After much discussion and debate the town of Pontypool was chosen after land of six acres (24,000 m2) was donated by local landowner John Capel Hanbury.

In 1896 the foundation stone of what was then known as Jones' West Monmouth School was laid by Louisa Eager, wife of John Hanbury.

The school was officially opened by Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar in 1898, to accommodate 70 boarders and 30 day boys.

[3] Stock constructed the West Monmouth school of red brick, with stone dressings and roofs of Welsh slate.

A new music and performing arts centre was built on the site of the old swimming pool in 2001 which gave the school some of the best facilities in Torfaen.

The school now has performing arts facilities including an auditorium housed in the Haberdashers' Building.

The school has been extended once again; the old dining hall has been converted into classrooms and a new cafeteria built on the west side of the site.