Ysgol Pen Barras, Sir Ddinbych

Ysgol Pen Barras 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 291 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 3% have additional learning needs (7% in 2020/21).

Year groups range from 30 pupils (Reception) to 43 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,842 per pupil, against £4,066 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £45k.

Estyn's report on its February 2026 inspection summarises Ysgol Pen Barras like this:

"The school's dedicated leaders and staff provide a Welsh and inclusive learning environment for pupils by embracing the vision, 'Gweithiwn â gwên yn sŵn y Gymraeg’, extremely successfully. This fosters pupils’ positive attitudes to their learning, which contributes well to their enjoyment of their learning experiences. Most pupils, including those with additional learning needs and those from low-income households, make sound progress in a relevant range of skills across the areas of learning. Teachers and assistants have supportive working relationships with pupils, and they identify their well-being needs and learning interests skilfully. They are valuable language models for pupils and this, in turn, has a positive effect on most pupils’ Welsh speaking skills."

"One of the provision’s notable qualities is the rich experiences that pupils are given as they develop their talents by taking part in events and performing in a wide range of local and national competitions. Through this, pupils develop a wide range of important learning, personal and social skills. Teachers provide an interesting range of activities appropriately which engage and maintain pupils’ interest in their learning effectively. However, teachers do not always plan progression in pupils' skills purposefully enough to support them to make constructive progress in the whole range of skills over time. Leaders, including members of the governing body, identify the school's strengths and areas for development appropriately."

"However, monitoring and evaluation activities do not always focus purposefully enough on the effect of the provision on pupils' skills and progress, or contribute purposefully enough to the improvement planning process. The school is an integral part of the local community, with pupils enriching their learning experiences through beneficial visits successfully. Parents are proud that their children attend this school and appreciate the valuable links as they engage beneficially with their children's learning."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Refine self-evaluation processes in order to measure the effect of provision on pupils' learning; (2) Support pupils to make constructive progress in the whole range of skills across the areas of learning over time.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol Pen Barras are Rhos Street C.P. School (under 0.1 miles), Borthyn V.C. Primary School (0.6 miles), Ysgol Reoledig Llanbedr (1.4 miles) and Ysgol Reoledig Llanfair D.C. (1.8 miles).

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

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ruthin Hospital (outside), 140 metres away.