Ysgol Bro Preseli, Crymych

Ysgol Bro Preseli is a Welsh-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 955 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (17% in 2020/21); and 3% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 22 pupils (Year 1) to 137 (Year 7).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,306 per pupil. It carried forward £245k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its October 2025 inspection summarises Ysgol Bro Preseli like this:

"Ysgol Bro Preseli is a happy, proud and friendly community where staff and pupils enjoy learning in each other’s company. The headteacher’s ambitious vision of developing pupils ‘From the Roots to the Horizons’ can be seen and felt in all aspects of the school’s work. Staff plan a valuable curriculum and learning experiences that provide a myriad of beneficial extra-curricular activities that contribute positively to this vision. As a result, pupils develop pride in their local area, thrive in their learning and social development and are ready for the next stage of their learning. An excellent feature among leaders and staff is the shared understanding and effective co-operation in order to realise specific objectives. When leaders identify a specific area for development, they succeed in motivating staff to undertake the improvement work and take ownership of it. For example, leaders developed a whole-school strategy to improve pupils’ literacy skills, with a particular focus on strengthening reading skills."

"Following purposeful guidance and support, staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in developing these skills. As a result, they provide beneficial and challenging opportunities for pupils to ensure that they develop as confident and skilful readers in line with their age and ability. The relationship between pupils and staff is positive and respectful. Most pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are excellent. Many teachers plan learning sessions carefully to ensure that most pupils make the expected progress in their knowledge and understanding and enjoy completing interesting tasks. In a minority of cases, where teaching is highly effective, most pupils make strong progress. There are purposeful evaluation and improvement arrangements and leaders consider the impact of their work on provision and pupils’ well-being regularly."

"They evaluate the quality of teaching though established monitoring activities, but not all leaders are involved in this evaluation work and evaluations do not identify clearly enough the impact of learning on pupils’ progress. Governors operate effectively as critical friends and support the school’s work beneficially. Due consideration is given to reducing the impact of poverty and rural poverty on pupils’ well-being and achievement. They share the ambition of reaching high levels of well-being among pupils. Although pupils’ attendance in the primary sector has improved over time, pupils’ attendance rates in the secondary sector, including pupils who are eligible for free school meals, have not improved sufficiently."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Improve the attendance of pupils in the secondary sector, including the attendance of those who are eligible for free schools meals; (2) Ensure that middle leaders play a full part in lesson observations to strengthen their ability to evaluate the effect of teaching on learning.

In its own words: "Ysgol Bro Preseli is located in the village of Crymych in north Pembrokeshire. The village is considered an educational and cultural centre for the surrounding villages. The surrounding Preseli mountains are rich in myth and legend and the area prides itself in its Welsh traditions and culture."

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ysgol Bro Preseli.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Preseli School (outside), 70 metres away.