Ysgol Gynradd Penybryn, Gwynedd

Ysgol Gynradd Penybryn 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 233 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 12% have additional learning needs (17% in 2020/21); 3% are learning English as an additional language; and 7% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 20 pupils (Year 2) to 41 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,435 per pupil, against £3,871 in 2021-22. It carried forward £180k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its March 2025 inspection summarises Ysgol Gynradd Penybryn like this:

"Ysgol Penybryn is an inclusive community with a strong emphasis on the well-being and development of pupils, staff and the wider community. The headteacher has a clear vision to ensure that pupils have engaging learning experiences in a well-organised and caring learning environment. This sensible vision, which supports the school’s improvement practices, contributes to good behaviour and a willingness to learn among pupils. Teachers and assistants work together effectively to ensure broad and balanced provision in an inclusive and structured context. They are an effective team of staff who focus on promoting pupils’ well-being purposefully. They work effectively with parents and external agencies and know the pupils and their community well."

"On the whole, the pace of teaching sessions is suitable for pupils’ learning and teachers’ feedback to pupils improves their learning appropriately. However, the quality of teachers’ teaching and the challenge they provide for pupils is not consistent across the school. At times, staff tend to over-direct, which limits pupils’ ability to work independently and make choices about their learning. Teachers provide regular and well-organised opportunities for pupils to develop their skills effectively across the school. This means that pupils’ literacy, numeracy and digital skills develop soundly. Staff are effective language models and they promote pupils’ oral skills well, on the whole."

"Pupils’ reading skills develop purposefully and they are confident speakers, particularly in English. However, many pupils’ attitudes towards speaking Welsh are not always positive. Staff and pupils forge close and loyal working relationships. They encourage pupils to work together and share ideas and feelings sensibly, which develops their loyalty and respect for others successfully. Pupils develop valuable personal, social and creative skills, which support their cultural awareness and appreciation robustly."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Ensure consistency in teaching practices and provide effective feedback to challenge all pupils; (2) Provide opportunities for pupils to make independent choices about how they learn and present their work; (3) Continue to improve pupils’ attitudes towards speaking Welsh.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Tywyn Pendre (Talyllyn Railway), about 180 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ysgol Penybryn (outside), 50 metres away.