Llanidloes High School, Powys

Llanidloes High School is a bilingual (Welsh and English) school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 673 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 15% have additional learning needs (25% in 2020/21); 2% are learning English as an additional language; and 7% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 38 pupils (Year 12) to 124 (Year 9).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,930 per pupil, against £5,198 in 2021-22. It carried forward £288k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its February 2024 inspection summarises Llanidloes High School like this:

"Ysgol Uwchradd Llanidloes High School is committed to providing all its pupils with ‘great opportunities for all to learn’. The school is a caring and supportive environment where all are valued and encouraged to give of their best. Leaders and staff ensure that the well-being of staff and pupils is their highest priority. They secure a positive safeguarding culture where most pupils feel safe and free from bullying. Pupils are encouraged to care for and respect each other and nearly all are polite and friendly around the school. Most pupils behave well in their lessons and interact positively with each other during the school day. Overall, staff foster positive working relationships with pupils in lessons, they provide interesting learning opportunities and, as a result, many pupils engage well and make good progress. In a few particularly effective lessons, teachers set high expectations, they question skilfully, and pupils make rapid progress in their knowledge, understanding and skills. In a few instances pupils do not make enough progress, mainly because of teachers’ low expectations and weak planning."

"The school’s curriculum offer is a particular strength. It provides personalised opportunities which aim to engage, enthuse, and benefit pupils of all abilities. Pupils at key stage 4 and in the sixth form benefit from the careful curriculum planning that considers a wide range of subject choices including those suitable for the local economy. Pupils benefit from a range of valuable support for their well-being and learning. Staff know the pupils well and provide beneficial guidance when needed. They work effectively with outside agencies ensuring that pupils access the support they require to develop as individuals. Pupils with additional learning needs, including those who attend the school’s Autism Spectrum Centre (ASC), benefit from purposeful and bespoke interventions and support. Leaders foster a real sense of community within the school and in the locality. They provide strong support for families from low-income households."

"Additionally, they have an ambitious vision for developing the use of the Welsh language across the school. Leaders collect a wide range of relevant information to identify areas of strength and areas in need of improving. However, they do not prioritise precisely enough the aspects of provision that need the most improvement. Although leaders at every level have a genuine ambition to improve their work and have broadly identified the main areas requiring improvement there are shortcomings in a few areas of the school's work. These include aspects of teaching and the progressive development of pupils' skills. Leaders have focused carefully on improving pupils’ attendance. They regularly monitor pupils’ attendance and challenge those who miss school. While this work is having a generally positive impact over time, whole-school attendance rates are lower than for the same period last year. The team has brought a health and safety concern to the attention of the school."

Estyn made 5 recommendations: (1) Ensure that leaders prioritise precisely the aspects of provision that need the most improvement; (2) Improve the quality of teaching to address the shortcomings noted in the report; (3) Ensure that there is a well-co-ordinated and understood approach to the progressive development of pupils’ skills; (4) Improve school attendance; (5) Address the health and safety issue identified during the inspection.

Estyn follow-up status: Special Measures.

In its own words: "Whilst we are delighted to be one of Wales’ highest performing secondary schools, a pupil’s life at school must be about far more than simply achieving great results. School should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Happy children are more likely to flourish."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Llanidloes High School may well be the happiest high achieving school in Wales. Visitors to the school are often struck by the vibrant and flourishing learning culture, deeply caring ethos and exceptional commitment of staff. Everyone goes the extra mile to ensure each and every pupil’s experience of school is as happy as possible."

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Llanidloes High School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Llanidloes High School (outside), 170 metres away.