Ysgol Bryn Alyn

Ysgol Bryn Alyn is one of the secondary schools in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales. Its catchment area includes its local primary schools within Gwersyllt, but also other villages such as near by Summerhill and those further afield such as: Tanyfron, Bradley, Brymbo, Brynteg and Southsea.

The last headteacher was Mr. Roger J. Davies who occupied the position between 2000 and 2006. Mr Robert Ratcliffe took up the position in July 2007. There is one deputy headteacher (currently Brian Whitely) and two assistant headteachers (Claire Corfield and Malcolm Allcroft) as part of senior management.

Lisa Jarvis (Year 7), Ivor Randall (Year 8), Gwynneth Sorsky (Year 9), Steven Mackreth (Year 10) and Gareth Williams (Year 11) are currently respective heads of year and Robert Ransome is head of Key Stage 3 development.

History

The school started life in 1958, as a 16-classroom Secondary Modern School. It was extended in the summer of 1972 to accommodate over thirty classrooms, and converted to a Comprehensive school. At present, there are around 40 teaching classrooms and the school employs around 50-60 full and part time teaching staff.

Other schools in the area include the two superschools Rhosnesni High and Ysgol Clywedog, which were the result of a merger between three schools, and two larger schools built between them. The former St. David's School in Rhosnesni has become Rhosnesni High, and Ysgol Bryn Offa has become Ysgol Clywedog. The third school, The Groves, has been discontinued and the school buildings are presently being used to house St. Joseph's RC school. Other competing schools in the area include Darland High School and Ysgol Grango.

Structural and cosmetic enhancements are expected to take place at the school in early 2009.

Curriculum

At Key Stage 3, students at Ysgol Bryn Alyn are taught all the mandatory subjects required by the Welsh National Curriculum. At the end of Key Stage 3 candidates will sit their SATs exams at levels 5 to 7 in English, Mathematics and Science.

At Key Stage 4 (GCSE), students select the subject to which they wish to subscribe, alongside mandatory English, English Literature Mathematics, Double Science, Welsh Short Course and RS Short Course. Non-exam subjects are Physical Education and
PSE. Students are also allowed to select up to four of the following GCSE subjects:
*History
*Geography
*RS Full Course
*Art
*Information Technology
*Business Studies
*Child Development
*Design Technology
*Drama
*Food and Nutrition
*Music
*Physical Education

BTEC courses (since 2006):
*Sport
*Leisure and Tourism

There are also other subjects which can be mixed with GCSE subjects, but a GCSE is not obtained at the end of these courses:
*Working with the Community
*Landscape Gardening
*Life Skills
*Communication
*Business and Communication Systems
*Working in the Community

Inspections

The school underwent a full Estyn inspection in early May [http://www.estyn.gov.uk/schedule_inspections/sched_secondary.asp] , and results are expected in late July.

The school was previously a large underachiever, but since the introduction of new schemes of work and new staff, that perception has been largely reversed, and is proved by massive support raised for charities and funds such as [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/pudsey/pages/views2.shtml the the money that was raised for BBC Children in Need] .

Organisation and School Day

Each student is supplied with a "Personal Organiser"'. These are hardback books with useful information and plenty of diary space to record homework deadlines, write comments and record "merits". These are given to each pupil for free at the start of each year, but replacements cost 2.00 GBP.

The school day in its current form was launched in September 2002. It previously consisted of five one-hour lessons, and ending the day at 3:30pm. At present, there are six 50-minute lessons and school ends at 3:20pm.

*8:47: Warning Bell
*8:50: Registration
*9:00: Period 1
*9:50: Period 2
*10:40: Break
*10:55: Period 3
*11:45: Period 4
*12:35: Lunch
*1:17: Warning Bell
*1:20: Registration/Assembly
*1:40: Period 5
*2:30: Period 6
*3:20: Close

The lunch period has been reduced in an attempt to prevent anti-social behavior in the local community.

However, as of September 2005, only older pupils in years 10 and 11 are allowed to leave the school site at lunchtime, when provided with parent's permission which is shown in the form of a pass for the rest of the school year. There are regular checks made on the streets made by senior management

Awards

Awards given to the school include:
*The Basic Skills Quality Mark,
*Investor In People,
*CEG Quality Award,
*Healthy Schools Award,
*Barclays New Futures and
*Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People.

Alumna

*Robbie Savage - Welsh international football player.

ee also

*Rhosnesni High School
*Wrexham town
*Wrexham County Borough

External links

* [http://www.ysgolbrynalyn.co.uk Ysgol Bryn Alyn Homepage]
* [http://www.axcis.co.uk/48631.html Contact details and vacancies]
* [http://www.estyn.gov.uk/schedule_inspections/sched_secondary.asp Estyn Inspection]
* [http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/Schools_Listing.htm List of schools in Wrexham]
* [http://addysg.cymru.gov.uk/2000/wrexham/ysgol_bryn_alyn_info.htm School details and pupil numbers]