RADYR Comprehensive School has been named ‘Welsh State School of the Year’ in the Sunday Times Schools Guide 2019.
The annual guide ranks the 2,000 highest achieving schools in the UK by their recent examination results.
The school which has over 1,200 pupils, was awarded the title due to the sharp improvements in results at both GCSE and A-level.
This year, 72% of A-level students obtained grades ranging between A*- B. Of these, 53% were A*- A grades, up 17% on last year.
Dr John Roe, Director of Radyr Sixth Form said: “We are incredibly proud that the progress our school is making has been recognised nationally by the Sunday Times.
This year’s exam results were the best in the school’s history and is testament to the hard work of all staff and students.”
Local resident and parent Giselle Maynard said: “I think it’s absolutely amazing, my son has a slight medical issue – a heart condition – and they’ve bent over backwards to be helpful and given him massive support. He loves it there and I think it’s a great school.”
Of the top performing schools in Wales, the top four are in Cardiff and Swansea.
Although Radyr won the state school accolade, it came second in the league table behind Cowbridge Comprehensive School, The Times previous Welsh state school of the year.
According to The Times School Guide, the top ten state secondary schools in Wales are:
- Cowbridge Comprehensive School
- Radyr Comprehensive School, Cardiff
- Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, Cardiff
- Olchfa School, Swansea
- Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen
- Crickhowell High School
- Ysgol Eirias, Colwyn Bay
- Ysgol Y Preseli, Crymych
- Penglais School, Aberystwyth
- Llanidloes High School
Radyr Comprehensive School has been ranked at 154th in the Times Guide out of 2,000 UK schools.
