Cwmtawe is now a well established 11-16 co-educational community school having undergone a phased re-organisation from an 11-18 school over the three years up to 1998. The school was created as a comprehensive in 1969, to serve the upper part of the Swansea Valley, by combining all the secondary schools in the area. Until 1996 it occupied the buildings of three of the schools from which it was formed on a widely dispersed site at the edge of Pontardawe. During July 1996, however, the school moved to new purpose-built premises at Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, and now enjoys accommodation and facilities the standard of which is outstanding. After consideration by the Governing Body and consultation with the LA it was decided to change the name of the school as from September 2008 to Cwmtawe Community School as it more accurately reflects the ethos of the school. There are currently 1268 pupils on roll. Our pupils are drawn from a widely dispersed catchment area including the urban areas of the valley, hill farms and small villages - some of which are strongholds of Welsh. A significant demand for places by parents of pupils living outside the designated catchment area confirms the popularity of the school. As a result of this, over half of the school are preferred placement pupils.

Our attitude and approach to our work as a school are embodied in our ‘mission statement’ and our aims have been expressed in general terms in the introduction. The following is a more formal statement. The overall aim is to contribute as much as possible to the development of young people equipped to live life to the full, in a responsible way, when they leave school. This means giving due regard to their social, moral, cultural, spiritual and physical development as well as their intellectual and vocational needs. The school, therefore, aims: 1. To provide courses appropriate to the aptitudes and interests of pupils at all levels in order to develop the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes needed to fulfil their Further and Higher Education and career aspirations. 2. To develop in pupils a respect for others; an understanding and appreciation of their personal responsibilities to the family, the school and the wider community. 3. To develop personal qualities such as endeavour, perseverance, initiative, pride in achievement, loyalty, honesty and polite and considerate behaviour. 4. To encourage the active involvement of pupils in the community life of the school.