Caerleon Comprehensive School, Newport

Caerleon Comprehensive School 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 1494 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

10% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (16% in 2020/21); 8% are learning English as an additional language; and 30% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 116 pupils (Year 13) to 248 (Year 7).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,061 per pupil, against £3,903 in 2021-22. It carried forward £401k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its February 2025 inspection summarises Caerleon Comprehensive School like this:

"Caerleon Comprehensive School strives to ensure that the needs of all pupils are met, and they are prepared well for life. The school’s motto ‘Maximising Potential’ is underpinned by largely effective teaching and a curriculum that allows pupils of all abilities to follow their chosen pathway. There are valuable opportunities for pupils to develop their literacy skills across the curriculum, though the opportunities for them to develop their numeracy and Welsh language skills are limited. The school has developed a strong culture of safeguarding."

"Most pupils thrive in the welcoming, supportive environment where strong purposeful relationships with teachers help them engage well with their learning and develop as courteous, respectful individuals. The school has implemented generally effective strategies to limit the impact of poverty on pupils’ well-being and attainment, though the attendance of pupils from low-income households is too low. In many lessons, pupils make at least sound progress in their knowledge, understanding and skills. Teaching is particularly effective in a few lessons where pupils make strong progress, although there are a few lessons where teachers’ expectations are not high enough and pupils do not make as much progress as they should as a result."

"Governors are a particular strength of the school and since her appointment, the headteacher has overseen notable improvements in important aspects including the quality of teaching. Her sensitive and well-considered leadership has re-energised staff and boosted morale. While there is a clearly understood culture of self-evaluation, leaders’ evaluations occasionally lack the precision necessary to support the next stages of the school’s development."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Improve the attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals; (2) Sharpen the focus of self-evaluation to provide precise details on the impact of provision to support accountability and strengthen improvement planning; (3) Increase opportunities for pupils to practise and develop their numeracy and Welsh language skills across the curriculum.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Caerleon Comprehensive School are St Julian's School (1.1 miles), Llanwern High School (2 miles), Newport High School (2.5 miles) and Lliswerry High School (2.8 miles).

The nearest railway station is Newport (S Wales) Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Caerleon Town Hall (opposite), 100 metres away.