Archdeacon John Lewis, Brackla

Archdeacon John Lewis is an English-medium school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 128 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

23% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 21% are learning English as an additional language; and 32% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 6 pupils (Reception) to 21 (Year 4).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,752 per pupil, against £4,060 in 2021-22. It carried forward £36k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its February 2025 inspection summarises Archdeacon John Lewis like this:

"Overall, staff and governors work in close partnership within the local diocese to ensure that Archdeacon John Lewis Church in Wales V.A. Primary School is fully inclusive. Leaders develop a nurturing environment where, most pupils and staff feel supported and respected. School leaders, including governors, use a range of monitoring and evaluation activities appropriately to highlight the strengths of the school. However, these activities do not always focus closely enough on identifying areas in need of development. Elements of the provision for pupils’ well-being, such as the work to improve pupils’ social awareness and resilience are a strength of the school."

"As they progress through the school, many pupils begin to take responsibility for their own learning. However, a few instances of poor behaviour disrupt learning and cause distress for too many pupils. Staff provide effective support for pupils who require additional help in the development of their literacy and numeracy skills. This supports these pupils to access their learning successfully. Suitably detailed individual learning plans provide clear guidance to staff when supporting pupils with additional learning needs (ALN). The majority of pupils with ALN make good progress."

"Staff work well collaboratively to ensure that pupils develop their literacy and numeracy skills progressively. Many pupils develop as confident and skilful mathematicians, and they apply their numeracy skills well in a range of purposeful activities across the curriculum. Older pupils do not build upon their early Welsh language skills well enough. The school monitors attendance carefully and actively promotes the importance of regular attendance but, rates of persistent absence are too high. The recently appointed acting headteacher is working with governors to address long standing issues, for instance in relation to site management. However, over time, governors have not ensured the upkeep of the school premises well enough."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Implement consistent and effective approaches to manage instances of poor behaviour and keep the effectiveness of these arrangements under regular review; (2) Reduce persistent absence; (3) Develop the effectiveness of school leaders in ensuring that monitoring and evaluation activities identify and address important areas for development; (4) Improve the Welsh language skills of older pupils.

The nearest other state primary schools to Archdeacon John Lewis are Tremains Primary (0.2 miles), Brackla Primary School (0.5 miles), Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr (0.6 miles) and Coety Primary School (0.8 miles).

The nearest railway station is Bridgend Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ger-y-Coed (before), 140 metres away.