Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf is a Welsh-medium coeducational secondary school in Llandaff North, a district in the north of Cardiff, Wales; it is the largest of its kind in the country. Of the three Welsh-medium secondary schools serving Cardiff, it was the first to be established; the others are Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern. As of 2025, 49% of pupils came from Welsh-speaking homes. History Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf opened in September 1978. This was one month after the 1978 National Eisteddfod of Wales, held in Cardiff and, when a winner for the Bardic Chair could not be found, the chair was donated to Ysgol Glantaf. While on the one hand the opening of Cardiff's first Welsh language secondary school was seen as a major step, on the other hand there were protests outside the school, with protesters waving placards saying "Welsh Go Home". The school initially shared premises with the English-language Glantaf High School, but later expanded to occupy the whole building. Its first headmaster was J E Malcolm Thomas, who was succeeded upon his retirement in 1995 by Huw S Thomas, and then by headmistress Rhiannon Lloyd from Rhydywaun School. In early 2010, the board of governors announced that from September 2010, the former head of Rhydywaun School would take over from Rhiannon Lloyd. From September 2010, Alun Davies was headmaster prior to Mathew Evans joining the school in September 2020 as headteacher from Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur. Pupil numbers at the school increased into four figures during the mid-1980s, necessitating the annexing of the buildings of the old Waterhall School in Fairwater to form the Ysgol Isaf (Lower School), which housed the first and second forms (later years 7 and 8) of the school from 1986. This split-site arrangement continued until the opening of Cardiff's second Welsh-medium comprehensive school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, in 1998, from which point the Llandaff North site again housed the entirety of Glantaf's pupils. Welsh-medium education Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf is a Welsh-medium school, which means that all lessons except English language and literature should take place in the Welsh language. Ysgol Glantaf presents sixth form students for the Welsh Baccalaureate examination. Results In 2008, 76% of pupils at GCSE (or equivalent) (ages 15 to 16) year achieved five or more A* - C grades at GCSE, and 76% of pupils at A/AS level (or equivalent) (ages 17 to 18) achieved two or more A - C grades. Awards In 2019, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf was named Welsh Secondary School of the year by the Sunday Times. Notable alumni Arts and media Huw Bunford, musician, member of Super Furry Animals Siân Grigg, BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated Hollywood make up artist Ioan Gruffudd, actor Ffion Hague, broadcaster and author, wife of Lord William Hague Mali Harries, actress Gethin Jones, television presenter and former Blue Peter presenter Paul Carey Jones, opera singer Llwyd Owen, Welsh-language author Owen Powell, musician, former member of Catatonia Guto Pryce, musician, member of the Super Furry Animals Iwan Rheon, actor Matthew Rhys, actor Huw Stephens, radio presenter and DJ Jeremy Huw Williams, opera singer Rhodri Williams, sports journalist and television presenter Dyfed Wyn-Evans, opera singer Siôn Daniel Young, actor Sport Theo Cabango, rugby union, Cardiff Rugby Seb Davies, rugby union, Cardiff Rugby & Wales Tom Isaacs, rugby union, Ospreys & Cardiff Blues, Wales Sevens Darius Jokarzadeh, Olympic weightlifter, represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Manon Johnes, women's rugby union, Bristol Bears & Wales Meg Jones, women's rugby union, Ealing Trailfinders & England Max Llewellyn, rugby union, Gloucester & Wales Ioan Lloyd, rugby union, Scarlets & Wales Rhys Patchell, rugby union, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets & Wales Jamie Roberts, rugby union, Cardiff Blues & Wales Jamie Robinson, rugby union, Cardiff Blues & Wales Nicky Robinson, rugby union, Cardiff Blues & Wales Lee Thomas, rugby union, Cardiff Blues Teddy Williams (rugby union), rugby union, Cardiff Rugby & Wales Politics Rhys ab Owen, Plaid Cymru and later Independent Member of the Senedd 2021-2026 Eluned Morgan, Labour Party Member of the Senedd 2015-2026, Welsh First Minister 2024-2026 Mair Rowlands, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd 2026- See also Emyr Currie-Jones, Chairman of the Education Committee of Cardiff City Council, promoted the foundation of the school References External links Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf web site (in Welsh) 2005 inspection report (.pdf)