Ffynone campus is situated next to St. James’s Park in the Uplands area of Swansea. Facilities in Ffynone House School include a learning resource centre, laboratories, gymnasium, a drama studio, a music room and two art studios in addition to two computer suites. Classes are relatively small. All pupils follow a common curriculum considered compulsory by educational authorities up until the end of GCSE. Ffynone has a tradition of extra-curricular sporting activities, including table tennis, football, rugby, hockey, cross-country and gymnastics, taking place at lunch-times and after school. The school has no playing fields of its own but instead, pupils use facilities at the nearby Swansea University. Pupils have access to other activities, such as debating, music, drama, dance as part of the curriculum and as extra-curricular activities.
History
Ffynone House School was opened in 1973 by a Swansea Businessman Mr Marshall David. The School was a former convent school, St Winifrede's Convent School, run by nuns from 1887-1969 and throughout the Second World War. The School's motto is "Where Individuals Matter". Previous mottos were "Non Sibi Sed Omnibus", virtus, and "Endeavour-Achievement-Excellence". In 2007, the school was purchased by Cognita, a private schools company. However, ownership of Ffynone House School was transferred back to the charitable trust that had previously operated it later in the year, and the school remains open today.
Science
Ffynone House School offers Chemistry, Biology and Physics as independent subjects throughout the School. Pupils from the School regularly participate in science-based competitions and have enjoyed success in the South West Wales Chemical Olympiad Competition. In 2009 the School Chemical Olympiad team came third in the UK in the Royal Society of Chemistry 'Top of the Bench' competition. They continued this success with further wins, coming 7th in 2012 in the Top of The Bench Competition, in 2019 the school chemical Olympiad team advanced to the national finals and secured a top place in the country. More recently they came runners up in Wales in the competition, however they could not secure a place in the national finals due to apparent cheating by the opposition team from Christ college.
2019 exam results
All qualifications, with the exception of ICT, are the more demanding English specifications and are graded using the 9-1 system. Over half of all grades were at level 7 or above with an impressive 19% at the ultra-high level 9. Headteacher, Michael Boulding, said, “I am thrilled to see so many of our students achieving at the very highest levels in so many subjects. I am also extremely proud that 84% of students met or exceeded their targets this year, over a third of them by at least two grades! This shows that above all else, we give our students the confidence and expertise to achieve their very best in these challenging qualifications.” 100% of students studying Latin or Classical Civilisation attained a level 9. In Mathematics, 83% of entries were graded level 7 or above with 50% at level 9-8. An amazing 58% of Chemistry grades were at level 9 and over 75% of Biology and Chemistry grades were levels 9-7. 83% of all History entrants scored level 7 or above.
Headteachers
Mrs Audrey Jackson 1973-1983 Rev Howard Jones 1983-1984 Mr John Rhys Thomas 1984-2004 Mrs Edwina Jones 2004-2008 Mrs Nicola Walker 2009-2015 Mr Michael Boulding 2015–present
