The Lewis School, Bargoed

The Lewis 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 1295 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

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

Of its pupils, 5% have additional learning needs (24% in 2020/21); and 6% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 58 pupils (Year 13) to 272 (Year 10).

Estyn's report on its February 2025 inspection summarises The Lewis School like this:

"Lewis School Pengam is a caring and inclusive community. Most pupils are welcoming and friendly. They feel safe and supported and many demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. The headteacher, and his senior leadership team are leading the school well through a period of change as they prepare for a new chapter in September 2025. The school has continued to place the well-being of pupils and staff at the heart of its work. They build their priorities around how best to enable all pupils to participate and succeed, whatever their background and social context. They have developed a range of worthwhile strategies to support pupils and families affected by poverty."

"This is having a positive impact on the attendance and achievement of these pupils. Overall, the work on improving attendance across the school is a notable strength. Teachers and support staff foster positive working relationships with pupils and in many lessons, pupils engage with their learning and make secure progress. However, in a minority of lessons, pupils do not make as much progress as they could due to shortcomings in teaching. Poor behaviour of a few pupils also hinders lessons, and in these instances, the school behaviour policy does not support staff or pupils well enough. There is a well-coordinated approach to improving pupils’ skills across the curriculum. However, pupils do not develop their Welsh speaking skills well-enough."

"Leadership responsibilities are shared reasonably across the school, and this has enabled leaders to prioritise their work effectively. Alongside middle leaders, they carry out a range of activities to evaluate the school’s work. However, these processes do not always focus sharply enough on the impact of provision on pupil progress. Although the governing body is very supportive of the school, the structures of the sub-committees are not clear or effective enough. The school provides a range of opportunities for pupils to take part in extra-curricular activities, which enrich their education. These include the popular rock band events and sporting activities. The school tailors its care, support and guidance effectively and provides a wide range of courses and pathways that meet the needs of nearly all pupils."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Improve teaching and provide strategic support for teachers around behaviour; (2) Refine self-evaluation activities so that they focus precisely on pupils’ learning and skills; (3) Improve the provision to develop pupils’ Welsh language skills; (4) Strengthen the structures and effectiveness of governance.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Lewis School are Blackwood Comprehensive School (0.9 miles), Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni (0.9 miles), Heolddu Comprehensive School (1.4 miles) and Islwyn High School (1.8 miles).

The nearest railway station is Pengam Rail Station, about 470 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lewis School (opposite), 220 metres away.