Ysgol Bryn Elian's history prior to 1988 was largely uneventful, in that its performance was considered satisfactory to good in the inspections by Estyn. In 1988, following the retirement of the incumbent headteacher and the secondment of a Deputy, the school underwent significant change, however, occasioned, in large part, by the appointment of a new head teacher (James Whippe) with significant inner-city education experience, gained in both London and Liverpool, and a temporary, later to be made permanent, deputy.
Today
The School recently[when?] won the Wales Quality Award "Prize for Learning". To date they are the only school in Wales to do so.
The school has played host to the band the Ordinary Boys on the first day of BBC Radio 1's Star Pupil competition in early 2007 and has also seen the likes of Lil' Chris and European Gold and Olympic Silver Medallist, Campbell Walsh making appearances.
They have a highly successful music department, achieving many prizes in the Urdd Eisteddfod and producing high quality musical performances. In 2009 they gained 1st place in the county round, progressing to the national finals in Cardiff and have won the Learner's Cerdd Dant Party Competition nationally for 4 years running. Their D of E programme is widely considered to be one of the best in the area due to the sheer number of participants who achieve Bronze Silver and Gold, amounting to more than produced by the rest of the county. Estyn commented: "One way in which the school’s values are exemplified is through the provision of a wide range of extra-curricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, whereby the school enables a very large number of students to participate in the Award. The school has produced more than half of the gold Award winners in the county of Conwy."
The school also embarks on a great deal of charity work which recently[when?] has seen them raising money to develop a school in Madagascar, with an eventual target of £11,000.
In the 2012 A-Level Results 93% passed [citation needed]
In the 2013 A-Level results, all first choice universities were gained. The 2013 GCSE results were 97% 5 A*-C.
Its feeder schools are:
Ysgol Cynfran (Llysfaen)
Ysgol Hen Golwyn (Old Colwyn)
Ysgol Llanddulas (Llanddulas)
Ysgol Tan Y Marian (Peulwys)
Ysgol Y Plas (Llanelian)
