School Context

Idris Davies is a 3-18 co-educational all through school situated in a green field site in Abertysswg, at the head of the Rhymney Valley.The upper school was opened there in 1983 with the lower school relocated there in 1990. In January 2018, we became a 3-18 school, incorporating the nursery and primary pupils from Abertysswg Primary School and Pontlottyn Primary School. We are fortunate to benefit from state of the art facilities across the school including extensive sporting facilities and outdoor learning areas. We currently have over 900 pupils including over 230 in the primary phase and are part of a post 16 collegium, catering for over 500 pupils and providing over 40 subjects.

The school serves a group of villages and hamlets in the northern reaches of the Rhymney Valley: Butetown, Fochriw, Pontlottyn, Princetown, Rhymney, Tirphil and New Tredegar. All pupils speak English as their first language and in the school's catchment area fewer than 7% of the community speak Welsh.

There are few opportunities for full-time employment locally but the community is the centre of a range of regeneration and renewal strategies, co-ordinated by the Rhymney Communities First Partnership Board. As confidence in the community increases, companies such as the Community Furniture Enterprise and organisations such as the Prince's Trust are setting up in the town of Rhymney.

The full range of ability is represented in the school and about 33% of pupils are entitled to free school meals. The school provides all pupils with a challenging education which promotes learning, raises standards and ensures they are properly prepared for adult life. I hope that you will appreciate the quality of education that we are providing as we encourage our pupils to strive for excellence. Our improving record of success for students at all levels is testimony to our commitment to providing the best. As you read through the brochure, I am sure you will want your child to be part of this.”