Ysgol y Mynydd Du, Talgarth

Ysgol y Mynydd Du is an English-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 69 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

19% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 26% have additional learning needs (34% in 2020/21); and 12% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 6 pupils (Year 1) to 13 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £7,288 per pupil, against £4,459 in 2021-22. It carried forward £40k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its March 2025 inspection summarises Ysgol y Mynydd Du like this:

"Pupils at Ysgol y Mynydd Du Primary School benefit from its kind and caring culture. Leaders and staff foster positive and nurturing working relationships with pupils. They establish a calm atmosphere to ensure that most pupils feel happy and safe, behave well and engage in their learning effectively. Leaders create a supportive team ethos where everyone feels valued. Governors understand the school well and support the headteacher suitably. Leaders value effective family and community links and endeavour to ensure that they are forming strong relationships with the majority of families."

"Most pupils, including those with additional learning needs (ALN) and those living in poverty, make suitable progress from their starting points. By the time they leave the school, most pupils’ speaking and listening, reading, writing and numeracy skills develop well. However, pupils’ Welsh language skills across the school are limited. Many teachers engage pupils effectively in their learning with exciting and interesting activities. They use assessment effectively to plan lessons that help pupils develop a range of skills and make progress in their learning. In a few lessons, teachers over-direct the learning and do not allow pupils enough opportunities to develop their independence and creativity."

"Generally, teachers do not use outdoor learning spaces effectively to support pupils’ learning. Staff have created a curriculum that promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development well. They have established inclusive, effective provision for pupils with ALN and provide tailored support that meets individual pupils’ needs well. Leaders identify appropriate school improvement priorities but the school’s work to improve pupils’ Welsh language skills is under-developed. Staff work effectively with external agencies to support pupils and their families to improve attendance. However, levels of attendance remain too low and persistent absenteeism is too high."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Address inconsistencies in the quality of teaching to ensure that all pupils have access to high quality learning experiences; (2) Improve pupils’ Welsh language speaking skills; (3) Continue to improve attendance.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ysgol y Mynydd Du are Archdeacon Griffiths C.I.W. Primary School (3.4 miles) and Llangors V.P. School (4.1 miles).

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

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Post Office (opposite), 130 metres away.