Penarth’s Rich Educational Landscape
PENARTH offers a broad educational landscape spanning nurseries, primary, secondary and independent institutions that together shape a vibrant, community‑focused school environment.
At the early years level, nursery schools such as Little Westbourne Nursery and Victoria Private Day Nursery, offer a range of childcare from full-day care to curriculum‑based pre-school education.
Primary education is served by several valued English-medium schools – Albert Primary, Fairfield, Evenlode, Victoria, Cogan and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary – many featuring nursery units and all maintained by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Welsh-medium provision is available at Ysgol Pen y Garth, offering a bilingual curriculum and strong cultural grounding.
For secondary education, Penarth hosts two comprehensive schools: Stanwell School, formerly the county grammar, now a 2,000‑pupil foundation school with extensive facilities, and St Cyres School, part of the Penarth Learning Community campus, noted for its Welsh Baccalaureate and Fairtrade credentials.
Meanwhile, Westbourne School delivers independent education from nursery through sixth form, known for small class sizes and strong academic performance, including its International Baccalaureate program.
Across these settings, Penarth emphasizes inclusivity, bilingualism, high academic standards, cultural identity and seamless transitions between educational stages – all reflected in the consistently strong community and educational outcomes evident in the town.
PENARTH SCHOOLS & NURSERIES
Albert Primary
Albert Primary School, located on Albert Road, was established in 1876 as the town’s first board school. Constructed from local quarry stone, the building showcases Victorian architecture and features unique friezes by artist Robert Norton Nance. Designed by architect John Coates Carter, the school holds Grade II listed status. Originally serving children up to school-leaving age, it became a unified primary school in 1981, catering to pupils aged 4 to 11. A nursery unit was added in 1987, accommodating children from age three.
Address: Albert Road
Telephone: (029) 2070 7682
Website: albertprimary.co.uk
Bear Pak
Bear Pak is a well-established, not-for-profit wraparound childcare provider in Penarth, operating since 1994. Based at Fairfield Primary School on Dryden Road, it offers before- and after-school care, holiday clubs and nursery-level wraparound for children aged three to 11, running weekdays from 8am to 6.30pm during term time and holiday hours when schools are closed. The service is regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales, catering to up to 50 children. Driven by a mission to provide a safe, inclusive, fun environment, Bear Pak supports children’s independence, confidence and co-operative play while offering bilingual activity options and school pick-up services.
Address: Fairfield Primary School, Dryden Road
Website: bearpak.co.uk
Cogan Nursery School
Cogan Nursery School is a state-run early-years setting serving three- and four-year-olds from Penarth and the surrounding area. It offers a playful, outdoor-focused Foundation Phase curriculum in a supportive environment designed to foster independence, problem-solving, and co-operation. A 2019 Estyn inspection rated its overall provision – including teaching, leadership, care, and outcomes – as excellent, noting that children “make good progress” and that “involving children in leading their own learning is a particularly outstanding feature”. Admissions are managed through the Vale of Glamorgan local authority, with most children attending part-time until they transition to primary school at age five. Reviewers, including local parents, describe it as a warm, effective nursery where children thrive.
Address: Cawnpore Street, Cogan
Telephone: (029) 2070 1193
Cogan Primary School
Cogan Primary School, located on Pill Street in the Cogan area of Penarth, first opened its doors in 1884 and now accommodates more than 200 pupils aged four to 11. Built originally as a Victorian-era community school, it includes a dedicated hearing resource base and supports pupils with additional learning needs. Inspectors have consistently described it as providing a safe, caring and stimulating environment, noting well-developed pastoral care alongside strong academic and personal development programmes. Leadership is praised for its clarity and effectiveness, with teachers described as highly motivated, fostering excellent relationships with both pupils and parents. The school’s inclusive ethos is reflected in its values-driven approach and active involvement from families through its Parents’ Association.
Website: coganprimaryschool.co.uk
Evenlode Primary School
Situated on Evenlode Avenue in Penarth, Evenlode Primary School is an inclusive community-focused state school educating children aged three–11 years under the leadership of headteacher Ruth Foster. Pupils benefit from a nurturing and respectful environment noted for positive relationships, strong support for additional learning needs, and consistently good attendance and behaviour. Estyn’s 2024 inspection highlighted its caring ethos, effective teaching and embedded culture of reflective self-evaluation. The school also includes a nursery phase, providing a seamless early-years experience following a recent merger, and benefits from modernised governance with active parental involvement. Serving more than 500 pupils, Evenlode delivers structured learning through the Foundation Phase curriculum in a well-rounded educational setting.
Address: Evenlode Avenue
Website: evenlodeschoolpenarth.co.uk
Fairfield Primary School
Fairfield Primary School is a community-focused state school in Penarth, serving around 280 pupils (ages three–11) with an 18‑place nursery. Estyn’s 2025 inspection praised its inclusive, respectful atmosphere, strong pupil behaviour and well-being, and opportunities for student leadership and reading development. A new ‘School Street’ initiative on Dryden Road has improved safety and encouraged active travel during drop-off and pick-up times.
Address: 13 Dryden Road
Website: fairfieldpenarth.co.uk
Hazelhurst Children’s Nursery
Hazelhurst Children’s Nursery is a welcoming, independent full-day care setting housed in a spacious, converted Victorian building. Serving children from six weeks up to around eight years, it features dedicated age-group suites – from baby to pre-school – as well as extensive outdoor play areas and wrap‑around care options. The nursery fosters development through play, hands-on activities and support for additional learning needs using structured updates via a family app. Staff are professionally qualified, safeguarding-compliant and benefit from strengthened leadership and child-focused recruitment: a 2020 inspection praised its strong care, enriched environment and effective improvements.
Address: 120 Plymouth Road
Website: hazelhurstnursery.com
Nightingales Nursery & Pre-school
Nightingales is a warm and nurturing early-years setting offering care for children aged from around 12 weeks up to school entry, with wrap‑around provision extending to around age eight. It features four multi-functional outdoor gardens and spacious indoor suites for babies and older children. Emphasising learning through play and monthly thematic programmes, the nursery also provides home‑cooked meals, school drop‑off/pick‑up services and support for funded childcare schemes and additional learning needs. Regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales and registered for 42 places, it is praised locally as a friendly, secure environment where children grow in confidence and prepare for school.
Address: 15 Albert Crescent
Website: nightingalesdaynursery.com
Orchard Day Nursery
Orchard Day Nursery is a warm, family-run childcare setting for children aged six weeks to five years, operating weekdays from 7.30am to 6pm. The bright, purpose-designed interior includes a messy-play room, cosy storytelling area, sensory spaces and a varied outdoor play zone with astro-turf, sand, water stations and ride-on toys . The nursery prides itself on low staff turnover – some carers stay over 15 years – ensuring continuity of care, while an in-house cook provides fresh, healthy meals daily. With capacity for 36 children and a curriculum centred on fun learning with three-year rolling themes, it fosters a nurturing, creative environment.
Address: 46 Clive Place
Website: orchardnurserypenarth.co.uk
Stanwell School
Stanwell School is a co-educational, English-medium comprehensive school with sixth form provision. Established in 1897, it enrolls approximately 2,000 students aged 11 to 18, including over 400 in the sixth form. The school serves the communities of Penarth and Sully and also attracts around 30 per cent of its pupils from outside the catchment area. Stanwell School offers a broad curriculum with specialist facilities for science, drama, music, media studies, physical education, information technology, art, and design technology. The school has a strong tradition in the performing arts, having staged productions such as Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. In its February 2022 Estyn inspection, Stanwell School was commended for its high-quality teaching, strong leadership, and emphasis on pupil well-being. The report highlighted the school’s inclusive ethos, effective support for learners’ personal and social development, and the provision of a wide range of educational, sporting, and cultural experiences.
St Aubin
St Aubin Penarth is part of a family-run nursery group established in 1990, offering full-day childcare for children from six weeks up to school age, with wrap-around care available for those up to 12 years old. Housed in a multi-unit setting on Archer Road, it features dedicated baby, toddler, and pre-school suites, along with large outdoor play areas that include trikes, a vegetable garden and sensory zones. The nursery is staffed by qualified professionals and overseen by a curriculum manager, ensuring structured early education through activities such as arts, basic Welsh, music and play.
Address: 34 Archer Road
Telephone: (029) 2070 8112
St Cyres
St Cyres School is a co-educational, English-medium comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 18, located on Sully Road. Established in 1958, the school moved to a state-of-the-art facility in 2014 as part of the £48million Penarth Learning Community project, which also includes Ysgol y Deri, a special education school. The school enrolls approximately 1,250 pupils across Years 7 to 13. St Cyres offers a broad curriculum, including the Welsh Baccalaureate, and emphasizes digital innovation through initiatives like its student-run internet radio station, Cyres Sound, and the SCTV YouTube channel. St Cyres School continues to serve a diverse student body from Penarth, Dinas Powys, Llandough, and increasingly from Barry and Cardiff, maintaining a focus on inclusive education and community engagement.
Website: stcyres.org
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School on Sully Road caters to more than 200 pupils aged three to 11. The curriculum is noted for offering engaging, knowledge-rich learning experiences and well-resourced outdoor areas. An Estyn inspection in February 2025 reiterated a vibrant and nurturing atmosphere, exemplary pupil conduct, strong teacher-pupil relationships and swift progress for pupils with English as an additional language. Overall, St Joseph’s RC Primary is recognized for its warmth, inclusivity, academic strengths and ongoing improvement under clear leadership.
Website: stjosephsrc.com
The Green Giraffe
The Green Giraffe Day Nursery, located in a beautifully-modernised Victorian building near Penarth town centre, is an organic Montessori nursery caring for up to 44 children. It blends Montessori principles with the Early Years Foundation Phase to foster independence, confidence and a genuine love of learning in a nurturing, eco-friendly environment – offering 100 per cent organic meals, enriching indoor and outdoor spaces, and bilingual English–Welsh provision. Open weekdays from 7.45am to 6pm, it operates as a warm, home‑from‑home setting that supports children’s natural developmental journeys. Regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales, it holds hygiene ratings reflecting strong standards (“very good” for food handling and “good” for cleanliness). User reviews praise the caring, stable team and positive progress in children’s emotional and learning development.
Address: 8 Bradenham Place
Website: greengiraffenursery.co.uk/eng/penarth
Victoria Private Day Nursery
Victoria Private Day Nursery is a long‑standing, family‑run early years setting founded by Amanda Leader in 1995, offering childcare for children from birth to age five across four age‑group rooms over two floors. The nursery maintains a cosy, home‑from‑home atmosphere with two outdoor play areas – complete with trike track, sandpit and vegetable garden – to encourage development and independence. With a strong focus on structured activities and early learning, it limits group sizes to 49 and staff hold relevant qualifications and paediatric first aid certification. The nursery received a Care Inspectorate Wales inspection in 2019, rating overall well‑being as “good” and noting strong nurturing care and engagement. It also earns positive local reviews for its warm environment, professional staff and commitment to children’s growth and early education.
Address: 6 Victoria Avenue
Website: victorianursery.org
Victoria School
Victoria Primary School is a long-established community school founded in 1898. It occupies a traditional Victorian red brick building and caters to children aged three to 11, from nursery to Year 6. The main building contains classrooms for older pupils, administrative offices, and an assembly hall, while separate facilities house the nursery and younger children. An Estyn inspection in 2023 praised the school’s supportive environment, effective teaching, and pupil engagement, while also highlighting areas for improvement, such as strengthening Welsh language use, digital skills, and extended writing opportunities. The school is actively supported by a Parent Teacher Association and makes use of extensive outdoor areas, including a nearby community field.
Address: 24 Cornerswell Road
Telephone: (029) 2070 9225
Website: victoriaprimaryschool.com
Westbourne School
Founded in 1896, Westbourne School is a leading co-educational independent day and boarding school for students aged two to 18. The school offers a rigorous academic curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and is recognized for its excellence in innovation and education. With small class sizes and a strong emphasis on individualized learning, Westbourne consistently achieves outstanding academic results, with many students progressing to top universities. The school has been awarded ‘Excellent’ in all categories by Estyn and has received national accolades for its innovative approach to education. Providing the foundation, Westbourne Prep is a private primary school on Victoria Road, where the process of cultivating thinkers, problem-solvers and leaders through exceptional academic standards is developed. Meanwhile, Little Westbourne Nursery, on Westbourne Road, is proud to have been rated ‘excellent’ by Care Inspectorate Wales, and won the Early Years Team of the Year 2024 silver in the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards.
Address: 4 Hickman Road
Website: westbourneschool.com
Ysgol Gymraeg Pen y Garth
Ysgol Pen y Garth is a Welsh‑medium primary school located at Heol Tircoch, Redlands Road.. Under the leadership of headteacher Becca Pugh since January 2023, the school promotes a nurturing, inclusive environment, guided by the motto “Accept our similarities… Celebrate our differences”. It follows the Welsh national curriculum, integrating cross‑curricular themes like human rights, digital competence, literacy and numeracy, while fostering strong cultural identity and bilingualism. Pupils benefit from a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular activities including sports, music, dance and Eisteddfod competitions and the school emphasizes well-being with half‑termly well-being days. The school serves around 400 pupils aged three to 11, draws children from Penarth and nearby villages, and reflects a strong community ethos and commitment to high expectations.
Website: ysgolpenygarth.cymru
Ysgol y Deri
Ysgol y Deri is a specialist school, catering to pupils aged three to 19 with a wide range of additional learning needs, including autism, severe learning difficulties, and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Established in 2014 through the amalgamation of three former special schools, it now operates across five sites and shares its main campus with St Cyres Comprehensive School as part of the Penarth Learning Community. The school serves over 550 pupils, primarily from the Vale of Glamorgan, but also from neighboring areas such as Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Its curriculum is broad and tailored, combining academic learning with therapeutic support, including services like physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. Innovative tools, such as the Innowalk Pro, are utilized to enhance mobility and well-being for students with complex physical needs. In its 2025 Estyn inspection, the school was praised for its strong leadership, high-quality teaching, and exemplary pupil behavior. The report highlighted the school’s effective support for students’ emotional and social development, as well as its robust safeguarding practices. Overall, Ysgol y Deri is recognized as a leading institution in special education, committed to fostering the growth and success of its diverse student body.
Address: Sully Road
Telephone: (029) 2035 2280
Website: yyd.org.uk