Brecon
The Boys' County/Grammar School
1
by Clifford Carr
Both the Girls' and Boys' County Schools came about as a result of the Welsh Intermediate and Technical Education Act of 1889. It was planned to serve the school districts of Brecon, Defynnog, Hay, Talgarth and Crickhowell. The target number of pupils for the Boys' School was 100. It opened on 22 September 1896, in temporary leased premises at Dr Coke's Wesleyan Chapel in Lion Street. There were 42 pupils in the first week The school was to remain in these premises for 5 years. Entry to the school was by tuition fees and a limited number of free places for pupils who passed an entrance examination. The school, like others in Wales, came under the direction of the Central Welsh Board (C.W.B.) and until the introduction of "O" and "A" levels after the Second World War, the CWB certificate became the yardstick of proficiency at Welsh secondary schools
The pupils moved to a newly built school at Cradoc Road in 1902. At the same time the Education Act of 1902 laid down new regulations for secondary schools which covered the times of attendance and the subjects to be taught.
The first Headmaster
was Nathan John, right, (1896-1909), who despite a satisfactory
CWB school inspection report, was not considered to be a particularly
good Headmaster, especially as a disciplinarian. 
