Founded by Henry VIII in 1541, it has a magnificent site on the River Usk just to the north of the Brecon Beacons and a couple of minutes' walk from the pleasant market town of Brecon. The college chapel is part of the original Dominican friary, as are the two dining halls. The school enjoys handsome and well-equipped modern buildings in beautiful grounds: all lie within a designated national park. During the last ten years, there have been major developments and extensions -  notably refurbishment of boarding houses, a fitness suite, improved facilities for IT, art, pottery and photography, and an astroturf pitch. Now fully co-educational; girls were accepted throughout the school in 1995 after many years in the sixth form. Pupils of all faiths are accepted: the Anglican liturgy is used in services. Importance is attached to spiritual education. A small school with a large staff, (a very favourable staff:pupil ratio of about 1:8) and examination results are good. Performing arts are strong. Societies and clubs cater for an extremely wide range of needs. Sports and games are very well organised and the college has a distinguished record in many, particularly rugby, cricket, netball and cross-country. There is a vigorous CCF contingent and much emphasis is put on outdoor pursuits, leadership and self-reliance. It has an impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Pupils: Age range 11-18; 300 pupils, 82 day (42 boys, 40 girls), 218 boarders (151 boys, 67 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B preferred in sixth-form subjects). Skill in sport, music, drama an advantage. No religious requirements, but school is Anglican. Most new pupils at 11 from state schools, few at 13. Feeder schools includeà Cradoc CP School at age 11; Moor Park (Ludlow), St John's-on-the-Hill (Chepstow) at 13.

38 pa scholarships, awarded at 11, 13 or 16 (value 10%-50% fees): 27+ academic, others all-rounder, sport, art, music, rugby, science, medicine/pharmacology. Variable number of bursaries, including for children of clergy (11 upwards) and forces (age 13 upwards). Parents not expected to buy textbooks; policy of no compulsory extras.

Up to 15% live within 30 miles; up to 18% live overseas.

Head: Mrs Emma Taylor, appointed 2007. Educated at St Antony's Leweston, Sherborne and Canford, and at Oxford University (PPE). Previously Senior Mistress and Admissions Tutor at Dean Close, Housemistress at Canford and at Stowe and taught philosophy, religious studies and economics at Stowe. Teaching staff: 35 full time, 3 part time. Annual turnover 8%. Average age 39.

GCSE: 42 pupils in fifth: 95% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 5% in 5-7 subjects. Average GCSE score 57 (56 over 5 years). A-levels: 55 in upper sixth: 17% passed in 4+ subjects; 81% in 3; 4% in 2 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 279.

97% of sixth-form leavers go on to university (18% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 9% took courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 31% in science and engineering, 53% in humanities and social sciences, 6% in art and design. Others typically go on to careers eg retailing or to art college.

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 20 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level, wide variety of courses and combinations of arts/sciences; in addition, general studies AS and A-level optional. 17% take science A-levels; 12% arts/humanities; 71% both. Key skills integrated into sixth-form courses. Special provision: EAL available (offered 3 periods per week without charge in first year of entry); specialist tutor for mild dyslexia. Languages: French and Spanish at GCSE, AS and A-level, Welsh at GCSE. Frequent exchanges (France, Spain). Number of European pupils in school. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject in first 3 years and across the curriculum, eg research tool in history, geography and languages. 46 computers for pupil use (4+ hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. Some 15% of pupils have their own PC/laptop.

Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument, and exams are taken. Some 10 musical groups including strings, choirs, orchestra, brass groups, wind group and jazz band. 1 girl recently won vocal scholarship to RCM. Drama and dance: Both offered. Some pupils are involved in school productions and house/other productions. Recent productions of Grease, Sweet Charity. Art and design: On average, 22 take GCSE, 7 AS-level, 8 A-level. Design, pottery, photography, silkscreen, sculpture, printmaking also offered.

Sport: Basketball, cricket, netball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, athletics, rugby, hockey, soccer, squash, badminton compulsory to age 14. Optional: swimming, canoeing, aerobics, sailing, climbing, golf, fencing, triathlon, horse-riding. GCSE and A-level PE may be taken. Several Welsh schoolboy caps in rugby and cricket. Over 20 internationals in 10 different sports in last 3 years. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF compulsory for 2 years at age 13, community service for 1 year at 16 (and optional otherwise). Over 20+ clubs, eg stage management, ornithology, ballet, railway modelling, Crusaders, shooting.

Uniform: School uniform worn; some variations allowed in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head boy/girl, head of house and house prefects - appointed by Head. Religion: Anglican school. Compulsory attendance at religious worship. Social: Organised expeditions (UK and abroad); cultural exchanges and trips; sporting and music tours. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school for organised activities.

System of blue and gold notes to record misdemeanours and achievements; school detention for persistent offenders and various rewards and prizes for achievements.

is run by John Payne, OBA Secretary, at the school

P R Watkins (film producer); Gp Capt R M Thomas (Red Arrows); Roscoe Howells (author); Judge Robin David; Simon Hughes and Roger Williams (MPs); Robert Ackerman and Andrew Lewis (former Welsh rugby internationals); Jamie Owen (BBC presenter); Sir Barrie Stephens (Siebe plc); David Mercer and Oliver Hides (BBC sports commentators); Paul Brown (opera designer); Sarah Jane Davies (opera singer); the Rt Rev David Thomas (Provincial Assistant Bishop, Church in Wales); Mark Evans QC; Air Vice-Marshal Peter Harris; Jonathan Smith (author and playwright).