Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera is a Welsh-medium community school for pupils aged 11-18, which has 1,001 pupils on roll. The school is situated in the village of Ystalyfera in the Swansea valley. It serves a large catchment area extending from Brynamman in the west to Cwmavon in the east. The majority of pupils come from the towns of Neath and Port Talbot, and the remainder from a number of smaller towns and villages in the surrounding area. A few pupils travel to the school from south Powys and east Carmarthenshire. The catchment area includes vast industrial and post-industrial areas, along with rural villages. Twenty point seven per cent (20.7%) of pupils live in the 20% most disadvantaged areas in Wales. Eleven point nine per cent (11.9%) of pupils are entitled to free school meals, which is below the national average of 17.4%. The school admits children from the full range of ability. Zero point five per cent (0.5%) of pupils have a statement of special educational needs, compared with 2.7% nationally. Approximately 12% of pupils have additional learning needs, which is also lower than the national average. Approximately half of pupils are from homes where at least one parent speaks Welsh, but most can speak Welsh to first language standard. Teaching at the school is conducted mainly through the medium of Welsh; however, from Year 10 onwards, science is offered through the medium of English as well as Welsh. The headteacher was appointed in September 2011. In addition to the headteacher, a deputy headteacher and three assistant headteachers complete the leadership team. The individual school budget per pupil for Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera in 2012-2013 is £3,808. The maximum per pupil in secondary schools in Neath Port Talbot is £5,882 and the minimum is £3,808. Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera is in 11th position out of the 11 secondary schools in Neath Port Talbot in terms of the school budget per pupil.