Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Blackwood

Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen 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 160 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

13% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 8% have additional learning needs (23% in 2020/21).

Year groups range from 13 pupils (Reception) to 30 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £7,233 per pupil, against £4,552 in 2021-22. It carried forward £37k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its November 2023 inspection summarises Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen like this:

"Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen is an inclusive school that promotes a positive environment and ethos. Pupils enjoy learning and are keen to please during lessons and activities. This is because of the strong working relationships with their teachers and other members of staff. The specialist resource base and its pupils play an important part in the school’s daily life. Learning is successful where teaching and feedback to pupils are purposeful and challenge them to perform at their best. This helps many pupils to make good progress in developing their listening, speaking, reading and digital skills. They also develop suitable extended writing skills and their numeracy across the curriculum is satisfactory."

"However, the quality of teaching and learning is not consistently good across the school. Staff provide support and care for pupils conscientiously. Their shared philosophy encourages pupils to take responsibility for their own well-being and behaviour well. This contributes successfully to their positive attitudes to learning and their willingness to persevere with tasks. The school encourages pupils to trust their peers and staff while developing respect and courtesy towards the feelings of others. Staff use the accommodation productively to target pupils’ needs purposefully and, as a result, planning of activities to promote pupils’ learning is effective. However, provision of outdoor learning experiences is not as effective, particularly for the youngest pupils."

"Leaders keep in close contact with the school’s wider community and build on the positive relationship with most parents and carers. Leaders evaluate the school’s work to plan for improvements thoroughly. The headteacher provides purposeful leadership and is determined to succeed for the benefit of pupils and the community. The senior management team, staff and governors share her vision successfully. They work together diligently to ensure that the school is fully inclusive and promotes good learning opportunities. The headteacher shares responsibilities effectively among staff and provides beneficial opportunities for professional learning. This contributes to a positive whole-school ethos, where staff and pupils feel valued for their contributions to school life."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Ensure consistency in teaching practices across the school; (2) Plan jointly to improve pupils’ numeracy and extended writing skills; (3) Improve the quality and provision of outdoor learning experiences, particularly for the youngest pupils.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen are Rhiw Syr Dafydd Primary School (0.2 miles), Blackwood Primary School (1.4 miles), Libanus Primary School (1.4 miles) and Cefn Fforest Primary School (1.5 miles).

The nearest railway station is Newbridge Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Oakdale (opposite), 160 metres away.