Pupils and staff are delighted to see the school praised as “a caring and supportive environment where all are valued and encouraged to give of their best” in our latest inspection report.
Leaders are praised for ensuring “that the well-being of staff and pupils is their highest priority.” Pupils are commended for being, “polite and courteous” and being “respectful towards others”.
Inspectors note that: “Many pupils value the support they receive to meet their emotional, physical, and mental well-being needs,” “are positive that the school promotes equality, diversity, and racial tolerance” and “participate enthusiastically in a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities…that help them become healthy, confident individuals.”
The report says staff: “provide interesting learning opportunities and, as a result, many pupils engage well and make good progress. In a few particularly effective lessons, teachers set high expectations, they question skilfully, and pupils make rapid progress in their knowledge, understanding and skills.”
Inspectors also described the school’s curriculum offer as a particular strength, saying: “It provides personalised opportunities which aim to engage, enthuse, and benefit pupils of all abilities. Pupils at key stage 4 and in the sixth form benefit from the careful curriculum planning that considers a wide range of subject choices including those suitable for the local economy. Pupils benefit from a range of valuable support for their well-being and learning. Staff know the pupils well and provide beneficial guidance when needed.
“Pupils with additional learning needs, including those who attend the school’s Autism Spectrum Centre (ASC), benefit from purposeful and bespoke interventions and support.
“Leaders foster a real sense of community within the school and in the locality. They provide strong support for families from low-income households. Additionally, they have an ambitious vision for developing the use of the Welsh language across the school.”
Inspectors gave the school five recommendations about the precise prioritisation of aspects of provision and teaching, the co-ordination of skills provision, attendance, and a health and safety issue. Estyn will work with the local authority to review the school’s progress. This is the lightest touch of follow-up.
Headteacher, Daniel Owen, is described as “a passionate and committed leader who has high expectations of staff” and “a clear vision for the school.” He said: “I would like to congratulate our wonderful pupils and staff on this smashing inspection report. It is heartening to read that inspectors found the school to be a ‘welcoming community, which provides pupils with effective care and guidance’. We a delighted that our visitors were able to see that our hard-working pupils are respectful, courteous and engaged in their learning, and that our staff are passionate, knowledgeable and able to inspire. The recommendations align with our self-evaluation, for example, we are already working with Local Authority colleagues to install new perimeter fencing to make the site more secure during the school day.”