Ystradgynlais & District

Thank You to Mrs S Speedy, Headteacher for giving Val Trevallion permission to take these photographs after school hours in June 2015, so that we are able to show Maesydderwen School as it is today, after the major rebuild.

Ysgol Maesydderwen

Campws Cymunedol Dysgu a Hamdden

Learning and Leisure Community Campus

View across the carpark to the entrance to Maesydderwen School. Note, the entrance to the site from Heol Ynyscedwyn, opposite the Ironworks is not now the public access. The drive-in access is now from off Wind Road,Glanrhyd, via the leisure centre.

The main entrance to Maesydderwen School, with the statue before it. The theme of the sculpture is the school motto: Gorau arf, arf dysg, which roughly means 'Knowledge is the best weapon'. Built of red clay, the sculpture was dried for 6 weeks and then fired to get the coal-black colour and the strength to last for centuries.

The statue was constructed by Maesydderwen pupils under the guidance of Rebecca Buck of Osprey Studios, with the full co-operation and use of the school's Art department and its facilities.

As well as the dragon, symbol of Welsh pride and guardian of the land, the sculpture incorporates Celtic symbology including the acorn and the salmon.

Together with the plinth, the statue stands 2 metres tall. The text on the top of the plinth is the school mission statement in Welsh and English: Engaging all to learn, inspiring all to succeed.

The main larger tiles in the base are based on the three houses in the school: Tawe, Twrch and Giedd, named for the local rivers.

A view of the new building from the side. Among the classrooms that it houses are

View across the tennis courts ⁄ ball game courts, towards the Varteg hill in the background.

A seating area around the back of the new building, showing the covered corridor that links it to some of the other buildings.

This photograph shows how the old buildings of Maesydderwen are incorporated into the new structure.

The main hallway in the new building.

The plaque commemorates the official opening of the new block at Maesydderwen, 8 months or so after it first entered use in the new school year, 2012-2013.

Ysgol Maesydderwen Pupils were first taught in this block on Thursday 6th September 2012. It was opened by Dr. Rhys Jones B.Sc. M.Phil., and Councillor Susan McNicholas, Chairman of Powys County Council on Wednesday 8th May 2013.

All copyright remains with the original copyright holder, and all original research is copyright Val Trevallion, YEARGroup and is put online as a free community project by Wolfian Design.

You can contact the Ystradgynlais and Ystalyfera History and Heritage websites by emailing: webdesign@wolfianpress.com
or Val Trevallion by emailing yeargroup@hotmail.co.uk.