After more than 140 years serving generations of families in Bangor and beyond, Our Lady’s School—Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes—is preparing to close its doors at its long-standing Caernarfon Road site as it moves into a brand-new, modern school building. This transition marks a defining moment for one of Bangor’s most historic educational communities: a chance to celebrate its past, honour its legacy, and look ahead to a vibrant new chapter.

A Legacy Rooted in Faith, Learning, and Community

Founded in the late 19th century, Our Lady’s School has long been a cornerstone of Catholic education in Bangor. Over the decades, it has welcomed children from all backgrounds and nurtured them with values of compassion, resilience and curiosity.

Handwritten school logbooks—preserved since 1917—capture vivid moments in time:

  • 1946: The school celebrated peace with a Victory Party, and a special holiday was declared for the Royal Visit to Bangor.
  • 1957: Logbook entries recorded health inspections, playground mishaps and the daily routines that defined school life.

These records reveal not just school events, but the endurance, joy, and faith that have shaped the community for more than a century.

Generations of Memories

From evacuees of the Second World War to children from various cultural backgrounds today, Our Lady’s has always been far more than a school. Families speak fondly of nativity plays, school dinners and the influence of dedicated teachers and religious sisters who shaped their childhoods.

Many former pupils now send their own children and grandchildren here, continuing a remarkably strong tradition.

A School of Care, Inclusion and High Standards

The most recent Estyn inspection (November 2025) highlights the school’s many strengths, underscoring the high-quality education and pastoral care that underpin its reputation.                        
Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes is described as “an inclusive community, which places a strong emphasis on pupils’ well-being and personal development.” Teachers and support staff collaborate effectively, offering a broad and balanced curriculum and knowing their pupils’ needs exceptionally well. Leaders set “a purposeful strategic direction” and maintain high expectations for pupils and staff, ensuring engaging learning experiences and strong pastoral care. These strengths reflect the school’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the whole child—academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Saying Goodbye: A Community Farewell Event

A significant milestone deserves a meaningful farewell, and the school community has planned a special event to mark the final days at the historic site.

Farewell Celebration – Sunday 24th May 2026

Everyone connected to the school past and present – staff, pupils, governors, parents and friends are warmly invited to gather for a final celebration.

10:00am – Special Mass with Bishop Peter. Held at Our Lady’s and St James’ Church.

12:30pm – Final Walk Around the School – All are invited to return to Our Lady’s School for:

  • a last walk through the building
  • a heritage display of old photographs, archives and artefacts
  • an opportunity to revisit classrooms and shared spaces one final time

This event offers the community a chance to say goodbye, reminisce, and celebrate the generations who have passed through its doors.

Continuing a Story Written Over a Century

As the bell rings for the final time at the Caernarfon Road site, it signals not an ending, but a continuation of a story more than 140 years in the making. The legacy of Our Lady’s School—rooted in faith, community and love—will continue to shape every child who walks through the doors of its new home.

Ffarwel I Bennod Annwyl: Etifeddiaeth wedi’i wreiddio mewn ffydd, dysgu a chymuned

Ar ôl mwy na 140 mlynedd yn gwasanaethu cenedlaethau o deuluoedd ym Mangor a thu hwnt, mae Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes yn paratoi i gau ei drysau ar safle hir sefydlog Ffordd Caernarfon wrth iddi symud i mewn i adeilad ysgol newydd sbon, modern. Mae’r trawsnewidiad hwn yn foment ddiffiniol i un o gymunedau addysgol mwyaf hanesyddol Bangor: cyfle i ddathlu ei gorffennol, anrhydeddu ei etifeddiaeth, ac edrych ymlaen at bennod newydd fywiog.

Wedi’i sefydlu ar ddiwedd y 19eg ganrif, mae Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes wedi bod yn ganolfan i addysg Gatholig ym Mangor ers amser maith. Dros y degawdau, mae wedi croesawu plant o bob cefndir a’u meithrin gyda gwerthoedd tosturi, gwydnwch a chwilfrydedd.

Mae lyfrau log ysgol llaw ysgrifenedig – wedi’u cadw ers 1917 – yn dal eiliadau byw mewn amser:

  • 1946: Dathlodd yr ysgol heddwch gyda Pharti Buddugoliaeth, a datganwyd gwyliau arbennig ar gyfer yr Ymweliad Brenhinol â Bangor.
  • 1957: Cofnododd cofnodion llyfr log arolygiadau iechyd, damweiniau cae chwarae a’r arferion dyddiol a ddiffiniodd fywyd ysgol.

Mae’r cofnodion hyn yn datgelu nid yn unig digwyddiadau ysgol, ond y dygnwch, llawenydd a ffydd sydd wedi siapio’r gymuned am fwy na chanrif.

Cenedlaethau o Atgofion

O faciwîs yr Ail Ryfel Byd i blant o wahanol ddiwylliannau. Mae Ein Harglwyddes bob amser wedi bod yn llawer mwy nag ysgol. Mae teuluoedd yn siarad yn annwyl am ddramâu geni, ciniawau ysgol a dylanwad athrawon ymroddedig a’r chwiorydd crefyddol a luniodd eu plentyndod.

Mae llawer o gyn-ddisgyblion bellach yn anfon eu plant a’u hwyrion eu hunain yma, gan barhau â thraddodiad cryf.

Ysgol Gofal, Cynhwysiant a Safonau Uchel

Mae arolygiad diweddaraf Estyn (Tachwedd 2025) yn tynnu sylw at gryfderau niferus yr ysgol, gan danlinellu’r addysg a’r gofal bugeiliol o ansawdd uchel sy’n sail i’w henw da.                         Disgrifir Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes fel “cymuned gynhwysol, sy’n rhoi pwyslais cryf ar les a datblygiad personol disgyblion.” Mae athrawon a staff cymorth yn cydweithio’n effeithiol, gan gynnig cwricwlwm eang a chytbwys ac yn adnabod anghenion eu disgyblion yn eithriadol o dda. Mae’r arweinwyr yn gosod “cyfeiriad strategol pwrpasol” ac yn cynnal disgwyliadau uchel ar gyfer disgyblion a staff, gan sicrhau profiadau dysgu diddorol a gofal bugeiliol cryf. Mae’r cryfderau hyn yn adlewyrchu ymrwymiad diwyro yr ysgol i feithrin y plentyn cyfan – yn academaidd, yn emosiynol, yn gymdeithasol ac yn ysbrydol.

Ffarwelio: Digwyddiad Ffarwel Cymunedol

Mae carreg filltir arwyddocaol yn haeddu ffarwel ystyrlon, ac mae cymuned yr ysgol wedi cynllunio digwyddiad arbennig i nodi’r dyddiau olaf yn y safle hanesyddol.

Dathliad Ffarwel – Dydd Sul 24 Mai 2026

Gwahoddir pawb sy’n gysylltiedig â’r ysgol ddoe a heddiw – staff, disgyblion, llywodraethwyr, rhieni a ffrindiau i ymgynnull ar gyfer dathliad olaf.

10:00am – Offeren Arbennig gyda’r Esgob Pedr. Cynhaliwyd yn Eglwys Our Lady’s and St James’.

12:30pm – Taith Gerdded Olaf o amgylch yr Ysgol – Gwahoddir pawb i ddychwelyd i Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes ar gyfer:

  • taith gerdded olaf drwy’r adeilad
  • arddangosfa dreftadaeth o hen ffotograffau, archifau ac arteffactau
  • cyfle i ailymweld a’r dosbarthiadau a mannau a eraill un tro olaf

Mae’r digwyddiad hwn yn cynnig cyfle i’r gymuned ffarwelio, hel atgofion a dathlu’r cenedlaethau sydd wedi pasio trwy ei drysau.

Parhau â stori a ysgrifennwyd dros ganrif

Wrth i’r gloch ganu am y tro olaf ar safle Ffordd Caernarfon, nid yw’n arwydd o ddiweddglo, ond parhad o stori sydd wedi cymerwyd dros 140 o flynyddoedd I’w chreu. Bydd etifeddiaeth Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes – wedi’i wreiddio mewn ffydd, cymuned a chariad – yn parhau i siapio pob plentyn sy’n cerdded trwy ddrysau eu cartref newydd.