School Name
When the school re-located to the Garth Olwg campus in 2006, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council stated that a name change, to Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg, was logical. However, this change was met with opposition from pupils, parents, former pupils, and staff at the school, who wished to retain the old name, Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, in order to retain the identity of the school and the historical associations that its name held.
Some pupils expressed strong opinions on the matter, with letters published in local newspapers, including plans to boycott the school uniform if it contained the new name of the school, demonstrating the strength of opinion amongst the pupils.
The petitions committee of the Welsh Assembly heard a petition, presented by the acting head teacher Dr. Philip Ellis, in October and November 2007.
On the 16 March 2009, a letter was released, from the chairman of the Governing body, informing the school's parents and pupils of the recent decision by the Governing Body in relation to the name of the School. In a meeting of the Governing Body with representatives of the Local Authority in the Autumn Term of 2008 (with no pupil representation), it was pressed upon the Governors that the legal name of the school was Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg and that it was required to recognise this. Realising that it had no real choice in the matter, the Governing Body voted to recognise Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg as the Official and Legal name of the school.
Although the name of the school continued to be Garth Olwg officially, events at the start of 2009 meant that the school’s name be re-considered, again. Certain Rhondda Cynon Taf councillors supported the continuation of Rhydfelen, including Jane Davidson (AM) and Dr Kim Howells (MP). Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council considered the issue in a meeting held on the 22 April 2009.
But in 2011 following the Band 5 result and demonstrations by pupils within the school, one of the school's governors - Martyn Geraint - asked if it would be possible for the name to be looked at again. Mr Geraint asked for the LEA's help in the hope that results would improve if everyone could work together - but his request resulted in his suspension as a governor in 2012.
Read more about this topic: Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg
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