Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun is a designated Welsh-medium secondary school for pupils between 11 and 18 years old. It is situated in Hirwaun, near Aberdare, and maintained by Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority. The school was opened in 1995 There are currently 961 pupils on roll, with 177 in the sixth form, in comparison with 967 pupils and 195 in the sixth form at the time of the last inspection.

Most pupils are admitted from three primary schools that are situated in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and two primary schools that are situated in Merthyr Tydfil local authority. Approximately half of pupils come from Merthyr Tydfil local authority. The catchment area includes the Cynon Valley and Merthyr area, and an increasing number of pupils come from ...the Neath Valley area in Neath Port Talbot County Borough.

Thirteen point five per cent (13.5%) of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is lower than the national percentage of 17.1%.

Approximately 24% of the school's pupils live in the 20% most disadvantaged areas in Wales. No pupils receive learning support for English as an additional language. The school admits pupils from the full range of ability.

Twenty-one per cent (21%) of pupils are on the additional learning needs register, and fewer than 1% of pupils have a statement of special educational needs. These figures are lower than the national percentage of 2.5%.

Twenty six per cent (26%) of pupils speak Welsh at home. The headteacher was appointed to the post in April 2016. The senior leadership team includes the headteacher, deputy headteacher and four assistant headteachers.

The individual school budget per pupil for Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun in 2016-2017 is £4,209. The maximum per pupil in secondary schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf is £5,455 and the minimum is £3,918. Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun is in twelfth place of the sixteen secondary schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf in terms of the school budget per pupil.