Ysgol Dyffryn Taf School

Dyffryn Taf is the name of a Comprehensive School with both English and Welsh classes in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom.

Ysgol Dyffryn Taf
Address
North Road, Whitland

Carmarthenshire
,
SA34 0BD
Information
Other nameDyffryn Taf Comprehensive School
Former nameWhitland Grammar School
School typeState Comprehensive
MottoI fyny fo’r nod
Established1896
Head teacherMr Alun Owen (temporary)
Staff88
Enrollment922
LanguageEnglish, Welsh

History

Dyffryn Taf was founded in 1896 as a small grammar school, Whitland Grammar School. It changed to a comprehensive school in 1989[1] and has expanded since then into a large school of approximately 900 pupils today.[2] Nearly 20% of pupils are fluent in Welsh and bilingual education is provided to one form per year group.[2]

As of 2007, the latest additions to the school buildings have been a new maths block and an extended gym.[1] A £1.5 million sports hall was added and is used by the school and in the evenings by other groups. 2010 saw a new re-furbished canteen and a new "sweat shop" style gym, full of new equipment. The gym at Dyffryn Taf was used as an example of good practice within a report by the APPG on a fit and healthy childhood.[3] The PE Department won the Pearson Teaching Awards 'Outstanding Team of the Year' in 2011.[4] The school has a number of Welsh International rugby players among its alumni.

Motto

The school has a motto: "I fyny fo’r nod", which is Welsh for "Aim for the highest".[5] The school has a more recent mission statement: ‘We can, we care’ (‘Gallwn, Gofalwn’).[2]

Uniform

Year 7 to Year 11 wear a light blue shirt or blouse, a navy striped school tie, dark/charcoal grey trousers and a navy v-neck jumper with the school logo. Sixth form wear a white shirt or blouse, black skirt or trousers, sixth form tie and a black v-neck jumper. All pupils wear black shoes and navy/black socks. In the summer term, Years 7-11 have the option to wear a navy polo shirt with the school logo in place of the usual shirt/blouse and tie.[6]

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

All pupils study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, and Welsh, and the following foundation subjects: Art, Design Technology, Drama, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Personal and Social Education. Pupils in the Welsh-medium classes study Welsh First Language, Geography, History, Religious Studies and PSE through the medium of Welsh.

Key Stage 4

All pupils study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, Welsh and Welsh Baccalaureate. Pupils can choose three from the foundation subjects studied at KS3, including some vocational subjects such as BTEC in Health and Social Care, Hospitality and Sport. Some classes are offered through the medium of Welsh at GCSE.

Key Stage 5

All pupils study the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification. Subject choices for A-Level include: Art, Biology, BTEC Applied Science, BTEC Health and Social Care, BTEC Hospitality, BTEC Sport, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, English Literature, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Studies and Welsh Second Language.

Extracurricular activities

The school has had a very successful Team Dragon Young Engineers Club which has won prizes throughout the years.[7][8][9] There have been clubs such as Eco Committee and Debating, with teams regularly competing in local Rotary Club Youth Speaks competitions.[10] Maths teams have reached the National Finals of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge at Junior and Senior levels.[11][12] Mandarin lessons have been made available via the Confucius Institute.

The school competes in a number of different sports including rugby, football, netball and hockey. There is an established House System where pupils also play sports within their houses in competitions throughout the year. The 5X60 club runs various activities from street dance to dodgeball.

The school orchestra and choir rehearse weekly and peripatetic music lessons are offered to pupils. The school puts on an annual musical production at the beginning of December which is a big success in the local community. Previous shows have included The Sound of Music, Les Misérables, and Grease.

The Charity Committee run by Sixth Form pupils raises money for a variety of charitable causes.

A successful peer mentoring scheme sees Year 10 pupils support incoming Year 7 classes.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a large part of school life, with pupils taking part in all levels of the award.

Alumni

James Davies (Welsh International rugby player)

Jonathan Davies (Welsh International rugby player)

Lorys Davies (Archdeacon of Bolton)

Josh Helps (rugby union player)

Gemma Lavender (astronomer, author and journalist)

Jodie Marie (singer songwriter)

Dan Newton (rugby union player)

Michael Phillips (Welsh International rugby player)

Heather Phillipson (artist)

References
  1. "Dyffryn Taf - About Us". www.dyffryntaf.org. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. "Estyn report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. "APPG report" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. Live, North Wales (31 October 2011). "The PE department at Whitland's Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, which sent three stars to the World Cup, is Outstanding Team of 2011". North Wales Live. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  5. "Ysgol Dyffryn Taf School motto". Dyffryn Taf School. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  6. "Dyffryn Taf - School Uniform". www.dyffryntaf.org. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  7. "Building on science success at Dyffryn Taf". Western Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. "Dyffryn Taf School wins top engineering award". Tenby Observer. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. "Young Whitland engineers make a noise in the city". Narberth and Whitland Observer. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  10. "Words, music and song take centre stage in Rotary finals". Milford Mercury. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  11. "Maths masters". Tenby Observer. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. "It's the final countdown for Maths Challenge winners". Tenby Observer. Retrieved 16 February 2021.

51.82202°N 4.61651°W / 51.82202; -4.61651

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