Fitzalan High School, Cardiff

Fitzalan High 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 1880 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

33% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 6% have additional learning needs (23% in 2020/21); 36% are learning English as an additional language; and 84% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 152 pupils (Year 13) to 307 (Year 7).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,445 per pupil, against £4,994 in 2021-22. It carried forward £56k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its November 2024 inspection summarises Fitzalan High School like this:

"Fitzalan High School provides its pupils with a highly caring, nurturing and inclusive environment. It is particularly effective in establishing a culture that celebrates its notably diverse community. This helps to foster positive attitudes towards diversity, equity and the understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. As a result, most pupils feel safe, valued and respected. The school’s work is characterised by high expectations, strong leadership, reflective self-evaluation, and close links with its local community. Staff work diligently and collaboratively to secure the best possible outcomes for all pupils."

"The school is particularly effective in tailoring its provision to meet individual needs, including those of its most vulnerable pupils. This has a notably strong impact on pupils’ well-being and achievement. In many lessons, effective teaching helps pupils to make sound progress in developing their knowledge, understanding and skills, and a minority make particularly strong progress. Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities to develop their literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum. In particular, the school works effectively to establish positive attitudes to reading. Although pupils use their digital skills appropriately in some areas of the curriculum, strategies to develop this aspect remain at an early stage."

"Pupils benefit from an extensive range of provision to support their personal development. This includes a comprehensive personal and social education programme, extensive extra-curricular activities and a wide range of opportunities to take on leadership roles. The school is especially effective at raising the aspirations of pupils from all backgrounds to help them fulfil their potential. The school is successful in addressing national priorities, for example by reducing the impact of poverty on attainment and promoting the development of pupils’ Welsh language skills. Leaders have established a strong culture of safeguarding, where staff are clear about their role in keeping pupils safe."

Estyn made 1 recommendation: (1) Strengthen provision for the development of pupils’ digital skills across the curriculum.

In its own words: "Fitzalan High School is adopting the Curriculum for Wales with Year 7 pupils from September 2022. We have worked with our community, pupils and staff to identify what our curriculum should provide for our pupils to give them the best life chances and realise the Four Purposes. We believe the following video captures our vision for our curriculum for Fitzalan."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Fitzalan is an extraordinary school; one that, at the very heart, lies a proud community and a determined and aspirational workforce. Our recent Estyn inspection report details our outstanding efforts to seek and provide opportunities far beyond the classroom for our pupils."

Coming up: an open evening on Monday 30 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 3 December 2026 and an open evening on Friday 4 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Fitzalan High School are Cardiff West Community High School (1.1 miles), Cantonian High School (1.7 miles), Cathays High School (1.8 miles) and The Bishop Of Llandaff C.I.W. High School (1.8 miles).

The nearest railway station is Ninian Park Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hadfield Road (after), 150 metres away.