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Cowbridge School

Comprehensive

National rank

143=

133=

Rank last year

74.5^%

A-level

47.1^%

GCSE

Secondary School of the Year in Wales 2026; Secondary School in Wales for Academic Excellence 2026

Need to know

Head teacher Debra Thomas

Gender of entry Mixed

Total pupils 1,599

Our methodology

Results

Grade

21.4

24.5

28.6

A*/A

45.9

A*-B

74.5

Grade

9/8

22.7

24.4

9/8/7

47.1

What the school inspection says

“The school is situations on the outskirts of Cowbridge town where, along with the surrounding villages, most pupils come from. Nearly all pupils display highly positive attitudes to their learning. They are enthusiastic, resourceful and independent learners. Leadership arrangements are characterised by high levels of accountability and support… a strong culture of evaluation and improvement is central to the school’s work. The proactive school council has an outstanding impact on school life playing a key role in helping pupils to develop as confident, mature citizens. Consistently effective teaching, careful curriculum planning and strong provision for the development of pupils’ skills have a substantial impact on pupils’ personal development. The school is a very friendly and inclusive community, where pupils and staff value and respect each other, and share high expectations.”

Inspection

2019

In detail *

Read the full report

*Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgment in inspections of state-funded schools. A five-point grading scale, including a new “exceptional” grade was introduced in November 2025.

About the school

Ten miles west of Cardiff, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Cowbridge can trace its roots back to the foundation of a grammar school in 1608. The original grammar, which counted the actor Anthony Hopkins among its alumni, became a comprehensive in 1974. More recently, the Wales and Dragons rugby player Cai Evans attended the school.
Recognising that “high performance, success and happiness in school” require healthy and resilient young people, the school has a dedicated group of staff who drive the school’s vision for health and wellbeing.
Cowbridge is an all-through state school for students aged 3-18.
A redevelopment completed in 2010 brought together pupils from three sites into a single location, with new and refurbished facilities.
Extracurricular activities include a 5x60 programme of indoor and outdoor workouts to promote physical and mental wellbeing. There are many musical and drama groups, in addition to clubs ranging from Rotary Interact to Cowbridge Comprehensive Television (CCTV).
Cowbridge School was awarded State Secondary School of the Year in Wales 2025 and State Secondary School of the Year in Wales for Academic Excellence 2025

Visit The Times and The Sunday Times parenting section for advice, interviews, real-life stories and opinions

enquiries@cowbridgeschool.co.uk

Telephone

01446 772 311

Website

cowbridgecomprehensiveschool.co.uk

Address

Aberthin Road, Cowbridge, CF71 7EN

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