Abersychan School

Abersychan School is a state-funded and non-selective comprehensive school in the Pontypool suburb of Abersychan, Wales.

Mr Phillip Collins joined the school in September 2015 as Headteacher. Mrs Charlotte Leaves joined the school in 2003, and was appointed as Deputy Headteacher in May 2017.

Admissions

Abersychan School has 870 pupils on roll. It serves the north of Torfaen including the communities of Blaenavon, Garndiffaith, Talywain, Abersychan, Pontnewynedd, Cwmffrwdoer, Trevethin, Penygarn and St Cadocs. The local diversity is exemplified by the fact that some areas qualify for Communities First status, while the northern half of the Afon Llwyd encompasses a World Heritage Site.

The school supports a Special Needs Resources Base for pupils in Torfaen with MLD.

History

Comprehensive

The closure of Trevethin Community School in September 2007 has resulted in large numbers of pupils from its former catchment choosing Abersychan as their preferred school.

The re-organisation of education in the north of the borough was supported by a capital investment in Abersychan School which has improved the teaching and learning facilities, most notably in the form of several classrooms, a sports laboratory, an ICT suite with a 60 PC capacity, an Art and Technology design area, a floodlit astro-turf and a sports field. In 2009 a multi-media learning plaza was opened. In January 2008 the school received a Welsh Secondary Schools Association award for its outstanding contribution to the transition of pupils from the Trevethin Community School to Abersychan School during the period 2006-7.

Mr Phillip Collins is the current Headteacher. Michael Conway retired at the end of August 2015 after 10 years of being Headteacher at the school.

Mrs Charlotte Leaves is the current Deputy Headteacher, appointed in May 2017. Mrs Charlotte Leaves has worked at the school since 2003, as Teacher of Science, Assistant Head, and now recently as Deputy Headteacher.

Sports

Teams from the school have won regional, national and UK competitions in Magistrates' Courts, Stock Market Challenge, Girls' Rugby, Design and Construction, and Dance.

Notable alumni

• Allen Forward - international rugby player
• David Llewellyn - novelist
• Mark Taylor - rugby union player

Abersychan Grammar School

• Prof Geoffrey Arthur, Professor of Veterinary Surgery from 1974-9 at the University of Bristol, and Professor of Veterinary Obstetrics and Diseases of Reproduction from 1965-73 at the Royal Veterinary College^[1]
• Roy Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead - founder of Social Democrat Party, and Labour MP from 1950-77 for Birmingham Stechford, and SDP MP from 1982-7 for Glasgow Hillhead
• Rear-Adm Brinley Morgan CB, Director from 1970-5 of the Naval Education Service
• Robert Ryder, pathologist who found the link between emphysema and coal dust^[2]

References

External links

• Abersychan Comprehensive School

News items

• Schoolgirl murdered in 2002