We are delighted that Brecon High School is featured in this edition of the Powys Literacy Bulletin. The Spring Term bulletin celebrates inspiring practice across Powys, with a particular spotlight on Brecon High School’s impactful journey in strengthening literacy progression.
This edition highlights: ✅ Whole‑school approaches to literacy ✅ The National Year of Reading – Go All In ✅ Reading challenges, professional learning and key dates ✅ Library and wider community literacy initiatives
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, school leader or literacy advocate, there’s much to explore, reflect on and share. At Brecon High School, the commitment to getting better never stops — and this feature is a testament to that.
Rydym wrth ein bodd fod Ysgol Uwchradd Brycheiniog wedi'i nodi yn y rhifyn hwn o Cylchgrawn Llythrennedd Powys. Mae cylchgrawn y Tymor Gwanwyn yn dathlu arferion ysbrydoledig ledled Powys, gyda sylw penodol ar daith effeithiol Ysgol Uwchradd Brycheiniog wrth gryfhau cynnydd llythrennedd.
Mae’r rhifyn hwn yn rhoi sylw i: ✅ Dulliau ysgol gyfan i ddarlleniaeth ✅ Blwyddyn Genedlaethol Darllen – Ymunwch Yn Llawn ✅ Heriau darllen, dysgu proffesiynol a dyddiadau allweddol ✅ Mentrau llyfrgell a darllen y gymuned ehangach
P'un a ydych chi'n riant, athro, arweinydd ysgol neu eiriolwr llythrennedd, mae llawer i'w archwilio, ei ystyried a'i rannu. Yn Ysgol Uwchradd Bregu, nid yw'r ymrwymiad i wella byth yn stopio — ac mae'r nodwedd hon yn dyst i hynny.
We are delighted that Brecon High School is featured in this edition of the Powys Literacy Bulletin. The Spring Term bulletin celebrates inspiring practice across Powys, with a particular spotlight on Brecon High School’s impactful journey in strengthening literacy progression.
This edition highlights: ✅ Whole‑school approaches to literacy ✅ The National Year of Reading – Go All In ✅ Reading challenges, professional learning and key dates ✅ Library and wider community literacy initiatives
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, school leader or literacy advocate, there’s much to explore, reflect on and share. At Brecon High School, the commitment to getting better never stops — and this feature is a testament to that.
Rydym wrth ein bodd fod Ysgol Uwchradd Brycheiniog wedi'i nodi yn y rhifyn hwn o Cylchgrawn Llythrennedd Powys. Mae cylchgrawn y Tymor Gwanwyn yn dathlu arferion ysbrydoledig ledled Powys, gyda sylw penodol ar daith effeithiol Ysgol Uwchradd Brycheiniog wrth gryfhau cynnydd llythrennedd.
Mae’r rhifyn hwn yn rhoi sylw i: ✅ Dulliau ysgol gyfan i ddarlleniaeth ✅ Blwyddyn Genedlaethol Darllen – Ymunwch Yn Llawn ✅ Heriau darllen, dysgu proffesiynol a dyddiadau allweddol ✅ Mentrau llyfrgell a darllen y gymuned ehangach
P'un a ydych chi'n riant, athro, arweinydd ysgol neu eiriolwr llythrennedd, mae llawer i'w archwilio, ei ystyried a'i rannu. Yn Ysgol Uwchradd Bregu, nid yw'r ymrwymiad i wella byth yn stopio — ac mae'r nodwedd hon yn dyst i hynny.
Sam Hobbs (born 13 May 1988, Brecon) is a Welsh rugby union player. A prop forward, he made his full professional debut for the Cardiff Blues regional team on 9 January 2010 having previously played for Pontypridd RFC. Sam went on to play two seasons with the Dragons until taking up the position of forwards coach at the Dragons Academy.
Former Wales Under-19 and Under-20 international. In May 2013 he was selected in the Wales national rugby union team 32 man training squad for the summer 2013 tour to Japan.
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER
Nia Roberts
The youngest of three girls, Nia Roberts was born and brought up in Brecon, Powys. Her family were active members of the Brecon Little Theatre amateur dramatics group, and aged seven she first trod the boards. Five years later, she landed her first television role as the lead girl in "The Farm", a 30-minute Jackanory play for BBC1.
Nia has appeared in many film and tv series; Solomon a Caenor, Under Milk Wood, The Return of the Yuletide Kid, Hidden, Keeping Faith, Dr Who, Hinterland, Holby City, The Crown, Pobol y Cwm and many more..
ACTRESS
Elliott James Freeze
DESIGNER
Born in Wales, United Kingdom and now based in the historical Jiangsu province of China, Elliott James Frieze launched his eponymous debut Women's wear and Menswear Collection at London and Paris Fashion Week in February 2010 with acclaimed model Jacquetta Wheeler and rock-royalty princess Amber Le Bon.
His loyal celebrity following include British actress Anna Popplewell who closed his Spring/Summer Collection at London Fashion Week.
Elliott continues to expand across the globe.
Andy Powell
Andrew Powell (born 23 August 1981) is a Welsh former rugby union player, who last played for Merthyr RFC. He is a former international rugby union player having played for both the Wales sevens team, and the Wales national rugby union team as well as touring with the British and Irish Lions. His regular rugby union position was either No. 8 or blindside flanker in the back row.
As of 2018, he is coaching his local club Brecon RFC, who play in the WRU EAST Division 1 league.
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER
Steve Perks
TEAM GB ATHLETICS COACH
Steve Perks became Welsh National Event Coach for Sprints and Relays in 1990 and was Head Coach (Athletics) at the Commonwealth Games Victoria Canada 1994.
Under his stewardship, in 1998, the British relay squad became the first team to win the European title in Budapest a feat they repeated in Munich (1999 & 2003) four years later. At the World Championships they achieved two Silver medals establishing a new British and European Record at Seville 1999. Then 2004 saw the ultimate achievement for the team – winning Olympic gold in Athens.
Sian Williams
Sian Reese-Williams (born 18 November 1981) is a Welsh theatre and television actress and singer, best known for playing Genesis Walker in Emmerdale.
She was awarded the BBC London Theatre Award for outstanding performance in a musical in 2001 for her role in the National Youth Music Theatre's production of The Dreaming.
Sian has appeared in many film and tv series; Justine, Line of Duty, Hidden, Hinterland, Loose Women, Emmerdale and many more..
ACTRESS
Dewi Morris
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER, TV PUDIT
Dewi Morris (born 9 February 1964) is a former rugby union footballer, who played scrum half for England.
He made his England debut in 1988 against Australia. He was dropped in 1990 in favour of Richard Hill, but returned to the England side in 1992 and was the Lions scrum-half in 1993. Early on in his playing career, Dewi played for Winnington Park Rugby Football Club in Cheshire.
He retired from rugby union after the 1995 World Cup third place play-off match. He had won 26 caps in total.
Melanie Doel
After a early career in newspapers Melanie Doel has spent the past 26 years working as a broadcast journalist and presenter with BBC Wales covering major news stories and features for Radio Wales and Wales Today. For a decade she lived and worked in the Brecon Beacons after setting up a unique BBC community initiative to broadcast from her home in Sennybridge. She has devoted much of the past ten years to presenting BBC Wales rural affairs programme “County Focus” enabling her to develop her passion for the Welsh countryside, environment, wildlife and the growing Welsh food industry. Melanie is currently Chair of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
TV PRESENTER
Mark Wyatt
PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER
Mark Anthony Wyatt (born 19 February 1957) is a former Welsh international rugby union player. He played club rugby for several university teams, and later Swansea. He was selected to play for Wales on ten occasions, scoring 81 points. Mark was famed for his attacking fullback play and his place kicking. He is the record points scorer for Swansea with 2734 points. Mark’s current sporting interest lie on the golf course, playing off a handicap of 4 and he is a member of The Royal Porthcawl Golf club. He is a Director at Gower Business Systems Ltd a leading ICT company in South Wales
Ian Jeffreys
PROFESSOR & INTERNATIONAL COACH
Professor Ian Jeffreys, an internationally renowned coach, educator and author, co-ordinates all of the South Wales University’s strength and conditioning (S&C) activities, as well as managing the S&C programmes for Cardiff City Football Club’s performance development programme. Ian is on the British Olympic Association register of strength and conditioning professionals.
He is an honorary advisor to the Korean and Polish Strength and Conditioning Associations, and a consultant to Nike. Ian has worked all over the world including the UK, USA, China, Australia, Korea, Turkey, Norway, Ireland, Poland, Iceland, Portugal and the Netherlands.
I am delighted to welcome you to Brecon High School. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our school. The information on our website is designed to give you an insight into our ethos, achievements, and aspirations. Of course, the best way to experience our caring atmosphere is by visiting us in person—either through a personal visit or by attending our Open Evening.
At Brecon High School, Getting better never stops. We are a purposeful learning community built on three guiding principles: Belong, Believe,Achieve. Every student is valued and supported within our inclusive community, we nurture confidence and resilience, and we set high expectations so that all pupils can succeed in life.
Our new build facilities provide an outstanding environment for learning and personal development. Alongside excellent teaching, we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities—sporting, musical, cultural, and leisure—which enrich pupils’ experiences and contribute to their learning journey.
We are proud of the significant improvements we have made: top GCSE grades (A*-A) have tripled to 29.1%, attendance is the highest in Powys at 91.5% for 2024-25 (last week we achieved 92%), pupil progress has improved through better teaching and learning experiences, leadership is stronger and more stable, financial management has been enhanced through collaboration with the local authority, and our Sixth Form has grown dramatically with Year 12 enrolment up 400%.
Our success is underpinned by our Cultural Norms that shape our daily routines and behaviours. We expect all pupils to be respectful, responsibleand ready to learn, arriving prepared and focused for every lesson, and to build excellent relationships with peers and staff. Pupils follow calm and respectful routines when entering and leaving the classroom and move between lessons with purposeful transition to maximise learning time. We celebrate achievement through student rewards, recognising effort and positive contributions, and we promote amind to be kind, encouraging pupils to live without harming others, show respect, and act with kindness. These norms ensure that our school remains a safe, respectful, and aspirational environment for all.
During their time at Brecon High School, your child will mature into a young resourceful adult, ready for the challenges that lie ahead. We provide a caring, rewarding, and disciplined environment in which pupils can reach their full potential. Together, we can ensure that their time at Brecon High School is effective, purposeful, and rewarding.
Thank you for choosing / considering Brecon High School. I look forward to working closely with you and welcoming your child into our community.
Rwy’n falch iawn o’ch croesawu i Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu. Diolch am gymryd yr amser i ddysgu mwy am ein hysgol. Mae’r wybodaeth ar ein gwefan wedi’i chynllunio i roi cipolwg i chi ar ein hegwyddorion, ein cyflawniadau a’n dyheadau. Wrth gwrs, y ffordd orau o brofi ein hinsawdd ofalgar yw trwy ymweld â ni’n bersonol—naill ai drwy ymweliad personol neu drwy fynychu ein Noson Agored.
Yn Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu, nid yw gwella byth yn stopio. Rydym yn gymuned ddysgu bwrpasol wedi’i hadeiladu ar dair egwyddor arweiniol: Perthyn, Credu, Cyflawni. Mae pob disgybl yn cael ei werthfawrogi a’i gefnogi o fewn ein cymuned gynhwysol; rydym yn meithrin hyder a gwydnwch, ac rydym yn gosod disgwyliadau uchel fel y gall pob disgybl lwyddo mewn bywyd.
Mae ein cyfleusterau adeilad newydd yn darparu amgylchedd rhagorol ar gyfer dysgu a datblygiad personol. Ynghyd â dysgu o safon uchel, rydym yn cynnig ystod eang o weithgareddau allgyrsiol—chwaraeon, cerddorol, diwylliannol ac amser hamdden—sy’n cyfoethogi profiadau disgyblion ac yn cyfrannu at eu taith ddysgu.
Rydym yn falch o’r gwelliannau sylweddol rydym wedi’u gwneud: mae’r graddau uchaf TGAU (A*-A) wedi treblu i 29.1%, mae presenoldeb yn uchaf ym Mhowys ar 91.5% ar gyfer 2024-25 (yr wythnos ddiwethaf fe wnaethom gyrraedd 92%), mae cynnydd disgyblion wedi gwella drwy brofiadau dysgu ac addysgu gwell, mae arweinyddiaeth yn gryfach ac yn fwy sefydlog, mae rheolaeth ariannol wedi’i gwella drwy gydweithio â’r awdurdod lleol, ac mae ein Chweched Dosbarth wedi tyfu’n sylweddol gyda chofrestriad Blwyddyn 12 i fyny 400%.
Mae ein llwyddiant yn cael ei danategu gan ein Normau Diwylliannol sy’n siapio ein trefnau a’n hymddygiadau dyddiol. Rydym yn disgwyl i bob disgybl fod yn barchus, yn gyfrifol ac yn barod i ddysgu, gan gyrraedd yn barod ac yn canolbwyntio ar bob gwers, a meithrin perthnasoedd rhagorol gyda chyfoedion a staff. Mae disgyblion yn dilyn trefnau tawel a pharchus wrth fynd i mewn ac allan o’r ystafell ddosbarth ac yn symud rhwng gwersi gyda thrawsnewid bwrpasol i wneud y mwyaf o amser dysgu. Rydym yn dathlu cyflawniad drwy wobrwyo disgyblion, gan gydnabod ymdrech a chyfraniadau cadarnhaol, ac rydym yn hyrwyddo meddwl i fod yn garedig, gan annog disgyblion i fyw heb niweidio eraill, dangos parch, a gweithredu gyda charedigrwydd. Mae’r normau hyn yn sicrhau bod ein hysgol yn parhau’n amgylchedd diogel, parchus ac uchelgeisiol i bawb.
Yn ystod eu hamser yn Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu, bydd eich plentyn yn aeddfedu’n oedolyn adnoddol ifanc, yn barod ar gyfer yr heriau sydd o’u blaen. Rydym yn darparu amgylchedd gofalgar, gwerthfawr a disgybledig lle gall disgyblion gyrraedd eu potensial llawn. Gyda’n gilydd, gallwn sicrhau bod eu hamser yn Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu yn effeithiol, bwrpasol a gwerthfawr.
Diolch am ddewis / ystyried Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weithio’n agos gyda chi a chroesawu eich plentyn i’n cymuned.
Yn gywir, Mr R Edwards Pennaeth
At Brecon High School, we aim to create a community where every student belongs, believes, and achieves—supported by a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and ambition. Getting better never stops for our learners, our staff, and our community. Through continuous improvement, we ensure every child flourishes and fulfils their true potential in an ever-changing world.
We celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive culture where every student feels valued, safe, and happy. Our school has a family feel, where individuality is respected and every pupil is known and supported. Belonging is the first step to success—and at Brecon High School, getting better never stops.
We raise aspirations so every pupil believes in themselves and their future. Through strong partnerships with families and the wider community, we nurture confidence and resilience. Belief is the foundation for growth—and getting better never stops.
We deliver an innovative, engaging curriculum in a high-quality learning environment. Our teaching sets high standards and ensures progress for all. Through targeted support and precision teaching, we remove barriers so every child can flourish and fulfil their true potential. Achievement is not a destination—it’s a journey where getting better never stops.
Welcome to Brecon High School
Yn Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu, ein nod yw creu cymuned lle mae pob disgybl yn perthyn, yn credu ac yn llwyddo—wedi’i gefnogi gan ddiwylliant o ragoriaeth, cynhwysiant ac uchelgais. Nid yw gwella byth yn dod i ben i’n dysgwyr, ein staff a’n cymuned. Trwy welliant parhaus, rydym yn sicrhau bod pob plentyn yn ffynnu ac yn cyflawni ei wir botensial mewn byd sy’n newid yn barhaus.
Rydym yn dathlu amrywiaeth ac yn meithrin diwylliant cynhwysol lle mae pob disgybl yn teimlo’n werthfawr, yn ddiogel ac yn hapus. Mae ein hysgol yn teimlo fel teulu, lle mae unigoliaeth yn cael ei pharchu ac mae pob disgybl yn cael ei adnabod a’i gefnogi. Perthyn yw’r cam cyntaf tuag at lwyddiant—ac yn Ysgol Uwchradd Aberhonddu, nid yw gwella byth yn dod i ben.
Rydym yn codi dyheadau fel bod pob disgybl yn credu ynddo’i hun ac yn ei ddyfodol. Trwy bartneriaethau cryf gyda theuluoedd a’r gymuned ehangach, rydym yn meithrin hyder a gwytnwch. Cred yw’r sylfaen ar gyfer twf—ac nid yw gwella byth yn dod i ben.
Rydym yn darparu cwricwlwm arloesol a deniadol mewn amgylchedd dysgu o ansawdd uchel. Mae ein haddysgu yn gosod safonau uchel ac yn sicrhau cynnydd i bawb. Trwy gefnogaeth wedi’i thargedu ac addysgu manwl gywir, rydym yn dileu rhwystrau fel bod pob plentyn yn gallu ffynnu a chyflawni ei wir botensial. Nid yw llwyddo yn gyrchfan—mae’n daith lle nad yw gwella byth yn dod i ben.