Cwmtawe Community School (in Welsh: ''Ysgol Gymunedol Cwmtawe'') Formerly known as Pontardawe Technical School and Cwmtawe Comprehensive School, is a modern English-medium education

comprehensive school A comprehensive school is a secondary school for pupils aged 11–16 or 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is restricted on the basis ...

Pontardawe Pontardawe () is a town and a community (Wales), community in the lower Swansea Valley (). it had a population of approximately 7,172 in the 2021 Census for Pontardawe Parish, and forms part of the county borough of Neath Port Talbot. On the opp ...

South Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

. The school moved to newly built premises in 1996. Its old building was used by the local Welsh-language primary school, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe (YGGP), until it was demolished in 2010. Cwmtawe recently won an award for

environmentally friendly Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that c ...

schools, based on school improvements, community and curriculum links, saving money, and raising environmental awareness. Although Cwmtawe is not a Welsh-medium school, Welsh is taught at second-language level, as it is mandatory under the

National Curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national government, possibly in consultation with state or othe ...

that all Welsh school children up to age 16 be taught the language. Cwmtawe has very good

Key Stage 3 Key Stage 3 (commonly abbreviated as KS3) is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. In Northern Ireland the ...

and

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...

results exceeding the targets set in Wales's national standards. In 2000, it was in 113th place in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

for GCSE passes (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A*-C). Since then, examination results have improved dramatically; according to the latest inspection report by

Estyn Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb meaning 'to reach (out), stretch or extend'. Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and stand ...

, the school has a GCSE pass rate of 73%, putting it in 12th place and within the top 10% of all schools in

Feeder primary schools

The feeder

primary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

s for Cwmtawe are: * Alltwen Primary School * Godre'r Graig Primary School * Llangiwg Primary School *

Rhos Primary School Rhos or Rhôs may refer to these places in Wales: Settlements *Rhos, Neath Port Talbot, South Wales Valleys *Rhos-on-Sea (), Colwyn Bay, Conwy County Borough *Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrexham County Borough, northeast Wales Defunct entities *Rhos (nor ...

* Rhydyfro Primary School * Tairgwaith Primary School

Notable former pupils

* Bleddyn Bowen, rugby union player *

Aled Brew Aled Brew (born 9 August 1986) is a former Wales international rugby union player who played as a winger. He made his debut for the Wales national rugby union team against Ireland in the 2007 Six Nations Championship. In his career, as well as ...

, rugby union player *

Loren Dykes Loren Dykes (born 5 February 1988) is a football coach and player who is the assistant coach for Bristol City and a player for Cardiff City and the Wales women's national football team. Dykes began her playing career as a winger or forward befo ...

, football player *

Gareth Edwards Gareth Edwards may refer to: *Gareth Edwards (Berkshire cricketer) (born 1973), English cricketer *Gareth Edwards (filmmaker) (born 1975), British filmmaker *Gareth Edwards (producer) (born 1965), British radio and television writer and producer *Ga ...

, rugby union player * James Griffiths, rugby union player * Robert Jones, rugby union player * Clive Lewis, Court of Appeal Judge *

Elgan Rees Harold Elgan Rees (born 5 January 1954) is a Welsh former international rugby union player. Rugby career Rees toured with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand in 1977, when he had yet to be capped by Wales, and South Africa in 1980 and at ...

, rugby union player *

Arwel Thomas Arwel Camber Thomas (born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half. Born in Trebanos in the Swansea Valley, he played international rugby for Wales, earning 23 caps between 1996 and 2000. He pla ...

, rugby union player *

Justin Tipuric Justin Tipuric ( ; born 6 August 1989) is a Welsh former international rugby union player who played for Wales as an openside flanker. He is the current captain at Ospreys. Early life Although Tipuric grew up in Trebanos, he was born in the ...

, rugby union player *

Lewy Williams Lewis "Lewy" Williams (born 18 January 2002) is a Welsh professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Born in Swansea, Williams moved to Liverpool, where he has trained as a barber. He qualified for the 202 ...

, professional darts player *

Joe Hawkins Joe Hawkins (born 11 June 2002) is a Welsh international rugby union player who currently plays his club rugby at centre for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership. Hawkins began his professional career with the Ospreys in the URC, before signing ...

, rugby union player

External links

Cwmtawe Community School's websiteNeath Port Talbot County Borough Council Education Page

References

{{authority control Secondary schools in Neath Port Talbot Educational institutions established in 1969 1969 establishments in Wales