Ysgol y Bannau, Powys

Ysgol y Bannau 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 87 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

Year groups range from 8 pupils (Year 4) to 17 (Year 5).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,390 per pupil, against £3,982 in 2021-22. It carried forward £43k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its June 2026 inspection summarises Ysgol y Bannau like this:

"Ysgol y Bannau is a happy, caring and inclusive school where the well-being of pupils and staff is at the heart of its work. The headteacher provides clear and purposeful leadership and shares the school’s vision successfully. She is supported by a dedicated team of staff who foster warm and respectful relationships with pupils. As a result, the school is a safe and welcoming community where pupils are valued and know where to get support. The school benefits from strong support from parents, governors and the community. Staff work together effectively to provide an interesting curriculum that engages most pupils’ enthusiasm. Pupils make a valuable contribution to planning their learning and offer creative ideas that help to shape relevant and engaging experiences."

"Many pupils, including those with additional learning needs and those from low-income households, make suitable progress from their starting points. Learning experiences do not always challenge a few pupils consistently enough. Most pupils develop sound oral skills in Welsh and English and gain confidence and develop increasingly rich vocabulary over time. Most pupils’ reading skills are strong and, by the time they reach the top of the school, they read fluently in both languages. Many pupils develop suitable writing skills and write confidently across a range of genres. However, opportunities to apply these skills across the areas of learning are not always organised coherently enough. Many develop appropriate mathematics skills but opportunities for pupils to apply their numeracy skills purposefully across the curriculum are inconsistent."

"Leaders ensure that there are suitable arrangements for monitoring the quality of the school’s work. However, processes are not always incisive enough to evaluate the effect of provision on pupils’ progress effectively. Most pupils’ behaviour is good and they treat others with kindness and courtesy. They make a valuable contribution to the life of the school and the local community. Provision for well-being, personal development and additional learning needs is strong and supports pupils effectively."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Ensure that monitoring activities focus more closely on the effect of provision on pupils’ outcomes; (2) Develop the curriculum to ensure that it supports pupils to apply their writing and numeracy skills constructively across the areas of learning; (3) Ensure that learning experiences challenge pupils appropriately.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol y Bannau are Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan (0.4 miles), Priory C.I.W. School (0.4 miles) and Llanfaes C.P. School (0.9 miles).

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

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brecon College (outside), 40 metres away.