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Olchfa School | |
---|---|
Address | |
Gower Road Swansea, City and County of Swansea, SA2 7AB Wales | |
Information | |
Type | Secondary School |
Motto | Dysg, Dawn, Daioni (Learning, Talent, Goodness) |
Opened | 3 September 1969 |
Local authority | Swansea |
Headmaster | Julian Kennedy (2023–Present) |
Age | 11 to 19 |
Enrolment | 1,700 - February 2018 |
Colour(s) | Blue and red |
Website | https://www.olchfa.org.uk |
Olchfa School (Welsh: Ysgol Gyfun yr Olchfa) is the largest secondary school in Swansea, South Wales, with approximately 1,700 pupils, including 357 in the Sixth Form. Situated in Sketty Park to the west of Sketty, it provides secondary education for GCSE and A-Level qualifications. Olchfa (part of the Sketty Swansea suburb) means 'washing place' in the English language.
Around 12% of pupils have a special educational need and 1.7% have a statement of special educational needs. Both of these figures are below the Welsh averages of 21.5% and 2% respectively. Nearly a quarter of pupils come from an ethnic minority background and just over 20% speak English as an additional language.
The school is currently under the leadership of Julian Kennedy, who became headmaster in 2023. The Welsh Government has selected the school as a Pioneer School to participate in the development of its curriculum.
Academic performance
In its most recent Estyn inspection in 2018, Olchfa School received the highest possible judgement, 'Excellent' in all five inspection areas. In the same year, the school reported a GCSE pass rate of 85% (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A*-C), placing it in the top five schools in Wales, top three in Wales for the percentage of A*-A grades and 74th in the UK taking A-levels (A*-B) and GCSE's (A*-C) into account. In 2023, Olchfa School was accoladed as the second-best secondary school in Wales by the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, and in 2024.
Facilities
The school consists of different sections - the main building, a south block, P.E. department as well as a maths and science block. The school also consists of smaller demountable classrooms throughout the plot that teach a variety of subjects, an on-site swimming pool and numerous Tennis, Rugby, Football, Netball and Cricket pitches. A £1.6m investment is underway for a full-size, all-weather 3G pitch. There is also an on-site specialist facility supporting the needs of hearing impaired pupils.
Notable former pupils
See also: Category:People educated at Olchfa SchoolThis article's list of alumni may not follow Misplaced Pages's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (October 2024) |
Sports
- Daniel Alfei, Welsh U21 International and former Swansea City footballer.
- Simon Davey, former Swansea City footballer and football manager
- Aaron Lewis, Welsh U21 International and Newport County footballer
- Mark Harris, Welsh International and Cardiff City footballer
- David Hemp, Bermudan International Cricketer
- Charles Lowen, English International Cricketer
- Richie Rees, Rugby Player
- Ellie Simmonds OBE, Paralympian Gold Medalist Swimmer
Other
- Richard Barrett, Composer
- Russell T Davies, screenwriter and television producer
- Sir Andrew Dilnot, Economist
- Joe Dunthorne, poet and author
- Liz Fuller, actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder
- Stephen Harris, rock musician with stage name "Kid Chaos"
- Georgia Henshaw, Actress
- Nerys Jefford, High Court judge
- Andrew Jones, Film producer
- Heather Nicholson, animal rights activist
References
- ^ "Olchfa School | Estyn". www.estyn.gov.wales. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- https://www.estyn.gov.wales/system/files/2020-08/Olchfa%2520School_0.pdf
- "Top performing schools in Wales revealed in new survey". 3 December 2021.
- "Best State Secondary Schools in the UK: 2024 Top 100 League Table". 22 February 2023.
- https://www.pressreader.com/uk/south-wales-evening-post/20231202/281517935883992. Retrieved 30 December 2023 – via PressReader.
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(help) - "Wales' top schools revealed: Sunday Times parent power guide unveils standout performers for 2024". December 2023.
- "Work set to kick-off on Olchfa 3G pitch".
- "Shooting of movie adaptation surreal experience for writer", "This is South Wales", 20 November 2009, accessed 24 August 2011.