Cwestiynau Cyffredin am Ysgolion Eglwysig
Frequently Asked Questions about Church Schools
Sawl Ysgol Eglwys sydd yn Esgobaeth Bangor?
Mae 16 o ysgolion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn yr Esgobaeth.
- 2 ar Ynys Môn
- 5 yng Nghonwy
- 9 yng Ngwynedd.
Mae 15 ohonynt yn Ysgolion Gynorthwyol a Reolir ac un yn Ysgol Gynorthwyol a Gefnogir.
Beth yw’r gwahaniaeth rhwng ysgol Gynorthwyol a Reolir (VC) ac ysgol Gynorthwyol a Gefnogir (VA) yng Nghymru?
Ysgolion Gynorthwyol a Gefnogir (VA)
Mae ysgolion VA yn ysgolion â chymeriad crefyddol lle mae’r eglwys yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn rheolaeth a naws yr ysgol.
Prif nodweddion ysgolion VA yng Nghymru:
- Y corff llywodraethu sy’n cyflogi’r staff ac yn rheoli’r dderbyn.
- Mae’r corff llywodraethu yn berchen ar adeiladau’r ysgol ac yn cyfrannu 10% tuag at gostau cyfalaf (adeiladau a chynnal a chadw).
- Caiff Crefydd, Gwerthoedd ac Moeseg (CGM) ei haddysgu yn unol â chosodiad ymddiriedolaeth yr ysgol ac egwyddorion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru.
- Mae’r eglwys yn penodi mwyafrif y llywodraethwyr, gan roi dylanwad cryf ar arweinyddiaeth ac ethos yr ysgol.
- Mae costau rhedeg dydd i ddydd yn cael eu hariannu’n llawn gan y wladwriaeth.
Ysgolion Gynorthwyol a Reolir (VC)
Mae ysgolion VC hefyd â chymeriad crefyddol, ond maent yn agosach at y awdurdod lleol o ran staffio a rheolaeth.
Prif nodweddion ysgolion VC yng Nghymru:
- Mae’r awdurdod lleol yn cyflogi’r staff ac yn rheoli’r broses dderbyn.
- Mae’r eglwys fel arfer yn berchen ar adeiladau’r ysgol, ond mae’r awdurdod lleol yn talu am gostau cyfalaf a chynnal a chadw.
- Caiff CGM ei addysgu yn unol â maes llafur cytûn yr awdurdod lleol, ond gall ysgolion gynnig elfennau ychwanegol sy’n adlewyrchu safbwynt yr Eglwys yng Nghymru.
- Mae’r eglwys yn penodi rhai llywodraethwyr (llywodraethwyr sylfaenol), ond nid mwyafrif.
Pwy sy’n penodi Llywodraethwyr Sylfaenol mewn ysgolion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn Esgobaeth Bangor?Mae dau brif fath o benodiad Llywodraethwr Sylfaenol yn Esgobaeth Bangor: Penodiadau gan yr Ardal Weinidogaeth (MAC):
Penodiadau gan yr Esgobaeth:
Yn yr holl achosion, rhaid i Lywodraethwyr Sylfaenol fod yn aelodau gweithgar o gymuned Gristnogol sy’n addoli ac yn meddu ar y sgiliau a’r ymrwymiad i gefnogi ethos Cristnogol yr ysgol. |
Beth yw rôl Llywodraethwr Sylfaenol?
Mae Llywodraethwyr Sylfaenol yn cael eu penodi i gynnal a datblygu cymeriad Cristnogol ysgolion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru. Maent yn cyflawni’r un dyletswyddau â holl lywodraethwyr ysgol — megis gosod cyfeiriad strategol, dwyn y pennaeth i gyfrif, ac ystyried cyllid — ond gydag ategu cyfrifoldebau’n ymwneud ag ethos Cristnogol yr ysgol.
Prif agweddau ar y rôl:
- Cynnal sylfaen Gristnogol yr ysgol ym mhob agwedd ar lywodraethu.
- Sicrhau bod Crefydd, Gwerthoedd ac Moeseg (CGM) a gwasanaeth cymunol yn adlewyrchu gwerthoedd ac arferion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru.
- Hybu cysylltiadau rhwng yr ysgol a’r eglwys leol, gan annog cenhadaeth Gristnogol a rennir.
- Cyfrannu at benderfyniadau ynghylch staffio, safonau, cyllidebau a’r cwricwlwm, gan sicrhau y caiff cymeriad Cristnogol yr ysgol ei ystyried yn barhaus.
- Adrodd yn ôl i’r Esgobaeth am unrhyw faterion sy’n codi sy’n ymwneud â chymeriad Cristnogol yr ysgol.
- Cefnogi a herio’r ysgol mewn ffordd sy’n adlewyrchu gwerthoedd Cristnogol megis cariad, gwasanaeth a chyfiawnder.
Disgwylir i Lywodraethwyr Sylfaenol fod yn aelodau gweithgar o gymuned Gristnogol sy’n addoli ac i fodelu gwasanaeth ac arweinyddiaeth Gristnogol o fewn cyd-destun yr ysgol.
Sut mae gwneud cais am le mewn ysgol Eglwys?
Mae’r broses yn dibynnu a yw’r ysgol yn Gynorthwyol a Reolir (VC) neu’n Gynorthwyol a Gefnogir (VA):
- Ysgolion Gynorthwyol a Reolir (VC)
Gwneir ceisiadau drwy’r Awdurdod Lleol.
Derbyniadau Ysgolion - Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy
- Ysgolion Gynorthwyol a Gefnogir (VA)
Dim ond un ysgol VA sydd yn yr esgobaeth: Ysgol San Sior, Llandudno.
Rhaid gwneud cais yn uniongyrchol i’r ysgol gan ddefnyddio ei ffurflen gais ei hun.
Polisi Derbyn Ysgol San Sior 2024–2025 (PDF)
Sut mae ysgolion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn cael eu harolygu?
Mae ysgolion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn derbyn dau fath o arolygiad:
1. Arolygiad Estyn (Pob ysgol)
Caiff pob ysgol gynhaliol, gan gynnwys ysgolion VC a VA, eu harolygu gan Estyn.
Mae Estyn yn edrych ar:
- Safonau a chynnydd
- Addysgu a dysgu
- Arweinyddiaeth a rheolaeth
- Lles a gofal
- Gwella ysgol
Mae’r arolygiad hwn yn berthnasol i VC a VA fel ei gilydd.
2. Arolygiad Adran 50 (Ysgolion eglwysig yn unig)
Mae hwn yn arolygiad statudol ar gyfer ysgolion â chymeriad crefyddol, ac mae'n digwydd ar wahân i Estyn. Mae’n canolbwyntio ar gymeriad Cristnogol yr ysgol a sut mae hynny’n cael ei roi ar waith yn ymarferol.
Mae’r gwahaniaeth rhwng ysgolion VC a VA yn ymwneud â sut mae CGM (Crefydd, Gwerthoedd ac Moeseg) yn cael ei harolygu:
Ysgolion VC:
- Caiff CGM ei haddysgu yn unol â maes llafur cytûn yr awdurdod lleol.
- Mae arolygiad Adran 50 yn edrych ar gymeriad Cristnogol yr ysgol, addoliad a gwerthoedd — ond nid yw’n arolygu CGM ei hun.
Ysgolion VA:
- Caiff CGM ei addysgu yn ôl cosodiad yr ysgol a chanllawiau’r Eglwys yng Nghymru.
- Mae arolygiad Adran 50 yn cynnwys arolygiad llawn o ddarpariaeth CGM, ynghyd ag addoliad cymunol a gweledigaeth Gristnogol yr ysgol.
How many Church Schools are there in the Diocese of Bangor?
There are 16 Church in Wales schools in the Diocese:
- 2 on Ynys Môn
- 5 in Conwy
- 9 in Gwynedd.
Of these,15 are Voluntary Controlled and one is Voluntary Aided.
What is the difference between a Voluntary Controlled and a Voluntary Aided school?
Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools
VA schools are schools with a religious character where the church plays a significant role in the school's governance and ethos.
Key features of VA schools in Wales:
- The governing body employs the staff and manages admissions.
- The governing body owns the school buildings and contributes 10% towards capital costs (building projects and maintenance).
- Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) is taught in line with the school’s trust deed and the tenets of the Church in Wales.
- The church appoints a majority of the governors, giving it strong influence over leadership and ethos.
- Day-to-day running costs are fully state-funded.
Voluntary Controlled (VC) Schools
VC schools also have a religious character, but are more closely aligned with the local authority in terms of staffing and management.
Key features of VC schools in Wales:
- The local authority employs the staff and manages admissions.
- The church usually owns the school buildings, but the local authority pays for all capital and maintenance costs.
- RVE is delivered in line with the local authority’s agreed syllabus, though schools may offer additional teaching reflecting the Church in Wales perspective.
- The church appoints some governors (foundation governors), but not a majority.
Who appoints Foundation Governors in Church in Wales schools in the Diocese of Bangor?
There are two main types of Foundation Governor appointments in the Diocese of Bangor:
Ministry Area Appointments (MAC):
Foundation Governors are nominated by the local Ministry Area Council (MAC) following a skills audit and consultation with the headteacher, chair of governors, and local incumbent. The MAC makes the formal appointment, which is then ratified by the Diocesan Education Team.
Diocesan Appointments:
If the MAC cannot fill a vacancy, or in specific circumstances, the Diocese appoints a Foundation Governor, often based on a nomination from clergy or the MAC. The appointment is finalised by the Diocesan Director of Education.
In all cases, Foundation Governors must be active members of a Christian worshipping community, with the skills and commitment to support the school’s Christian ethos.
What is the role of a Foundation Governor?
Foundation Governors are appointed to preserve and develop the Christian character of Church in Wales schools. They carry out the same duties as all school governors — including overseeing the school’s strategic direction, holding the headteacher to account, and ensuring financial accountability — but with additional responsibilities related to the school’s Christian ethos.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Upholding the Christian foundation of the school in all aspects of governance.
- Ensuring that Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) and collective worship reflect the values and practices of the Church in Wales.
- Promoting links between the school and the local church and encouraging a shared sense of Christian mission.
- Contributing to decisions about staffing, standards, finances, and curriculum, while ensuring the school’s Christian distinctiveness is considered throughout.
- Reporting back to the Diocese on any issues that arise related to the school’s Christian character.
- Supporting and challenging the school in a way that reflects Christian values of love, service, and justice.
Foundation Governors are expected to be active members of a Christian worshipping community and to model Christian service and leadership within the school context.
How do I apply for a place at a Church school?
It depends whether the school is Voluntary Aided (VA) or Voluntary Controlled (VC):
Voluntary Controlled (VC) Schools
Applications are made through the Local Authority.
Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools
The only VA school in the Diocese of Bangor is Ysgol San Sior in Llandudno.
Applications must be made directly to the school using its own admissions process.
Ysgol San Sior Admissions Policy 2024–2025 (PDF)How are Church schools inspected?
Church in Wales schools are inspected under two frameworks:
Church in Wales schools receive two types of inspection:
1. Estyn Inspection (All schools)
All maintained schools in Wales, including Voluntary Aided (VA) and Voluntary Controlled (VC) church schools, are inspected by Estyn, the education inspectorate for Wales.
Estyn looks at:
- Standards and progress
- Teaching and learning
- Leadership and management
- Wellbeing and care
- School improvement
These inspections apply equally to VA and VC schools.
2. Section 50 Inspection (Church schools only)
This is a statutory inspection for schools with a religious character, and it is conducted separately from Estyn. It focuses on the Christian ethos and how the school’s religious character is expressed and lived out.
The difference between VC and VA schools lies in how Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) is inspected:
VC schools:
- RVE is taught using the local authority’s agreed syllabus.
- The Section 50 inspection looks at how the school’s Christian character influences school life, worship, and values — but it does not inspect RVE provision directly.
VA schools:
- RVE is taught in line with the school’s trust deed and the Church in Wales guidelines.
- The Section 50 inspection includes a full inspection of RVE, alongside collective worship and the school’s Christian vision and ethos.