So, what choice is there and where?
If you live in Llandyrnog, you are broadly half way between Denbigh High and Brynhyfryd. Even those who do not benefit from free transport to Brynhyfryd because Dinbych is nearer prefer to come south to Rhuthun/Ruthin. Few go to Denbigh.
Llanrhaeadr is broadly split 50-50 between Brynhyfryd and Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Llanelwy/St Asaph. There has always been an affinity between the village and Glan Clwyd but the village is divided. There are those who argue that only Glan Clwyd is sufficiently Welsh to satisfy their right to an education through the medium of Welsh. They feel that Brynhyfryd is somehow watered down Welsh. The head, of course, states that he actually runs two schools, one in either medium. Some in Llanrhaeadr nevertheless chose to Rhuthun. These tend to be those who are educated through the medium of English and whose parents prefer Brynhyfryd to Denbigh High.
Parents in Cerrigydrudion tend to lean this way and that as to whether their children go to Brynhyfryd or Dyffryn Conwy, Llanrwst.
At one point, now over 30 years ago, those with a preference for Welsh medium education would also go to Maes Garmon (Yr Wyddgrug/Mold) or Glan Clwyd but that's now dried up to nothing. A few sixth formers trickle over to the Alun High in Yr Wyddgrug because of the vast range of A level subjects on offer at what is effectively a sixth form college but Brynhyfryd has fought back as regards academic subjects.
There are a handful of parents in and around Rhuthun who choose the Brigidine Convent School, Dinbych, on faith grounds. That won't appeal to everyone, of course.
It's also theoretically possible that some in Rhuthun could migrate to Denbigh High. In reality, we see a reverse movement of slightly over 100 children who travel from Dinbych to Rhuthun for their education.
In short, the Brynhyfryd catchment is contained. Few move out of it because of choice and these are only on the margins. Those in the core areas—town and villages—continue to attend Brynhyfryd because to do otherwise is difficult. They don't really have any choice. It just helps that the school is such a good one.
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Brynhyfryd