Best schools in Monmouthshire: how they compare
Monmouthshire has 41 open schools - 30 primary and 3 secondary among them - teaching about 11,301 pupils. 7% teach through Welsh or in both languages, and 1 is in Estyn follow-up. Here is every school side by side, with what Estyn found when it last visited.
Why there is no league table in Wales
Wales stopped publishing school performance tables, and since September 2022 Estyn, the schools inspectorate, no longer sums a school up in one word like "Excellent" or "Good". Each report describes what pupils learn, how well they are taught and what the school should do next. So a ranking of the best schools in Monmouthshire would rest on someone's opinion, not published data. What you can compare is set out below: whether Estyn has asked a school to improve, what its latest report says, the language your child would be taught in, and the kind of intake each school has.
Estyn follow-up
1 of 41 schools are in follow-up; Estyn returns to check their progress.
- No follow-up36 (88%)
- Significant improvement1 (2%)
- No report on file4 (10%)
Source: Estyn inspection reports
Language of teaching
7% Welsh-medium or dual language in Monmouthshire, against 30% across Wales.
- Welsh-medium3 (7%)
- English-medium31 (76%)
- Not recorded7 (17%)
Source: Welsh Government school data
Schools by stage in Monmouthshire
Click a stage to filter the list below.
- Primary30
- Middle1
- Secondary3
Monmouthshire against Wales
The typical (median) school in the council, set against the typical school in Wales.
- Pupils eligible for free meals (3-year)
- 10.1%18.6%
- Pupils with additional learning needs
- 5.6%8.1%
- Budget per pupil
- £5,489£5,801
Source: Welsh Government school census 2025/26 and school budgets 2026-27
What the numbers say about schools in Monmouthshire
At the typical school in Monmouthshire, 10.1% of pupils have been eligible for free school meals over the last three years, 8.5 points below the Welsh figure. Every primary pupil in Wales now gets a free lunch, so this measures eligibility, the usual guide to how disadvantaged an intake is. 5.6% of pupils at the typical school have additional learning needs (2.5 points below the Welsh figure). Schools here receive about £5,489 per pupil, £312 below the Welsh figure. Pupil numbers have fallen by 1.7% since 2020/21. The largest school is Monmouth Comprehensive School, with 1,653 pupils.
None of these figures tells you whether a school is good. A school with a more disadvantaged intake can be doing outstanding work, and a small rural school with a high budget per pupil is often simply small. Use them to understand the setting, then read what Estyn wrote.
Every school in Monmouthshire
Schools not in Estyn follow-up first, then the most recently inspected. This is not a ranking by quality.
41 of 41 schools shown
- No follow-up
Pembroke Primary School
ChepstowPrimaryEnglish-medium257 pupils17.3% free meals
"Pembroke Primary School is a caring and nurturing school where nearly all pupils feel safe, happy and supported." Estyn, June 2026
- No follow-up
Thornwell Primary School
ChepstowPrimaryEnglish-medium269 pupils20.7% free meals
"Thornwell Primary School is a happy, caring and inclusive school where pupils feel welcomed, valued and well supported." Estyn, June 2026
- No follow-up
Monmouth School
MonmouthshireNot recorded
- No follow-up
Talocher School
MonmouthshireNot recorded
"Talocher School provides a supportive environment where strong relationships enable pupils to feel safe and re-engage with learning successfully." Estyn, March 2026
- No follow-up
Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ffin
MonmouthshirePrimaryWelsh-medium157 pupils19.6% free meals
"Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ffin is a family community that provides an inclusive and caring environment." Estyn, March 2026
- No follow-up
Llantilio Pertholey C.V. Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales206 pupils15.4% free meals
"The school’s leaders provide clear and purposeful leadership, working effectively with staff, governors and pupils to foster a warm and inclusive ethos." Estyn, February 2026
- No follow-up
Raglan CIW VC Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales175 pupils5.0% free meals
"The headteacher and staff at Raglan V.C. Primary School provide a warm, welcoming school environment where pupils feel safe and cared for." Estyn, February 2026
- No follow-up
King Henry viii 3-19 School
AbergavennyMiddleEnglish-mediumNot available1,296 pupils19.9% free meals
"Since its opening in September 2023, leaders and staff at King Henry VIII 3-19 School have collaborated effectively to establish the new all-age school." Estyn, February 2026
- No follow-up
Usk C.V.. Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales253 pupils5.9% free meals
"The acting headteacher has established a clear and ambitious vision that sets high expectations for pupils’ learning, behaviour and well-being." Estyn, October 2025
- No follow-up
Durand Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium220 pupils15.4% free meals
"Durand Primary is a welcoming and nurturing school where most pupils feel safe and supported." Estyn, October 2025
- No follow-up
Rogiet C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium190 pupils10.0% free meals
"Rogiet Primary is a vibrant and ambitious school, where pupils of all ages engage in their learning happily." Estyn, June 2025
- No follow-up
Chepstow School
MonmouthshireSecondaryEnglish-medium916 pupils10.1% free meals
"Chepstow School strives to inspire learning ‘for all, for life’ in an inclusive and caring environment where the well-being of all pupils is a high priority." Estyn, March 2025
- No follow-up
Shirenewton Junior & Infant School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium185 pupils3.4% free meals
"Shirenewton Primary School is a happy, caring and inclusive school at the heart of its community." Estyn, March 2025
- No follow-up
Llangattock School Monmouth
MonmouthshireNot recorded
"Llangattock School is an inclusive and supportive community in which nearly all pupils feel safe, valued, and engaged in learning." Estyn, March 2025
- No follow-up
Magor V.A. Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales284 pupils9.2% free meals
"Magor Voluntary Aided Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school with a strong sense of community, where pupils feel safe and happy." Estyn, January 2025
- No follow-up
Archbishop Rowan Williams CIW School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales200 pupils6.6% free meals
"Leaders place well-being at the heart of Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales School, promoting respect and inclusivity and fostering a happy and safe learning environment for its pupils." Estyn, November 2024
- No follow-up
Caldicot Comprehensive School
CaldicotSecondaryEnglish-medium1,210 pupils12.5% free meals
"Leaders at Caldicot school have recently secured improvements in a few important areas of the school’s work." Estyn, October 2024
- No follow-up
Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni
AbergavennyPrimaryWelsh-medium293 pupils10.4% free meals
"The school is a caring community where pupils are polite and behave well." Estyn, September 2024
- No follow-up
Our Lady & St Michael's School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumRoman Catholic196 pupils15.1% free meals
"Pupils at Our Lady and St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary thoroughly enjoy coming to school." Estyn, July 2024
- No follow-up
Cross Ash C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium183 pupils7.3% free meals
"Cross Ash Primary School is an inclusive, welcoming, and safe community where pupils thrive and enjoy a wide range of engaging and exciting learning experiences." Estyn, May 2024
- No follow-up
Kymin View Primary
MonmouthPrimaryEnglish-medium114 pupils27.5% free meals
"Kymin View Primary School is part of a federation with nearby Llandogo Primary School." Estyn, March 2024
- No follow-up
Llandogo C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium70 pupils9.2% free meals
"Llandogo Primary School is part of a federation with nearby Kymin View Primary School." Estyn, March 2024
- No follow-up
Trellech C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium166 pupils4.9% free meals
"Trellech Primary School is a friendly and caring school that supports its pupils and families to feel welcome and valued." Estyn, October 2023
- No follow-up
Undy C.P. School
CaldicotPrimaryEnglish-medium432 pupils3.8% free meals
"Undy Primary School is a vibrant, inclusive school that places a high priority on the well-being of its pupils." Estyn, May 2023
- No follow-up
Cantref Primary
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium229 pupils7.4% free meals
"All pupils thoroughly enjoy coming to Cantref Primary school every day." Estyn, April 2023
- No follow-up
Monmouth Comprehensive School
MonmouthshireSecondaryEnglish-medium1,653 pupils10.2% free meals
"Monmouth Comprehensive School is a vibrant and inclusive community." Estyn, February 2023
- No follow-up
Llanfihangel Crucorney C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium65 pupils
"The headteacher demonstrates strong leadership and, along with other school leaders, works well towards fulfilling their vision to provide a caring, thoughtful, happy and secure environment for pupils." Estyn, January 2023
- No follow-up
Llanfoist Fawr Primary School
AbergavennyPrimaryEnglish-medium206 pupils15.6% free meals
"The headteacher demonstrates strong leadership and along with other school leaders works well together towards fulfilling their vision to provide a caring, thoughtful, happy and secure environment for pupils." Estyn, January 2023
- No follow-up
Castle Park Primary School
ColdicotPrimaryEnglish-medium186 pupils17.0% free meals
"Castle Park Primary school is a well-led, welcoming place to learn." Estyn, December 2022
- No follow-up
Gilwern C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium215 pupils8.5% free meals
"Nearly all pupils enjoy their time at Gilwern Primary School." Estyn, October 2022
- No follow-up
The Dell Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium400 pupils3.4% free meals
"The Dell Primary School is an inclusive school where the well-being of its pupils is a priority." Estyn, June 2022
- No follow-up
Dewstow Primary School
NewportPrimaryEnglish-medium216 pupils19.7% free meals
"Dewstow Primary is an inclusive school that places a strong emphasis on supporting the well-being of its pupils and engaging well with their families." Estyn, May 2022
- No follow-up
Goytre Fawr Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium167 pupils3.6% free meals
- No follow-up
Osbaston V.C. Primary
MonmouthPrimaryEnglish-mediumChurch in Wales185 pupils4.3% free meals
- No follow-up
Overmonnow C.P. School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-medium347 pupils18.8% free meals
- No follow-up
St Mary's R.C. Primary School
MonmouthshirePrimaryEnglish-mediumRoman Catholic127 pupils10.0% free meals
- No report on file
Haberdashers Monmouth School For Girls
MonmouthshireNot recorded
- No report on file
Monmouth Schools Pre-Prep & Nursery
MonmouthshireNot recorded
- No report on file
Mounton House Special School
MonmouthshireNot recorded
- No report on file
Ysgol Gymraeg Trefynwy
MonmouthPrimaryWelsh-mediumNot available33 pupils
- Significant improvement
Cysgod Y Coed
ChepstowNot recorded
"Following a period of instability, the newly appointed seconded head of the Pupil Referral Service (PRS) is bringing much-needed stability and a clear sense of direction." Estyn, October 2025
Choosing and applying for a school in Monmouthshire
Start with Estyn. Its report on each school is short, plain and recent, and the recommendations at the end tell you what the inspectors want to see improve. A school in special measures or in need of significant improvement is being revisited, and some turn round quickly, so check the date and read what has changed. Then visit: an hour in a school tells you more about how it feels than any figure.
Decide early whether you want Welsh-medium education. Every school in Wales teaches Welsh to 16, but a Welsh-medium school teaches most lessons through Welsh, and children from English-speaking homes join from nursery and reception every year. Moving between the two later is harder, so the choice usually matters most at the start of primary school.
Applications for community schools go to Monmouthshire council, not the school; voluntary aided church schools can run their own admissions, so check each one. Welsh councils set their own closing dates and most give priority to children living in a school's catchment area, so check which catchment your address falls in before you rank your choices. If you are applying for a secondary place, look at the feeder primaries too: many Monmouthshire secondaries take most of their pupils from a named group of primary schools.
Questions parents ask about schools in Monmouthshire
How many schools are there in Monmouthshire?
Monmouthshire has 41 open schools on School Signal, including 30 primary and 3 secondary schools, teaching about 11,301 pupils (school census 2025/26).
Which schools in Monmouthshire are in Estyn follow-up?
1 school is in Estyn follow-up: Cysgod Y Coed (significant improvement). Follow-up means Estyn returns to check progress; it is worth reading the report before ruling a school in or out.
How many Welsh-medium schools are there in Monmouthshire?
3 schools in Monmouthshire teach mainly through Welsh and 0 teach in both languages - 7% of the council's schools, against 30% across Wales. You don't need to speak Welsh at home for your child to attend one.
Is there a school league table for Monmouthshire?
No. Wales stopped publishing school league tables and Estyn no longer gives schools an overall grade, so any "top ten" list for Monmouthshire is someone's own judgement. Compare Estyn's reports, the language of teaching and how far you are from each school instead.
Sources: Estyn inspection reports (Crown copyright, quoted with acknowledgement); Welsh Government school census and school budget data, Open Government Licence v3.0.