Ysgol Y Dderi, Ceredigion

Ysgol Y Dderi 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 95 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

16% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 7% have additional learning needs (37% in 2020/21).

Year groups range from 8 pupils (Reception) to 19 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,386 per pupil, against £3,890 in 2021-22. It carried forward £27k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its March 2023 inspection summarises Ysgol Y Dderi like this:

"Ysgol Y Dderi is a happy, caring, and homely community. The enthusiastic headteacher and dedicated staff are very effective in creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for pupils. The effect of the robust leadership can be seen across the school. All staff have a close and warm relationship with pupils. They treat pupils with kindness and respect and provide stimulating and exciting experiences that engage the interest of nearly all pupils. They work together exceptionally well to support pupils’ well-being, social and emotional needs and plan the next steps in their learning. The school’s curriculum provides a wide range of stimulating activities across all areas of learning and experience."

"Across the school, the positive ethos within the classrooms encourages effective and purposeful learning communities. Although teachers use a suitable range of teaching methods in their classes, provision does not support pupils to make increasingly independent choices about their learning. Teachers also do not always provide enough incisive feedback for pupils to reflect on their work and make improvements. Most pupils make good progress across the school, including those with additional learning needs. Most pupils develop sound literacy and numeracy skills and use technology confidently to support their learning. During their time at the school, most pupils make strong progress from their starting points. A strong feature is their use of the Welsh language, with most using their skills confidently in different contexts."

"Most build progressively on their writing skills by using an increasing range of rich vocabulary in their work and achieve good standards across the school. The school has responded creatively and innovatively to the requirements of the Curriculum for Wales. Outdoor learning provides rich opportunities for pupils across the school to apply their skills practically and creatively. Pupils are extremely enthusiastic and persevere exceptionally well during these activities. The school curriculum has been established firmly in its rural locality, just a stone’s throw from Lampeter. Pupils learn about the area’s heroes, history, legends, and culture and this enriches their learning exceptionally well."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Strengthen opportunities for pupils to make independent choices about how they learn; (2) Strengthen teachers’ feedback and opportunities for pupils to reflect on their work so that they know what to do to improve.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol Y Dderi are Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen (3.7 miles) and Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron (4.9 miles).

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