Olchfa School

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Olchfa School
Olchfa School Logo (2017-).jpg
Address
Olchfa School
Gower Road

, ,
SA2 7AB

Information
Type Secondary School
MottoDysg, Dawn, Daioni
(Learning, Talent, Goodness)
Opened3 September 1969
Local authoritySwansea
HeadmasterJulian Kennedy (2023-Present)
Age11to 19
Enrolment1,700 - February 2018
Colour(s)Blue and red
Website https://www.olchfa.org.uk

Olchfa School (Welsh : Ysgol Gyfun yr Olchfa) is a pioneer school [1] and the largest secondary school in Swansea, South Wales, with approximately 1,700 pupils, including 357 in the Sixth Form. [2] Situated in Sketty Park to the west of Sketty, it provides secondary education for GCSE and A-Level qualifications. Olchfa (part of the Sketty Swansea suburb) means 'washing place' in the English language.

Contents

Around 12% of pupils have a special educational need and 1.7% have a statement of special educational needs. Both of these figures are below the Welsh averages of 21.5% and 2% respectively. Nearly a quarter of pupils come from an ethnic minority background and just over 20% speak English as an additional language. [2]

Academic performance

In its most recent Estyn inspection in 2018, Olchfa School received the highest possible judgement, 'Excellent' in all five inspection areas. [2] In the same year, the school reported a GCSE pass rate of 85% (based on 5 GCSEs, grades A*-C), placing it in the top five schools in Wales, top three in Wales for the percentage of A*-A grades [3] and 74th in the UK taking A-levels (A*-B) and GCSE's (A*-C) into account. [4] In 2023, Olchfa School was accoladed as the second-best secondary school in Wales by the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide. [5]

Facilities

The school consists of different sections - the main building, a south block, P.E. department as well as a maths and science block. The school also consists of smaller demountable classrooms throughout the plot that teach a variety of subjects, an on-site swimming pool and numerous Tennis, Rugby, Football, Netball and Cricket pitches. A £1.6m investment is underway for a full-size, all-weather 3G pitch. The school recently sold off much needed land to a local "luxury" (unaffordable) building conglomerate to fund the above pitches, rather than use it to provide essential facilities for student transportation to remove the danger and inconvenience of schoolchildren being picked up and dropped off on busy local streets, and important education in nature, permaculture and the environment in co-operation with the local community by providing land for essential allotment and food-growing space. [6] There is also an on-site specialist facility supporting the needs of hearing impaired pupils.

Notable former pupils

Sports

Other


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References

  1. https://www.estyn.gov.wales/system/files/2020-08/Olchfa%2520School_0.pdf
  2. 1 2 3 "Olchfa School | Estyn". www.estyn.gov.wales. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. https://nation.cymru/news/top-performing-schools-in-wales-revealed-in-new-survey/
  4. https://blog.thinkacademy.uk/best-state-secondary-schools-uk/
  5. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/south-wales-evening-post/20231202/281517935883992 . Retrieved 30 December 2023 via PressReader.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. https://www.swansea.gov.uk/Olchfapitch?lang=en
  7. "Shooting of movie adaptation surreal experience for writer", "This is South Wales", 20 November 2009, accessed 24 August 2011.