About our school

Ysgol Bryn Elian is an 11-18 school with approximately 900 pupils on roll, 152 of whom are 6th formers. The school serves the community to the East of Colwyn Bay, comprising Old Colwyn, Llanddulas, Llysfaen and surrounding areas. In addition, a significant number of pupils travel to the school from outside its immediate catchment area. The overwhelming majority of pupils come from English-speaking homes.


Ysgol Bryn Elian is renowned for the care and individual support provided for pupils. Examination results are consistently above the national average in all Key Stages.


Ysgol Bryn Elian is served by a dedicated and highly professional teaching staff, numbering approximately 55. The school has close ITT links with the University College North Wales, Bangor, providing a very highly regarded training for those students placed at the school.


A wide range of extra-curricular activities is available in the school including a full sporting and musical programme, school productions and concerts and a variety of lunchtime activities. The school has a very well-established Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, in Years 10/11/12/13.


A wide variety of trips and visits supports the curriculum in all subject areas; pastoral trips are also arranged. The school's usual curriculum is suspended for particular days during the course of the year for Skills' Days, which provide opportunities for many activities, projects and visits to enhance the educational experiences of all pupils and students.


Ysgol Bryn Elian occupies one of the finest sites in the whole of Wales with unequalled views across the Irish Sea to the coast of Cumbria. The site is surprisingly large, providing a range of sporting areas, including a new Sports' Hall and an astro turf pitch. The school's buildings are light and airy, providing a pleasant working environment and offering high level facilities for all.


Ysgol Bryn Elian has achieved several significant awards in recent years, including Investors in People Gold Award, and the Basic Skills Award. Teachers at our school have won awards at the Teaching awards, including a Technology Teacher of the year Award in 2014, and the overall Wales Quality Award 2013, amongst the many others. Ysgol Bryn Elian was inspected in October 2008. The resulting report was very pleasing, highlighting the many excellent aspects of the school. A full copy of the report can be accessed via the link on our home page.


Ysgol Bryn Elian is a lively and interesting place to work, professionally rewarding and a firm foundation for further career development. The staff development programme is integrated into the whole school development programme to meet the needs both of the institution and of the individual.


Our philosophy is based on a commitment to helping pupils achieve to their full potential. This is summarised in our motto: "Achievement for All/Llwyddiant I Bawb". We look, therefore, to recruit staff who are willing to contribute to the wider school community and to share their enthusiasms and expertise to the benefit of all the pupils.

School Information


School Day

The school day begins with morning registration at 8.30am. Pupils are expected to be on the school site by 8.20am.


  • 8.30am Morning Registration
  • 8:35am Assembly
  • 8.45am Period 1
  • 9:35am Period 2
  • 10.25am Morning break
  • 10:40am Period 3
  • 11.30am Period 4
  • 12:20pm Lunch break
  • 12:25pm Unsupervised areas closed
  • 13:00pm Afternoon Registration
  • 13.05pm Period 5
  • 13:55pm Period 6
  • 14:45pm End of school for pupils