Two more North Cardiff primary schools have been commended by Estyn, the education inspectorate for Wales, after recent inspections.
Estyn recognised All Saints Church in Wales Primary School in Llanedeyrn for its nurturing atmosphere and effective leadership, and commended Lakeside Primary School for creating a safe, happy, and nurturing learning environment.
Inspectors found that All Saints pupils are encouraged to be kind, caring, and enthusiastic learners who exhibit excellent behaviour.
Effective leadership was said to have been a cornerstone of the school's success and the executive headteacher and head of school have collaborated to create a clear vision for teaching and learning improvement. This vision has been supported by staff and an inquiry-based curriculum, giving pupils a strong voice in their education.
Claire Cook, headteacher at The Saints Federation said: "The staff and governing body are very pleased with our recent inspection report which recognises the children's values and their enthusiasm towards their learning, however we are not complacent, and the challenge now is to continue to flourish as ‘The Saints Federation'.
"I would like to publicly acknowledge the dedication of our staff, governors, parents and partners. I am very grateful to all for enriching the lives of our pupils and in doing so, strengthening the wider community."
Overall, a positive report, Estyn made two recommendations which the school will address in its action plan: to improve educational experiences for pupils in reception to year 2 by promoting independence and curiosity, and to strengthen the provision for developing Welsh oracy skills and mathematical problem-solving abilities.
At the time of inspection All Saints C.I.W. Primary School had 141 pupils on roll, with 21.6% eligible for free school meals, 11.2% of pupils identify as having additional learning needs and 9.0% pupils have English as an additional language.
🏫 Meanwhile, at Lakeside, inspectors found pupils to make good progress from their starting points, growing into articulate and questioning individuals with a strong sense of community and global awareness.
The school's emphasis on pupil voice groups has been particularly effective, enabling pupils to actively participate in discussions and decision-making processes.
The curriculum has been praised for its range and quality, particularly in literacy, numeracy, well-being, and creative skills.
The provision for pupils with additional learning needs, both in mainstream classes and the wellbeing class, is also noted as a significant strength.
Headteacher Rachel Mitchell said: "Our dedicated and talented team of staff have worked hard to create an exciting curriculum which engages pupils' curiosity and enables them to achieve and thrive.
"We are fortunate to have parents, carers and governors who support the school so readily, and it is a source of joy to us that our pupils are proud of their school and engage so enthusiastically with their learning."
Overall a positive report, Estyn identified two areas for improvement: to use existing expertise in the school to enhance the teaching of Welsh; and to purposefully involve all staff in identifying, monitoring, evaluating, and reviewing whole-school priorities to ensure they understand their role in improving provision and pupil outcomes more effectively. The school will develop an action plan to address the recommendations.
At the time of inspection Lakeside Primary School, had 477 pupils on roll, with 8.3% eligible for free school meals and 4.2% of pupils identify as having additional learning needs. 41% have English as an additional language.
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