Ysgol Maes-Y-Dderwen

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Ysgol Maesydderwen is an 11-18 mixed comprehensive school maintained by Powys local authority. There are 503 pupils on roll compared with 540 at the time of the last inspection in November 2010.

There are 81 students in the sixth form. The school serves the small town of Ystradgynlais and the surrounding villages, which are former mining communities. Around 13% of pupils live in the 20% most deprived areas of Wales.

Nearly 19% of the pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the Welsh average for secondary schools of 17.0%. Most pupils come from English-speaking homes, with 9% stating that they speak Welsh at home, and around 8% of pupils being fluent in Welsh.

Just over 2% of pupils receive suppor...t for English as an additional language. The school has a specialist unit for pupils with Autism and learning difficulties. Currently, 22% of the pupils have additional learning needs with around 2% having statements of special educational needs.

These figures are in line with national averages. The senior leadership has remained stable since the last inspection. The headteacher has been in post since 2007 and the deputy headteacher since 2010.