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Abersychan School Ysgol Abersychan
Address
Incline Road Abersychan Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 7DF
Information
Motto	Dysgu i Fyw (Learning To Live)
Local authority	Torfaen
Department for Education URN	401855 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair	Alyson Russen
Headteacher	Rhodri Thomas
Staff	Approx. 120
Gender	Mixed
Age	11 to 16
Enrolment	745 (2023)
Houses	Dewi, Glyndwr, Branwen and Gelert
Colour(s)	Green, Black, White, Silver, and Red (prefects, deputies and headboy/girl)
Website	www.abersychan.org.uk

Abersychan School is a state-funded and non-selective comprehensive school in the Pontypool suburb of Abersychan, Wales.

Admissions

As of 2023, Abersychan School had 745 pupils on roll. It serves the north of Torfaen including the communities of Blaenavon, Garndiffaith, Talywain, Abersychan, Pontnewynedd, Cwmffrwdoer, Trevethin, Penygarn and St Cadocs. The local diversity is exemplified by the fact that some areas qualify for Communities First status, while the northern half of the Afon Llwyd encompasses a World Heritage Site.

The school supports a Special Needs Resources Base for pupils in Torfaen with MLD.

History

Comprehensive

The closure of Trevethin Community School in September 2007 has resulted in large numbers of pupils from its former catchment choosing Abersychan as their preferred school.

The re-organisation of education in the north of the borough was supported by a capital investment in Abersychan School which has improved the teaching and learning facilities, most notably in the form of several classrooms, a sports laboratory, an ICT suite with a 60 PC capacity, an Art and Technology design area, a floodlit astro-turf and a sports field. In 2009 a multi-media learning plaza was opened. In January 2008, the school received a Welsh Secondary Schools Association award for its outstanding contribution to the transition of pupils from the Trevethin Community School to Abersychan School during the period 2006–2007.

Sports

Teams from the school have won regional, national and UK competitions in Magistrates' Courts, Stock Market Challenge, Girls' Rugby, Design and Construction, and Dance.

Notable alumni

Abersychan Comprehensive School

• Ryan Doble - footballer
• David Llewellyn - novelist
• Mark Taylor - rugby union player

Abersychan Grammar School

• Prof Geoffrey Arthur, professor of veterinary surgery from 1974 to 1979 at the University of Bristol, and professor of veterinary obstetrics and diseases of reproduction from 1965 to 1973 at the Royal Veterinary College
• Sarah Clark, Bishop of Jarrow in the Church of England
• Allen Forward - international rugby player
• Roy Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead - founder of Social Democrat Party, and Labour MP from 1950 to 1977 for Birmingham Stechford, and SDP MP from 1982 to 1987 for Glasgow Hillhead
• Rear-Admiral Brinley Morgan CB, director from 1970 to 1975 of the Naval Education Service
• Robert Ryder, pathologist who found the link between emphysema and coal dust

References

1. "HT Letter 15.10.24". Ysgol Abersychan. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
2. "Abersychan Comprehensive". mylocalschool.gov.wales. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
3. Noakes, David E. (3 April 2007). "Obituary: Geoffrey Arthur". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
4. "Robert Ryder". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2020.

External links

• Abersychan Comprehensive School

News items

• Schoolgirl murdered in 2002

• Secondary schools in Torfaen
• Pontypool