Ysgol Llanhari, Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

Ysgol Llanhari 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 649 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 3% have additional learning needs (18% in 2020/21); and 2% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 11 pupils (Year 2) to 88 (Year 11).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,950 per pupil, against £4,906 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £54k.

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

"Ysgol Llanhari is a caring and inclusive community that promotes a strong sense of belonging. In learning sessions, nearly all teachers foster positive working relationships with pupils. As a result of the valuable pastoral care and the effective health and well-being provision, most pupils feel safe at school. Their behaviour is extremely polite and respectful. A strong feature is pupils’ willingness to work and discuss with their peers, with many demonstrating very positive attitudes to learning. Many pupils across the age range make the expected progress, which a few making strong progress in their lessons and over time."

"Pupils benefit from valuable opportunities to practise and develop their literacy skills, particularly their speaking and listening skills. There are also purposeful opportunities for pupils to develop their reading and writing skills while at school. However, although opportunities to develop pupils’ numeracy and digital skills are planned across the curriculum, provision has not been co-ordinated strategically enough to ensure that pupils develop these skills progressively during their time at the school. Staff provide valuable learning activities and experiences that support pupils to settle quickly and contribute fully to school life. There is beneficial co-operation with partner schools, for example in promoting the status of international languages as part of the curriculum. There are also purposeful opportunities for pupils to contribute to various committees and to take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities and trips."

"The school develops a culture of professional learning successfully. A clear focus on teaching and learning has a positive effect on what happens in lessons. As a result, nearly all teachers ensure a supportive learning environment and foster positive working relationships with pupils. Many teachers plan purposeful activities, provide constructive verbal feedback and ask an appropriate combination of questions to check pupils’ knowledge and understanding. The headteacher and leadership team work closely together and share their ambitious vision, which is based firmly on the values of Community, Welshness and Progress. Although leaders have suitable processes for self-evaluating provision and planning for improvement, they do not always focus sufficiently on the effect of their work on pupils’ outcomes."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Strengthen provision for the progressive development of pupils’ numeracy and digital skills across the curriculum; (2) Sharpen self-evaluation and planning for improvement processes to focus precisely on the steps that will have the greatest influence on pupils’ outcomes.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ysgol Llanhari are Y Pant Comprehensive School (2.7 miles), Pencoed Comprehensive School (2.8 miles), Cowbridge Comprehensive School (3.3 miles) and Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School (4.8 miles).

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

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ysgol Llanharry (on), 80 metres away.