Baccalaureate programme of study in its sixth form years, as a parallel alternative to the A-level programme that was already being offered. This led to an increase in the number of pupils attending the school from overseas countries such as Ukraine, Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and the Czech Republic. The school stopped teaching the International Baccalaureate programme when it ceased to offer boarding, and currently offers A-levels and Cambridge Technical courses to its sixth-form students. First-class cricket The school's cricket pitch was used as the venue for a first-class match between Wales and the touring South Africans in 1929. The three-day match, played on 10–12 June 1929, resulted in a 10-run victory for the South Africans and saw Bob Catterall of South Africa (117) and William Bates of Wales (102) record centuries. Denbighshire later played a single Minor Counties Championship match against Northumberland at the ground in 1934. Notable alumni Leslie Goonewardene – Sri Lankan statesman and independence activist. He founded the country's first political party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and played a key role in both Indian and Sri Lankan independence. Edith Rigby (b. 1872) – suffragette and arsonist Wilf Wooller – First-class cricketer for Glamorgan CCC and Welsh international rugby union player Sir Geoffrey Elton – esteemed historian was a student at Rydal School and later taught there Lewis Elton – physicist, educational researcher and brother of Sir Geoffrey, was a student at Rydal School; father of Ben Elton Sir Michael Thompson – Former Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham University William Roache MBE – Long-running Coronation Street actor attended Rydal School Linus Roache – Actor best known for role in American series Law & Order attended Rydal School Duncan Kenworthy OBE – Film producer, best known for producing films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually attended Rydal School Bleddyn Williams – Wales rugby union captain, capped 22 times and also captained the British Lions in 1950 Paula Yates – Television presenter who attended Penrhos College Anne Reid MBE – Actress who attended Penrhos College Janet Hargreaves – Actress best known for her role as a Doctor Who villain, attended Penrhos College Angela Knight – Conservative MP attended Penrhos College Dafydd Wigley – Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Caernarfon from 1974 to 2001, Assembly Member for Caernarfon from 1999 to 2003, Leader of Plaid Cymru from 1991 to 2000 Mervyn Davies,