Bangor Heritage College was officially launched on 27 November, marking the start of an exciting new project celebrating the city’s rich history.

Building on the successful model developed through the Holy Island Landscape Partnership, the College invites school pupils to explore Bangor’s heritage through a series of fun, flexible learning modules, earning credits as they go, and ultimately graduating at a ceremony next year.

Funded by Bangor City Council and led by Bangor University with support from external partners, the initiative blends online learning with real-world exploration, encouraging pupils to discover local stories, landmarks and people. By engaging with the modules, pupils are supported to learn with friends, family members and their wider community, strengthening their sense of belonging and connection to the city.

More than thirty pupils from seven Bangor-area schools attended the launch event, held in the university’s historic Powis Hall. Dr Martin Hanks, City Director, and Cllr Medwyn Hughes, Mayor of Bangor, provided the official welcome, before project leads Nia Young, Senior Lecturer in Education and Counselling at Bangor University, and Mervyn Jones introduced pupils to the programme.

As part of the launch, pupils enjoyed a guided tour of Bangor University’s Main Arts Building with Dr Leona Huey, Lecturer in Heritage, and had the chance to share ideas on how the project could be developed to encourage even more young people to take part. The Heritage College team will visit local schools in the New Year to continue these conversations and support pupils as they begin working through the modules.

Nia Young said: “We are delighted to launch the Bangor Heritage College. The Holyhead project was so inspiring and we’re thrilled to bring the concept to Bangor, especially with the city celebrating 1500 years this year.

We’re very excited about working with schools in Bangor to support children in exploring their local heritage over the coming months. Special thanks to Mervyn Jones for preparing the learning modules, which are invaluable in connecting local school pupils with Bangor’s rich history and heritage”

Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Director, added: “As Wales’ oldest city, Bangor has a wealth of history, and this project will increase knowledge and understanding amongst our local school population. From landmarks and notable buildings to key individuals and important milestones, the Heritage College will no doubt inspire school pupils to learn more about Bangor’s past.

“The project adds to the 1500th anniversary celebrations this year, complementing the Bangor History Festival and other events in 2025. We look forward to working with our partners and seeing pupils graduate after their hard work.”

Further information about the Bangor Heritage College is available at:
https://www.bangor.ac.uk/community/bangor-heritage-college

Photos: 
1. School participation: Ein Harglwyddes, Friars, St Gerards, Cae Top, Faenol, Hirael, Llandygai with Mayor Cllr Medwyn Hughes. 
2. Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Council
3. Nia Young, Bangor University