Ysgol David Hughes was officially opened at its present site in Menai Bridge by HRH Princess Margaret in April 1963. However, its history goes back to 1603 when the first Beaumaris Free Grammar School was founded by David Hughes and governed by a trust. At that time its pupils were boys and there were facilities for boarding. By 1895 the school had become Beaumaris Grammar School and it passed into the control of a County Governing Body set up by the Anglesey County Council. It was at this point that it began to admit girls. After the passing of the 1944 Education Act and the decision of Anglesey County Council to organise secondary education on comprehensive lines it became necessary to erect a new school. In 1602 David Hughes purchased the land to build the original school for £20. In 1963 the cost of purchasing the land and building the new school was £334,000.

When the original school was governed by the trust David Hughes left them with firm instructions as to the type of headmaster they were to employ: "………….the schoolmaster shall be a single man, unmarried, and Master of Arts, at the least of the University of Oxford ………"   Today, the job description is slightly different! The school serves the catchment area of south-east Anglesey - a mainly agricultural area with some light industry which is characteristic of the area. There are ten  primary schools in our catchment area. The school has a policy which brings the school and the community closer together. This is a bilingual comprehensive school with 1390 pupils aged between 11 and 18. More than twelve subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh to some pupils. Welsh medium courses are available from Years 7 to 13 and emphasis is placed on developing skills and linguistic ability in Welsh learners.   Pupils are given a broad education which includes elements of communication, numeracy, science, humanities, expressive arts, practical skills and technology.   The building has been extended since 1963 and we now have a Technology Block which gives the pupils an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge about technology which will enable them to take advantage of employment opportunities in these areas. Each subject uses aspects of information technology. The first year pupils have a unit to themselves where they are taught for most of the time. There is also a block for pupils in Year 12 and 13 which has a common room and a study. There is also an Information Centre (Library) available to all pupils.   Much emphasis is placed on extra-curricular activities.   On the pastoral side, the school is organised on a year basis with a head for each year but emphasis is placed on the role of class tutors and their part in the care and development of the pupils. A great deal of importance is placed on the close contact between the school and parents and we regularly meet in parents’ evenings. Parents are contacted personally should any problem arise concerning their child’s behaviour or development. Please contact any member of the school's Senior Management Team if you have any questions you wish to ask or any matter you wish to discuss.

MISSION STATEMENT

TO OFFER EVERY PUPIL WITHOUT EXCEPTION THE BEST AND MOST RELEVANT BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND TO CREATE AN OPEN SOCIETY WHICH RESPECTS STANDPOINTS, ASPIRATIONS AND HOPES OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE SCHOOL

RESPECT IS THE KEYWORD - 

RESPECT FOR PEOPLE AND PROPERTY

Pupils are expected to wear school uniform. 

When pupils go on a trip or a visit the teacher in charge of the visit will state what should be the appropriate clothing for the journey.

At the end of a Physical Education lesson everyone is expected to change back into uniform even at the end of the last lesson in the afternoon.

Coats must be removed in every lesson and service.

Pupils who are not in the proper uniform will be sent to the teachers on duty.

Movement must be orderly and without running along the corridors.

No-one should sit on the corridors.

Courtesy should be shown towards staff and visitors.

Pupils are not allowed to leave the school premises during the day.

Permission is given to Years 12/13 to go to Siop Newydd during break.

Years 10/11 may leave the school premises during the dinner hour upon receipt of a letter from the parent and a 'pass' issued by the Head of Year.

If a pupil has to leave school during the day to go to the doctor or dentist, the book in the office must be signed before leaving and after returning.

If a pupil arrives late the class tutor must be informed immediately.

Pupils are not allowed to go to the area of the field where there are pine trees.

The school organises and holds a large number of extra-curricular activities. Our aim is to provide a variety of opportunities for the pupils to broaden their experiences and enhance the formal curriculum.
Educational Visits
A number of educational visits are arranged by the school. These may be visits to the continent, skiing trips, exchange trips with schools in Germany and America or residential visits in this country or day trips. A letter explaining the arrangements and asking their permission is sent to the parents. The school has also drawn up a set of rules concerning behaviour on school trips. Every pupil is given a copy of these and parents are asked to sign it.
Clubs and Societies
A wide variety of these are available within the school:-
A Branch of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth), a Welsh Drama Society,  Chess Club and Gymnastics Club  as well as a host of teams participating in sports which include Association Football, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, Hockey, Netball, Tennis and Athletics and everyone will have an opportunity to compete in the Urdd Eisteddfod and School Eisteddfod.
Pupils are informed of the provision which is available and they, in turn, are required to inform their form tutor of their own particular interests, which may not be covered by the school’s programme.
Community Education
The school is an integral part of the community to which it belongs. The community of Ysgol David Hughes is the catchment area which it serves - from Brynsiencyn on the western side of the island, to Llangoed and Penmon on the eastern side. The school liaises with the community in a number of different ways:- Adult Education Governors' Meeting Leisure Activities Work Experience Evening Class Community Room Parent/Teacher Association
Instrumental Music Scheme
The school offers musical instrument tuition to its pupils and this service is supplied by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias.   At the moment we have peripatetic music teachers visiting the school giving tuition on brass, cello, guitar, harp, violin and woodwind instruments. Pupils are withdrawn from their normal lessons for their instrumental tuition and a rolling timetable is employed to try and ensure that part of the same lesson is not missed every week.   The instrumental lessons are subsidised and pupils are expected to attend their lessons and practice their instruments regularly and to attend school, area and county practices as required.   There is a limited number of certain instruments available on loan from Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias.   Please contact the school for information on the current charges for these lessons.

The  Governors of the school consider that all pupils should wear school  uniform, having regard to the following reasons for advocating the practice: 1.                   It is  essential that there should be social equality within the structure of a comprehensive school.  The school uniform is intended as a means of eliminating social distinctions which arise because of a child’s appearance. 2.                   A school uniform identifies the pupils with the school and should inspire a sense of pride in belonging to that particular organisation. It  is  fully appreciated that standards of dress amongst  young  people  have changed in recent years, but a minimum standard of school uniform is desirable and  pupils should adhere strictly to this basic requirement if a school  uniform is to have any significance.                We would like to emphasise the fact that pupils should not wear any top or jacket within the school building as a replacement for their school sweatshirt.  Their (dark) coat should be removed once they are inside the building. Pupils are allowed to wear one pair of studs in their ears only. Pupils are expected to  conform to a respectable length and style of hair which should be of a natural colour. Years 7-11 Plain black skirt or trousers, eg, without frills, tassels etc.  The skirt should not be too short nor too long.  Black sweatshirt with the school logo and white polo shirt with the school logo.  .A ‘dark’ coloured coat will be necessary during wet and/or cold weather.  Pupils are not permitted to wear gloves inside the school building.

Years 12-13 The students are asked to wear plain, black trousers or skirts with a plain black or a plain white top, together with a dark coloured coat in cold/wet weather.  We ask students to conform with this dress code as they are still part of Ysgol David Hughes and it is important that they set a good example to younger pupils.  Due to the nature of the school uniform we sometimes find a number of variations.  Here is a list of items, which are not acceptable.  The list is not exhaustive and we reserve the right to extend the list based on experience/fashion.  Jeans/Cords/Combat or cargo trousers Jumpers/cardigans/multicoloured or striped tops Track suit (neither top nor bottom) Caps of any sort Hoodies or fleece tops Jackets eg denim, light coloured High-heeled shoes  IMPORTANT From September 2006 every pupil will have to wear black shoes (footwear) as part of the school uniform. PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Reversible Shirt - Black with magenta hoop Black T-Shirt Black shorts or sports skirt Black socks with magenta hoop