the Science and Design & Technology departments was completed. As a part of the project, the existing facilities used by the departments mentioned were converted and refurbished into classrooms for departments including music, media, and drama. A new lounge and study area for the school's sixth form was also introduced. In total the project cost £8.245 million, with the Welsh Government footing 50% of the investment as a part of its 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. Carmarthenshire County Council contributed the rest through its Modernising Education Programme.[11]

As a part of the Welsh Government's 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy, Jeremy Miles, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, announced that a £4.4 million investment would be dedicated to a new 'Welsh Language Immersion Centre' at Ysgol Gyfun y Strade. The investment also seeks to increase the school's capacity by 228.[12]

COVID-19 Response

The UK's response to the pandemic meant that Ysgol y Strade, like all schools, was closed until the end of June 2020. From then, many schools in Wales reopened from the end of June until the summer to trial how they would reopen in the next academic year. Shortly after reopening for the next academic year, pupils in Year 10 were forced into self-isolation after a pupil tested positive for the virus.[13] Similar cases plagued the school throughout the pandemic.

The school was praised for introducing a "Botwm Becso" ("Concern Button") during the pandemic. The button, placed on the school's website, allowed pupils to voice their concerns directly to the school's assistant head teacher in a confidential manner. The assistant head teacher would then decide how best to support the pupil. The scheme was highlighted in Estyn's 20-21 Annual Report.[14]

Notable former pupils

Sport

The school is also six from six in the rugby season for 2012/2013 with victories over Tregib x2, Bro Myrddin, Preseli, Olchfa and Amman Valley.

References
  1. "Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade". mylocalschool.gov.wales. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  2. "Staff – Ysgol Y Strade". www.ysgolystrade.org. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. Harries, Rob (30 September 2022). "Another school individual has tested positive for virus". Llanelli Star. p. 4.
  4. Harries, Robert; Lewis, Ian (15 August 2019). "A-level results in Carmarthenshire: How every school and college performed". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. Dalling, Robert (8 July 2017). "Llanelli head teacher set to say farewell to pupils after eight years in role". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. "BBC - School Choir of the Year 2013 - Ysgol Y Strade singing Anfonaf Angel". BBC. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  7. "Côr Ysgol Y Strade yn ffeinal Songs of Praise". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 6 May 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. "School Choirs 2012 Final". Songs of Praise. 29 April 2012. BBC. And finally, from Llanelli, Ysgol Y Strade!
  9. Blake, Aled (7 August 2014). "National Eisteddfod: Wednesday and Thursday's results". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  10. "Vibrant new dining hall at Strade". Carmarthenshire County Council. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  11. "Ysgol Y Strade". www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  12. "Llanelli's Ysgol y Strade to get £4.4m expansion". Swansea Bay News. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  13. Thomas, Bethan (24 September 2020). "Whole year group isolating after positive test at secondary school". WalesOnline. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  14. "The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales; 2020-2021" (PDF). Estyn. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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