St. Illtyd’s making plans to celebrate centenary

This year promises to be a special one for all associated with St. Illtyd’s Catholic High School in Rumney, Wales, as they celebrate the centenary of the founding of the school by the De La Salle Brothers in Cardiff in 1923.

A number of events to mark this significant milestone are being planned and to set the scene, Head Teacher David Thomas, has outlined the importance of the 100th anniversary in his address to the school community.

“2023 marks the centenary year of St Illtyd`s Catholic High School. There is a lot to celebrate.

The current school was created with the merger of St Illtyd`s college for boys and Heathfield House grammar school for girls.

St Illtyd’s College was founded in 1923, when the De La Salle Brothers came to Cardiff to open a Roman Catholic school for boys. The school was opened as a grammar school on a site in Courtenay Road in the Splott area of the city.

In 1941, during the second world war, the main school building was badly damaged by a bomb. Severe overcrowding due to the damage sustained and growing pupil numbers led to the school moving to its current location on Newport Road in Rumney.

Heathfield House was a Roman Catholic grammar school for girls, founded by the Sisters of Providence of the Institute of Charity in 1867. It was initially called St Joseph’s Grammar School, though it moved to Heathfield House on Richmond Road in 1877 which led to the school changing its name. In the 1970s the school moved again to a site on Ty Gwyn Road in Penylan.

In 1987, the two schools were merged as part of the reorganisation of Catholic education. The school was renamed St Illtyd’s Catholic High School and was now a co-educational school for pupils aged 11-16. Sixth form provision was transferred to the new St David’s Catholic College situated in the vacated Heathfield campus on Ty Gwyn Road.

Our current pupils have a lot to live up to but, also a lot to be inspired by, from those who have gone before. Old Illtydians can be found all over Wales and the world. What unites the past and present is a shared set of values and an emphasis on the highest of standards in all that we do.

It has been a privilege to receive correspondence from, “Old Illts” and to meet many with their recollections of their time at the school. With such a rich history there is much to celebrate this year and we are planning events which will provide opportunities for people to meet once again. Our website will be updated, and publicity will follow once activities, dates and venues are confirmed.

The school continues to grow in numbers and the work on enhancing its facilities is ongoing. St Illtyd`s is constantly evolving - nothing stands still, and nothing stays the same. This is due to the pupils who come through the gates. All are different but together they are the school.

In that respect, nothing has changed over the last 100 years. It has always been, and will always be, about the pupils.

May I wish you a happy and Holy Easter.”

D B Thomas