School History

The 1847 report on Welsh education noted a school in a dwelling house in Whitland, described as “a small mud walled miserable hut” which was kept by an infirm old man, where a small number of pupils were taught. Doubtless this master was Job Rees listed in the 1841 Census. 
The state system was inaugrated in 1870 and Whitland Primary School was opened in 1875 as Llanboidy and Llangan Board School. The same building, with extensions, is still in use. 
In 1896, following the Welsh Intermediate Education Act (1889), the town gained a mixed secondary school for 100 pupils. Subsequent expansion and re-building, and the change to grammar and now comprehensive, reflect the history of secondary education in this period. 
Whitland was the last grammar school in Wales. 
Dyffryn Taf Comprehensive was established in 1989 as a result of the reorganisation of secondary education in the Narberth/Whitland/St Clears area and the closure of Whitland Grammar School and Ysgol Gruffydd Jones. 
Dyffryn Taf is located on the site of the old Whitland Grammar School. The oldest part of the school is the 1896 block. The original school has been added to over the years with extensions built in 1908, 1960s, 1970s, 1989/90 (English/Welsh/Library), 1991/92 (Technology), 1993/94 (PE area) and more recently 2000 (The new Maths Block). 
The school is set in some fourteen acres of playing fields (recently drained) which provide an impressive play area for our pupils and allows for a wide range of sporting activities.

(Taken from the Whitland & Dyffryn Taf websites.)

From Efailwen to Whitland 1976 - Vol 11

The school was in temporary premises in 1894 and moved to its present site in 1897.

The first premises may have been Aeron House - adjasant to Tabernacle Chapel.

Many children who attended had to board in Whitland.

Bursaries were available for poorer children -but they were not to exceed 20% of the total number of children.

The first name on the register of 23rd October 1894 was John Morgan Harris Rees, who left in 1899. In 1908 he was a Methodist Missionary in Assan, India.

The number of admissions from 23/10/1894 to 26/5/1910 (151/2yrs) were 536.

In 1900 there was room for 60 boys and 40 girls.

The building consisted of an assemby room/hall, one boy's classroom, one girl's classroom, chemistry room and a kitchen or laundry.

Pupil Numbers

1899 - 35

1956 - 300

1969 - over 500

Head Teachers

Evan Jones - 1894

David Stanley Richards

Trevor Thomas

E.C.Davies

George Bancroft

D.R.Newsome

Records Available at Carmarthen Record Office

http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/cccapps/english/school_records_index/school_records_index.asp
Whitland Grammar
Governor's Minutes - 1909-1930
Registers - 1894-1969

Western Telegraph 16th May 1990

Very few schools have made the transition from intermediate school to a grammar school before finally securing comprehensive status last year (1989).

The school, which depended financially on a maintenance grant and pupil’s fees, was first opened in 1897 after £2000 was raised from public subscriptions. Five pounds was donated by the fun fair which each year visited the town and gave part of its profits to local charities.

St Clears was considered as a possibility for the site of the new school but Whitland was favoured because of its rail junction, which provided better facilities for children from the Taf Valley. It was also central to both Pendine and Cwmbach, which were not served by a railway.

Forty girls were among the 100 pupils admitted, which was very uncommon, because at that time it was not considered necessary to educate girls.

The first entry in the Admissions Register was John Morgan Harries Rees, the son of a Whitland stationer, who in 1908 became a Methodist missionary in India.

Between 1900 and 1910 the average intake of pupils was 30.

The first headmaster was Evan Jones who had previously run the school at its first site at Aeron House near Tabernacle Chapel.

Local history has it that before his appointment as headmaster of the new school he was having trouble with unruly children at Aeron House and in order to secure the post of headmaster he was advised to ‘use a bit more of the cane’.

For the first few years he was assisted by a science master, S.Stephens; a headmistress Miss R.Evans; an arts master W.Jones and a music mistress Miss Cooke.

In 1921 he was succeeded by Davis Stanley Richards, who had previously been a science master at the school. The teachers, who felt the job should have gone to a senior master, walked out in protest at his appointment. However they were eventually persuaded to come back to work after talks with a senior master.

The first extension came in 1912 when the domestic science room was built. Further buildings were put up in 1932, and in 1959 the school hall was built, following criticism, of the lack of this facility, in a school inspector’s report the previous year.

At one time there were several temporary buildings to cope with n influx of children after the girls’ church school in Carmarthen was closed.

The Whitland school started off with four teachers, but at its peak when there were nearly 600 pupils the teaching staff numbered 33.

On the same site as the school there was a senior centre run by Clodwyn Phillips, who now lives in John Street Whitland.

The senior centre, which was linked to the Primary school, catered fro pupils who didn’t come up to grammar school standard. Before it was opened those children would have remained at primary school until they were 15.

The centre closed in 1966 when Ysgol Gryffydd Jones of St Clears was opened.

In 1949 T. Trevor Thomas succeeded D.S.Richards as headmaster. He remained at the school until 1969 when the headship went to E.C.Davies.

The last headmaster of the grammar school was George Bancroft, who was appointed in 1971.When the school turned comprehensive last year ((1989), Dr Keith Davies, a former pupil, was appointed headmaster.

In the last few months several new buildings have been put up to cater for the extra pupils who now attend the school.

Many of the children are currently taught at Ysgol Gyffydd Jones in St Clears, but they will all move to the Whitland campus once building work has been completed.

The former secondary school will then become one of the largest primary schools in the area.

The article (Then and Now No 487) was written by Debbie Bland with thanks extended to George Bancroft for his help in compiling the article and to Mary John of John Street Whitland for the laon of the old photograph.

The following is from a book written by Eric Williams of The Grove, St Clears -

Reflections of a Country Vet

Eric went to Whitland Grammar in 1934 - he wore a grey shirt with navy blazer and badge, short grey trousers, knee grey stockings with a red and blue tie and navy cap and badge - and they would 'touch their cap'.

Girls wore navy tunics (gymslips) over white long sleeved blouses with black stockings.

Ties were not compulsary during the summer term.

The day was from 9am-3.45pm and they sat two to a desk - the boys on one side of the room and girls on the other.

The teachers wore academic gowns.

The headmaster was D.S.Richards (physics) - known as 'Oiseau' (French for bird).

James Mathias taught History - he was the father of the famous composer William Mathias.

E.C.Davies taught Geography, known as 'Dai Bach' - he also took the boys for P.E.

Tom Rees was 'Tombey' who took French.

James Llewelyn taught Welsh and was called 'Llew' or 'Garibaldi'.

A Miss G.M.Evans took Geometry, Algebra and Biology and was called 'Ginger'.

Frank Goddard - 'Jouey', took Chemistry.

Miss Jones  'Tubby' - took music and Cookery.

Austin Thomas did Woodwork - 'Austin Bai'.

Miss E.A.Roberts - 'Miss Bobs', took English.

At the end of each term there were 'terminal' exams.

There was a shop across the road which sold sweets - Miss Caros.