| St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Welsh: Dysgu â'n gilydd yng Nghrist ("Learning together in Christ") |
| Established | 1954 |
| Type | Mixed comprehensive secondary |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Headmaster | Derek Doran, NPHQ BA(Hons) |
| Chaplain | Fr. Shaji Punnattu Thomas S.D.V. |
| Students | 950 (approx. as of 2008) |
| Grades | Year 7 - Year 13 (Years 12 & 13 are Sixth Form) |
| Location | Flint, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Oversight | Diocese of Wrexham |
| Newspaper | 'Gwyn News' |
| Website | www.strichardgwyn.com |
St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School is a successful oversubscribed 11-18 mixed Catholic comprehensive school serving the population of Flintshire in North Wales. It was founded in 1954 to serve the Catholic population of Flintshire.[1] It is a nationally recognised forward looking 11 – 18 school with excellent records of achievement at all levels.
It is one of three Catholic secondary schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham, the others being St Joseph's RC High School, Wrexham and Blessed Edward Jones RC High School, Rhyl.
It is a mixed school, currently serving close to 1000 pupils (including a mixed sixth form of over 120). It draws its pupils and students from the Roman Catholic parishes of Flint, Holywell, Queensferry, Mold, Saltney, Buckley, Connah's Quay, Hawarden and Pantasaph.
The most recent 2008 Estyn and Diocesan Inspections quotes:
"This is an Outstanding Catholic School", "Outstanding pupil motivation and behaviour", "Outstanding pastoral care, respect for diversity and working relationships", "Outstanding leadership and management", "Outstanding GCSE results", "Outstanding working relationship with parents" "We haven't seen such an entire school behaving so well before" (Inspector comment)[2]
Its patron Saint, St. Richard Gwyn, was canonized in 1970; prior to this, the school was called "Blessed Richard Gwyn Roman Catholic High School". The school observes his feast day on 17 October with a whole school Mass; every year, this is preceded by a week of religious observance and themed lessons as part of a "whole school retreat" that is called a faith 'focus week'.
The school is currently without a head teacher as Mr. Derek Doran recently retired (2005-2011). He was preceded by Mr. Tom Quinn (2002–2005). Other headmasters include Mr. Mark Philpot (currently President of the World Union of Catholic Teachers), Mr. Patrick Dominic Bryon OBE (For services to Education in Wales) (Currently Lead Assessor, National Professional Qualification for Headship)
Some of the extra-curricular activities available to pupils are the Activities week, the Focus week, Theatrical and Musical Performances, Art Exhibitions, Science Shows, Eisteddfod and Faith Retreats.
In 1995 the school added a new block which houses the Religious Education and Music departments. The school has a theatre with tiered seating and a lighting rig to serve it. During 1996 its North Block was converted into science laboratories. During 2001 the school added a new restaurant, doubling its former capacity.
In each year from years 7 to 11 there are usually 6 form groups consisting of letters H, Q, M, S, F, B (C and P have also been used in the past if there is a big year group)
From when the school officially opened in 1954 there has been a head boy and girl system. Since 2008 there has been a supposedly successful House System - Dewi, Gwen and Beuno. Named after St. David, St. Winefride and St. Beuno.