:Aberdare Girls' School
{{Short description|Secondary school in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Aberdare Girls' School
| image = Girls' Intermediate School, Aberdare.jpg
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| motto = Oni heuir, ni fedir
(You cannot reap unless you sow)
| established = 1913
| closed = July 2014
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| address = Heol Cwmbach
| city = Aberdare
| county =
| country = Wales
| postcode = CF44 0NF
| coordinates = {{coord|51.715|-3.440|display=inline,title|region:GB_scale:5000}}
| local_authority = Rhondda Cynon Taf
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| website = {{URL|http://www.aberdaregirls.co.uk}}
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Aberdare Girls' School was a state secondary school for girls aged 11–18 in the town of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It closed in July 2014.{{cite news|title=As Aberdare Girls' School prepares to close its doors after 100 years, 'old girls' return for trip down memory lane|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/aberdare-girls-comprehensive-school-merge-7425807|publisher=WalesOnline|date=15 July 2014|access-date=20 February 2024|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804142736/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/aberdare-girls-comprehensive-school-merge-7425807|url-status=live}}
History
Structure
There were approximately 700 pupils on the school roll, of whom around 100 were in the sixth form, at the school's closure in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/welcome-estyn|title=Welcome to Estyn | Estyn|date=31 January 2024|website=www.estyn.gov.wales}} The school occupied two sites, with pupils in years 7 and 8 in the Lower School in Y Gadlys, and those in years 9 to 13 in the Upper School in Plasdraw.
Most pupils came from the town of Aberdare, with some travelling from Glynneath, Treorchy and Mountain Ash.
Bangle controversy
In 2007, the school attracted media coverage across Britain after it excluded a student, Sarita Watkins-Singh, for wearing a kara, a bangle that symbolised her Sikh faith.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/nov/07/schools.faithschools|title=Sikh schoolgirl excluded for wearing bangle|work=The Guardian|date=7 November 2007|access-date=20 February 2024|archive-date=31 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231210724/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/nov/07/schools.faithschools|url-status=live}} The student and her family took legal action. In January 2008, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council informed school governors that it would not provide the school with any further financial assistance, and said that this was in response to the school pursuing the case. The human rights organisation 'Liberty' claimed that the school was in violation of the Race Relations Act 1976, the Equality Act 2006.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7458139.stm|title='Bangle' girl case heard in court|date=17 June 2008|via=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2008|archive-date=24 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624123524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7458139.stm|url-status=live}} In July 2008, Watkins-Singh won her case when the high court determined that the school was guilty of indirect discrimination. The school said that she would be welcome back at the school if she so desired.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jul/30/schools.religion|title='Proud to be Welsh and a Sikh'. Schoolgirl wins court battle to wear religious bangle|first=Audrey|last=Gillan|date=29 July 2008|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=20 February 2024|archive-date=9 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909031003/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jul/30/schools.religion|url-status=live}}
Aberdare Community School
It was announced in 2012 that Aberdare High School, Aberdare Girls' School and Blaengwawr Comprehensive School would merge to form a new 'super-school', which became Aberdare Community School.{{cite news|date=16 June 2012|title=£350m Aberdare super-school plan unveiled|work=BBC.co.uk/news/UK-Wales|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18368588|access-date=27 August 2014|archive-date=6 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106002202/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18368588|url-status=live}} The construction of the new £50m campus began on the Michael Sobell Sports Centre site in 2013 with the intentions of creating a unified education, leisure and community hub. After several delays, the intended September 2014 opening date of the new 1,600 pupil building was pushed back to April 2015{{cite news|author=Sam Tegeltija|date=25 November 2013|title=Opening of new South Wales Valleys super-school building is delayed|work=WalesOnline.co.uk|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/opening-new-super-school-building-aberdare-6339400|access-date=27 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903190452/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/opening-new-super-school-building-aberdare-6339400|url-status=live}} with the formation of Aberdare Community School still set for September 2014. Blaengwawr Comprehensive, Aberdare High and Aberdare Girls' schools were closed at the end of the Summer Term 2014. It was announced that due to delays of the new campus, the four buildings previously occupied by the three schools would temporarily house various school years until a gradual move is possible once the new building is completed 2015.
Sale for development
In July 2015, the {{convert|1.16|ha|acre|abbr=off}} school site was sold at auction for £415,000, four times the guide price. The unknown purchasers were bound by a covenant to ensure that the site could only be used as a school and a playground.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/former-aberdare-girls-grammar-school-9653229/|last1=Wales Online|title=Former Aberdare Girls' Grammar School sold for £415,000 at auction - four times its guide price|website=www.walesonline.co.uk|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-date=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230020735/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/former-aberdare-girls-grammar-school-9653229|url-status=live}} By 2020 the site had been converted to housing, retaining the original school building.{{cite web |title=New homes bring new purpose to Aberdare Girls' School |url=https://www.hafod.org.uk/new-homes-bring-new-purpose-to-aberdare-girls-school/ |website=Hafod |access-date=25 March 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630133732/https://www.hafod.org.uk/new-homes-bring-new-purpose-to-aberdare-girls-school/ |url-status=live }}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071109092704/http://www.aberdaregirls.co.uk/ School website]
{{Portal|Wales}}
{{Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
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Category:1913 establishments in Wales
Category:2014 disestablishments in Wales
Category:Educational institutions established in 1913
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2014
Category:Defunct schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf