Ysgol Tryfan

Ysgol Tryfan is a bilingual comprehensive school for pupils aged 11–18, situated in Bangor, Gwynedd. In 2024, 534 pupils were enrolled at the school, including 76 in the sixth form.^[1]

Ysgol Tryfan
Location
Lôn Powys Bangor , Gwynedd , LL57 2TU Wales
Coordinates	53°13′13″N 4°08′42″W
Information
Former name	Bangor Grammar School for Girls
Type	Comprehensive
Motto	Cefnogi, ysbrydoli - yn deulu (Supporting, inspiring – a family)
Established	1978; 47 years ago (1978)
Local authority	Gwynedd
Headteacher	Dr Geraint Owen Jones
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	534 (2024)
Language	Welsh Bilingual (Type A)
Budget	£6187 per pupil (2024)
Standards Group (1-5)	1
Website	www.ysgoltryfan.org

The majority of pupils live in Bangor, with a large proportion coming from the surrounding towns and villages, including Llanfairfechan, Bethesda, Y Felinheli and Menai Bridge. The school shares the same catchment area of primary schools as Ysgol Friars. On average, around 34% of pupils from primary schools situated in Bangor transfer to Ysgol Tryfan.^[2]

Welsh is the school's administrative and official language. According to the latest Estyn inspection report carried out in 2019, 64% of pupils come from Welsh-speaking homes.^[3] As of 2015, 72% of pupils aged 11–15 were fluent in Welsh.^[4] According to the Welsh Government, Ysgol Tryfan was ranked 47th out of 207 in 2019.^[5]

History

The school was established on the site of the former County School for Girls in 1978 as a Welsh-medium comprehensive school in Bangor. The school is located on the earlier site of the Grammar School for Girls in the Maes Tryfan area, not far from Penrhosgarnedd, and about a mile from the city centre.

In 1971, three secondary schools merged: Ysgol Friars, the County School for girls (another grammar school), and Ysgol Deiniol (a secondary modern school). At first the school used all three sites: the former girls' school site was used for the Welsh-language stream for junior years, and the old Friars building for the English-language stream for senior years. The senior years came together in new buildings constructed for £300,000 on the new site. 1978 saw a further reorganisation:. the Welsh-medium stream was separated out to form a new school for 11-18-year-olds, Ysgol Tryfan, on the present Lôn Powys site.

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Ysgol Tryfan

• Gwenllian Lansdown - Former Chief Executive of Plaid Cymru and current Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin.^[6]
• Robin McBryde - rugby international and Wales forwards coach.^[7]
• Owain Tudur Jones - footballer.
• Lisa Jên - actress and singer with the Welsh language folk band 9Bach.