Hanes Addysg Uwchradd yr Ardal
Y caledi a wynebodd y glöwyr yng nghwm Gwendraeth roddodd yr hwb i ddatblygiad addysg yn yr ardal. Cyn agor Ysgol Ramadeg y Gwendraeth yn 1925, roedd yn rhaid i blant deithio i ysgolion gramadeg yng Nghaerfyrddin, Llanelli a Llandeilo.
Sefydlwyd yr ysgol mewn safle dros dro yn festri Capel Hebron – Drefach hyd nes agorwyd adeiladau yr ysgol newydd yn 1927, gan wasanaethu yr ardal am dros hanner canrif wedi hynny.
Fodd bynnag, gyda thwf ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg mewn ardaloedd eraill o Gymru, cynyddodd y feirniadaeth yn lleol nad oedd cyfrwng addysg yr ysgol ramadeg yn adlewyrchu tirlun ieithyddol Cwm Gwendraeth ble roedd y mwyafrif o drigolion yn siaradwyr Cymraeg.
Yn 1983 ail-strwythurwyd cyfundrefn addysg uwchradd yn yr ardal wrth ddileu cyfundrefn arholi yr 11+. Crewyd felly ddwy ysgol gyfun i ddisodli Ysgol Ramadeg Y Gwendraeth: Ysgol Gyfun Maes Yr Yrfa yn cynnig addysg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ar safle ym mhentref Cefneithin; ac Ysgol Gyfun y Gwendraeth ar safle’r Ysgol Ramadeg yn Drefach, lle cyflwynwyd yr addysg y bennaf trwy gyfrwng y Saesneg.
Yna yn 2013, fe benderfynwyd cau Ysgol Gyfun y Gwendraeth, gan uno’r ddwy ysgol ar un safle (fel ysgol categori 2A, lle’r addysgir 80% o’r pynciau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg) a sefydlu felly Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth. Golygodd hyn gau y safle yn Drefach ac ehangu’r safle yng Nghefneithin.
The History of Secondary Education in the Area:
The adversity endured by miners in the Gwendraeth valley provided the impetus that encouraged education in the area. Prior to the opening of Gwendraeth Grammar School in 1925, children had to travel to grammar schools in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Llandeilo.
The school began its existence in temporary accommodation in Hebron Chapel Vestry until the new school buildings were opened in 1927. There remained a lack of Welsh education, and criticism was levied against the inadequate provision for Welsh within the grammar school system, and as such it failed to reflect the linguistic landscape of the locality which was predominantly Welsh-speaking at the time.
In 1983, the structure of secondary education in the area was reconfigured when the 11+ exam system was replaced. Two separate schools were created to replace Gwendraeth Grammar School: Ysgol Gyfun Maes Yr Yrfa offering Welsh-medium education on a site in the village of Cefneithin; and Gwendraeth Comprehensive School (Ysgol Gyfun y Gwendraeth) on the existing site of the old grammar school in Drefach, where the education was to be delivered mainly through the medium of English.
Then in 2013, the decision was made to close Gwendraeth Comprehensive, merging both schools on a single site thus establishing Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth (a category 2A school, whereby 80% of subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh) This resulted in the eventual closure of the Drefach site, and further expansion of the site in Cefneithin.