Cyfarthfa means "Place of the barking (dog)" in Welsh and the school crest reflects this.
The Upper School moved to a new campus in Cae Mari Dwn in 1981.
The two storey site includes a dedicated science wing, sports hall, a range of general purpose classrooms, a flood-lit Astroturf.
The original lower school was situated in Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil.
External portable units provided woodwork and language labs.