Construction began in 1950 and was the first of three secondary modern schools to be built in Cwmbran New Town.

It became a comprehensive in 1971 with extensions such as the sixth form building, sports hall and leisure center built by 1975.

The school had been placed on special measures, after the publication of an unsatisfactory Estyn inspection report in November 2012.

Usk Building contained two geography rooms on the top floor, a staff room, three drama classrooms, three religious studies classrooms, the headteacher's office as well as the other main school administrative offices.

The ground floor contained student's toilets and staff toilets, a classroom and a sixth form area which contained a locker room (now Offices), and it contained Sixth Form toilets, a common room, one classroom which was also used as a Sixth Form study area.