Pen-Y-Bryn Primary School, Cardiff

Pen-Y-Bryn Primary 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 239 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 7% have additional learning needs (43% in 2020/21); 12% are learning English as an additional language; and 35% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 25 pupils (Year 2) to 31 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,418 per pupil, against £4,955 in 2021-22. It carried forward £73k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its October 2025 inspection summarises Pen-Y-Bryn Primary School like this:

"Pen-y-Bryn Primary School is a happy community where staff and pupils show mutual respect for one another. Most pupils behave very well, feel safe and know who to turn to for support. The headteacher provides strong leadership and is a visible presence around the school. He has focused successfully on improving parental involvement, and parents are confident to approach staff if they have any concerns, knowing that these will be dealt with. During their time at the school, most pupils make good progress in developing their literacy, numeracy and digital skills. The focus on improving younger pupils’ oracy skills ensures that they make rapid progress early on and can begin to access other areas of learning successfully."

"Most pupils make good progress in learning Welsh, but older pupils lack the confidence to use Welsh more informally. In many classes, where teaching is most effective, teachers provide pupils with the right level of challenge to take their learning forward. Many pupils are beginning to improve their work during lessons. This work is inconsistent across the school, and teachers’ feedback is not always precise enough to identify what pupils need to do to improve their work. The school’s curriculum is developing effectively to meet most pupils’ needs. Systems for supporting pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) are a strength."

"Most pupils with ALN make suitable or better progress from their starting points. Leaders monitor pupils’ attendance carefully and work closely with external partners to support families. Pupils’ overall attendance has improved, but too many pupils still have high rates of absence. The school’s governors provide extremely effective support and have a thorough knowledge of the school’s work. They provide robust challenge to school leaders, particularly regarding the progress that pupils make and the standards that they achieve."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Reduce persistent absenteeism; (2) Ensure that feedback to pupils is clear and precise and focuses on specific aspects of their work.

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and gardening.

The school runs a breakfast club.

The nearest other state primary schools to Pen-Y-Bryn Primary School are Oakfield Primary School (0.4 miles), St Cadoc's Primary School (0.4 miles), Glan-Yr-Afon Primary (0.5 miles) and Ysgol Pen Y Pil (0.6 miles).

The nearest railway station is Heath High Level Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elgar Crescent (after), 180 metres away.