Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School (in Welsh: Ysgol Gyfun Dŵr-y-Felin) is a comprehensive school in the town of Neath in South Wales.
The school is for ages 11-16. It is situated off the A474 next to Neath Port Talbot College (former Neath College before 1996) and close to the former Nidum Roman fort.
The former schools were Neath Grammar School for Boys and Rhydhir Secondary Modern School in Neath Abbey. Neath Girls' Grammar School was on Cadoxton Road (A4230). Neath Grammar School was noted for producing many well-known rugby players and for its music (choirs). Rhydhir has now been replaced by state-of-the-art teaching facilities on the upper school site, making Dwr-y-felin a single site school, with over 1100 pupils. The site amalgamation took place on 6 September 2012.
The school opened its doors for the first time in September 1973 following the ending of grammar school education in the Neath area. The Upper School is housed on Dwr-y-Felin Road in the buildings of the former grammar school adjacent to Neath Port Talbot College, while the Lower School is situated on the campus of the former secondary modern school in Longford, Neath Abbey now it is all located on a singular site on the upper school site with an extra building having been built costing the school 9.7 million pounds.
The inaugural Headmaster was Dr R.J. Graham (previously the Headmaster of Neath Grammar School for Boys), who left around 1987-89. Mr N. Stacey was appointed Headmaster in September 2002. 2012 brought a new Head Teacher to Dwr-y-felin as Mr. Stacey made his sad departure, when Mrs S.E. Handley, a previous history teacher and assistant head took over the role.
Gordon Back, international piano accompanist, Artistic Director of the Menuhin CompetitionStephen Baines, former Chief Executive of the International Rugby Board (IRB)Prof Hugh Bevan, Professor of Law from 1969-89 at the University of HullJohn Bevan - Wales international rugby player and coachKevin Bowring- rugby player and Wales international coachDr Peter Castaldi, Chief Medical Officer since 2004 of Scottish EquitableCynog Dafis, Plaid Cymru MP from 1992-2000 for Ceredigion (Ceredigion and Pembroke North from 1992-7)Sir Cliff Darby, CBE, OBE Professor of Geography, University College of London and Fellow of Kings College, CambridgeSir Rhys Davies QC, Recorder of Manchester.John Leighton Williams QC, Deputy High Court Judge.Dennis Gethin, Cambridge Rugby Blue (Selwyn), President since 2008 of the Welsh Rugby UnionBrian Rees FRCS consultant surgeon, Cambridge Rugby Blue (Christ's) and Wales International Rugby Player.Tim Glover, rugby journalistArthur Hickman, Wales International Rugby Player, later league professionalClem Hunkin, Aeronautical Engineer, and one of the top intelligence letter coders in Stalag Luft III 1940-45 (the "Great Escape" POW camp for captured RAF officers)Wynne Hooper, professional footballer with Newport CountyAir Vice-Marshal Edgar James CBE DFC AFC, Station Commander from 1961-2 of RAF Leeming, and Commander from February - September 1966 of British Forces, ZambiaT. G. H. James CBE – Egyptologist, Editor from 1960-70 of the Journal of Egyptian ArchaeologyRoy John - Wales international rugby playerProf Emrys Jones, Goldsmiths’ Professor of English Literature from 1984-98 at the University of OxfordDr David (Dai) Rayner Jones, President, Christ's College, CambridgeRayner Jones, Headmaster 1958-1970, formerly Chairman, International Rugby Football Board (1964)Prof Royston Jones, Professor of Spanish from 1973-4 at the University of CambridgeStuart Kale, international opera singerAnthony Robert Lewis (Tony Lewis) CBE DL– Cambridge Rugby and Cricket Blues (Christ's), England and Glamorgan cricket captain, President MCC, writer and broadcaster.Courtney Meredith - Wales international rugby playerProf Ian Michael, King Alfonso XIII Professor of Spanish Studies from 1982-2003 at the University of Oxford, and Professor of Spanish from 1971-82 at the University of SouthamptonSir David Nicholas CBE, Editor and Chief Executive from 1977-89 of ITNClive Norling - international rugby union refereeHarry Parr-Davies - songwriter and composerColin Parsons, Chief Executive from 1997-8 of Taylor Woodrow, and President from 1998-2000 of the London Chamber of Commerce & IndustryDavid (Dai) Richards - Wales international rugby playerMichael Roberts, Conservative MP from 1970-4 for Cardiff North, and from 1974-83 for Cardiff North WestBrian Thomas - Cambridge Rugby Blue (Christ's) and Wales international rugby playerGwyn Thomas - cricketerAndrew Vicari – artistCyril Walters - England test cricketer and captainKenneth Young CBE, Chairman from 1992-6 of the Student Loans Company, and from 1999-2001 of the Further Education Funding Council for WalesGareth Lloyd Evans, international playboy and waratah RFC Australia
Chris Bromham, stuntmanStuart Willson - Operational Manager at Gwalia Housing Group, Swansea. left 1982Katherine Jenkins – singerPaul James - Wales international rugby player, OspreysDavid Melding, Conservative AM for South Wales CentralCraig Mitchell- Wales and Ospreys rugby playerDavid Pickering - Wales international rugby player and current chairman Welsh Rugby UnionJames Reynolds - Rugby player Neath RFC, Cambridge University Rugby BlueJonathan Spratt - Wales international rugby player, OspreysNeil Thompson, General Manager since 2010 of Entertainment and Devices Division, MicrosoftJonathan Williams - Entrepreneur in Adult WorkAshley Beck - Wales International and Ospreys rugby playerRebecca Craven - Actress