Bethel, Gwynedd

Human settlement in Wales

Llanddeiniolen

Gwynedd

CountryWalesSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townCAERNARFONPostcode districtLL55Dialling code01248PoliceNorth WalesFire North Wales AmbulanceWelsh UK Parliament

Arfon

Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

Arfon

List of places: UK; Wales; Gwynedd

53°09′50″N 4°12′32″W / 53.164°N 4.209°W / 53.164; -4.209

Bethel is a village in Gwynedd, Wales. It lies east of Caernarfon on the B4366 road. Bethel Primary School is located in the village. The population of Bethel electoral ward was measured in the 2011 Census, and found to be 1,395.^[1] The village population is 1,171 with 87.3% having some form of Welsh identity one of the highest figures in the north of Wales.^[2]

Welsh Language

According to the 2011 UK Census, 85.8% of the electoral ward's population could speak Welsh.^[3] 40.2% of the population born outside Wales can speak Welsh - the highest figure in Gwynedd.^[4] 93.7% of the population who were born in Wales could speak Welsh.

Ysgol Gynradd Bethel

Ysgol Gynradd Bethel is the main serving primary school for most children from Bethel, the community of Llanddeiniolen and the surrounding rural areas. The school educates children aged between 3–11 years old. In 2015, the school had 153 pupils on roll.^[5]

Welsh is the school's main language medium. According to the last inspection conducted by Estyn in 2019, approximately 90% of the pupils spoke Welsh at home.^[6] In 2015, approximately 96% of pupils were fluent in Welsh.^[7]

Ysgol Gynradd Bethel was previously named Bethel British School and was located on a different site. The old school was opened on 11 April 1864 with 71 pupils. In October 1881 the school was reopened, with the current name.

Sport

Bethel Juniors Football Club is one of the most successful junior clubs in North Wales, producing many players who go on to play at Academy level. In the 2009/10 season, the under 16s became only the second Gwyrfai League team to win the North Wales Coast F.A. Cup, beating Towyn Rangers in the final 2–1 at Denbigh Town F.C.

Notable people

Selwyn Griffith (1928–2011), bardic name Selwyn Iolen, Archdruid for the National Eisteddfod, 2005-2008.
Angharad Price (born 1972), a Welsh academic, novelist and recipient of the Glyndŵr Award

References

^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Bethel statistics (W37000222)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
^ "Ward and Area Profiles - Bethel" (PDF). Gwynedd Council. Office For National Statistics. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
^ "Anglesey & Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan - Topic Paper 10: Welsh Language & Culture" (PDF). Gwynedd County Council. Gwynedd County Council. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
^ "mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/school.htm?451979745&estab=6612011&iaith=eng". mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
^ "Ysgol Gynradd Bethel | Estyn". www.estyn.gov.wales. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
^ "Ystadegau am iaith disgyblion, Ionawr 2014 a 2015 - a Freedom of Information request to Welsh Government". WhatDoTheyKnow. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2016.