Abersychan School

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	Gareth Huw Knight
Headteacher	Phil Collins
Staff	Approx. 120
Gender	Mixed
Age	11 to 16
Enrolment	Approx. 920 as of 2018
Houses	Dewi, Glyndwr, Branwen and Gelert
Colour(s)	Green, Black, White, Silver, and Red (prefects, deputies and headboy/girl)
Website	http://www.abersychan.org.uk/

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

Admissions[]

Abersychan School has 920 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.^{[clarification needed]}

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 2006-7.

Senior Leadership Team for 2020/2021[]

Mr Phillip Collins (Headteacher)

Mrs Keri Powell (Deputy Headteacher)

Mr Anthony Ager (Assistant Headteacher - Curriculum and Standards)

Mrs Catherine Rumble (Assistant Headteacher - Inclusion and Wellbeing)

Mr Daniel Mutlow (Assistant Headteacher - Teaching and Learning)

Mrs Belinda Edwards-Lloyd (Business and Facilities Manager)

Heads of Year for 2020/2021[]

Miss Katie Harry (Head of Year 7)

Mr Paul Loukisas (Head of Year 8)

Mr Geraint Williams (Head of Year 9)

Miss Bethan Jones (Head of Year 10)

Mr Gareth Jenkins (Head of Year 11)

Heads of Curriculum for 2020/2021[]

Ms Louise Brunton (Head of English and Literacy)

Mr Daniel Evans (Head of Mathematics and Numeracy)

Dr Charlotte O'Connell (Head of Science and Technology)

Mrs Rachel Jenkins (Head of Expressive Arts)

Mr Paul Michael (Head of Health and Wellbeing)

Mr Barrie Evans (Head of Humanities)

Mrs Michelle Wilkshire (Head of Languages)

Mrs Laura Entwistle (Head of Skills and Welsh Bacc)

Wellbeing Support Team for 2020/2021[]

Mrs Catherine Rumble (Assistant Headteacher - Inclusion and Wellbeing)

Mrs Nicola Strachan (ALENCo)

Mr Rob Barrowdale (Wellbeing Manager)

Mrs Kathryn Watkins (KS3 Wellbeing Support Officer)

Mrs Emma Evans (KS4 Wellbeing Support Officer)

Mrs Rachel Lewis (Attendance and Family Engagement Officer)

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 1974-9 at the University of Bristol, and Professor of Veterinary Obstetrics and Diseases of Reproduction from 1965-73 at the Royal Veterinary College^[1]
• 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 1950-77 for Birmingham Stechford, and SDP MP from 1982-7 for Glasgow Hillhead
• Rear-Admiral Brinley Morgan CB, Director from 1970-5 of the Naval Education Service
• Robert Ryder, pathologist who found the link between emphysema and coal dust^[2]

References[]

External links[]

• Abersychan Comprehensive School

News items[]

• Schoolgirl murdered in 2002