Ysgol Y Ddwylan, Carmarthenshire

Ysgol Y Ddwylan is a bilingual (Welsh and English) school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 210 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

13% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (20% 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 22 pupils (Year 2) to 40 (Year 5).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,779 per pupil, against £3,739 in 2021-22. It carried forward £31k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its May 2022 inspection summarises Ysgol Y Ddwylan like this:

"The school has a caring, inclusive and Welsh ethos where everyone feels that they are a valuable member of a team. Pupils behave well and treat their peers and adults with respect and tolerance. The school helps pupils to respect diversity and discuss their feelings maturely by acting on the principle of ‘it’s okay not to be okay’."

"The leadership of the headteacher, governors and other co-ordinators encourages staff to act consistently in the interest of pupils and to support them to make progress continuously. Effective wellbeing support is provided for pupils and staff, which supports them to achieve well. Teachers and support staff plan interesting and purposeful activities for pupils, while also providing them with opportunities to suggest ideas about the content of their themes."

"Staff support pupils of all abilities well and help them effectively to do their best. As a result, pupils take ownership of what they learn, are enthusiastic about their work and persevere well with their tasks."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Share best practices in teaching across all classes; (2) Ensure consistency in teachers’ methods of responding to pupils’ written work; (3) Provide regular opportunities for pupils to apply their numeracy skills in other areas of the curriculum; (4) Ensure that staff have consistent expectations when supporting pupils to communicate in Welsh in formal and informal situations, where appropriate.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol Y Ddwylan are Ysgol Cenarth (2.6 miles), Ysgol Wirfoddol Penboyr (3.2 miles) and Ysgol Gynradd Brynsaron (4.2 miles).

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

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sycamore Street, 80 metres away.