WEST MONMOUTH SCHOOL

'West Monmouth School' (Welsh: ''Ysgol Gorllewin Mynwy''; colloquially: 'West Mon') is a state-funded and non-selective secondary school in Pontypool, Torfaen in Wales. Pupils who attend the school, however, generally live in the Pontypool area. The school offers education for 11 to 16 year olds and around 980 pupils are currently enrolled there.

Contents

History & Origins

Expansion & changes

Ethos

Facilities

Notable staff

Famous alumni

Etymology

References

History & Origins

The school owes its existence to the charity of a Mr. William Jones who died in 1615. He bequeathed money to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers for the foundation of a grammar school in Monmouth. An accumulation of funds by the end of the nineteenth century encouraged Monmouth School to build a sister school to serve western Monmouthshire. After much discussion and debate the town of Pontypool was chosen after land of six acres was donated by Mr. John Hanbury. In 1896 the foundation stone of what was then known as 'Jones' West Monmouth School' was laid by Mrs. Hanbury. The school cost a total of £30,000 and was opened in 1898 under the headship of Mr. Priestly, former Headmaster of Usk Grammar School. After the Second World War the school served Monmouthshire's Local Education Authority as the county's premier grammar school.

Expansion & changes

The school's original building with its tall spires and grand entrance became too small for the school numbers. By 1934 a new 'Science Block' building had been added at a cost of £20,000 and contained extra classrooms and modern laboratories. In 1982 the advent of comprehensive schools saw West Mon lose its exclusivity and enter mainstream education. A new block (known simply as 'New Block') was constructed and now houses the mathematics, technology and some humanities classrooms. A new music and performing arts centre was built on the site of the old swimming pool in 2001 which gave West Mon some of the best facilities in Torfaen for those subject areas. The school is currently under discussion with planning authorities regarding the construction of a new cafeteria.

Ethos

The school has maintained the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers's motto ''Serve & Obey'' but has also adopted an unofficial motto of ''Today's Challenges for Tomorrow's Opportunities''. The school is committed to providing quality education for all. The school is currently undergoing building work with the cnstruction of a new, much larger canteen and redevelopment of other outdorr facilities, e.g.: running track.

Facilities

West Mon is the only school in Torfaen to have an 'Astroturf' football pitch which comes complete with floodlights. There is also a top-of-the-range performing arts centre and two large gymnasia. There are five IT suites and a comprehensive technology centre. The school also boasts a running track, tennis courts and the large Albion rugby fields nearby. The school is currently being extended once again that will see the old dining hall converted into classrooms and a new cafeteria built on the west side of the site. This is due to the amalgamation of Trevethin Community School which is due for closure.

Notable staff

Headmaster: Mr. Peter Phillips, M.Sc., M.Ed., C.Maths., F.R.S.A., F.R.G.S.
Deputy Head: Mr. William Price, B.A., M.Ed.

Famous alumni

★ Sir Anthony Hopkins - actor

★ The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy - MP for Torfaen

★ Ken Jones - former rugby union player for Wales

★ Iestyn Thomas - current rugby union player for Wales

★ Graham Price - former rugby union player

★ Terry Cobner - former rugby union player

Etymology

The school has been known by a variety of names over the last 100 years. Originally conceived as 'Jones' West Monmouth School' it has also been known as 'Haberdasher's West Monmouth School', 'West Monmouth Boys' School' and in later years 'West Monmouth Grammar School'. Today the school is often referred to (incorrectly) as 'West Monmouth Comprehensive School'. Internally the school use the shorthand names ''West Mon'' or ''WMS''. There is at least one plaque in the school that refers to it as 'Jones' West Monmouthshire School'. The official name, however, is 'West Monmouth School'.

References

''Serve & Obey: The Official History of West Monmouth School 1898 - 1998'' by Arthur Crane (Pontypool: 1998). ISBN: 0953466809.
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