12/9/2023

Ysgol Glan Ceubal, a Welsh medium primary school in Llandaff North, has been described as a welcoming and compassionate community that values the well-being of its students above all else.

In a report published by Estyn, inspectors highlighted the school's dedication to inclusivity and the attention paid to individuals, as staff collaborate to identify the unique needs of each pupil.

The Education Inspectorate for Wales found the school to have a positive atmosphere, where pupils feel comfortable discussing their concerns in a secure setting and found that pupils demonstrate respect and courtesy towards both their peers and educators, resulting in commendable behaviour.

With a strong commitment to learning, students display positive attitudes and make impressive progress from their respective starting points, especially evident among latecomers to the Welsh language, who flourish following their time in the Welsh Immersion Unit, located at the school.

The school champions the use of the Welsh language across all aspects, empowering students to use their language skills confidently in various contexts. While many students excel in developing their writing and numeracy skills, the report underscores the need to enhance the reading culture to promote a greater enthusiasm for Welsh.

Teachers were found to develop pupils' skills through probing questioning and provide beneficial opportunities for pupils to discuss their work, they were also found to identify the needs of all pupils well and tailor learning support sensitively.  However, opportunities for pupils to respond independently to teachers' feedback to improve the quality of their work should be improved.

Overall, a positive report, Estyn have made a series of recommendations which the school will address in their improvement action plan;

• Expand opportunities for pupils to independently respond to teachers' feedback, enhancing the quality of their work, and fostering greater autonomy in learning.
• Develop strategies to augment pupils' engagement and enjoyment while reading Welsh books and texts, contributing to a more vibrant reading culture.
• Strengthen the strategic role of the governing body, enabling them to operate more effectively and contribute to the school's overarching vision.

Reflecting on the report, Headteacher Sian Eleri Fudge said: "We wholeheartedly welcomed this inspection as an opportunity to showcase our children, staff, governors, and parents. It also allowed us to highlight our strengths and demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement.

"In addition, it provides us a useful benchmark as we move forward. I remain extremely grateful to the entire school family for their contribution throughout this rigorous process. It's been a truly amazing effort, and I still feel immensely proud."

Chair of Governors at the school, Tanya Gallivan added: "I am very pleased with the report overall. It reflects the hard work and commitment of the staff team in achieving the successes highlighted in the report.

"We have some areas of recommendation to improve upon and will work together as a school community to action these, building on the good work that's already in place.  We will strive to ensure the school continues to develop and flourish as a positive learning environment for the pupils."

Cardiff Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "This recent report from Estyn highlights some of the excellent achievements at Ysgol Glan Ceubal and its commitment to fostering a nurturing environment for its students.

"It is clear that pupils are seen as individuals and that staff work together to effectively provide an inclusive ethos, identifying the needs of all pupils, helping them to achieve.

"Congratulations to the head, staff and wider school community, the school will now be supported to address the recommendations from Estyn."

At the time of the inspection Ysgol Glan Ceubal, had 199 students on roll. 15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, 5.0% identified as having additional learning needs and 16.7% speak Welsh at home.

Estyn has adopted a new approach to inspection in schools and Pupil Referral Units across Wales. Inspection reports will no longer include summative gradings (e.g. ‘Excellent', ‘Good' or ‘Adequate') and now focus on how well providers are helping a child to learn.

The new approach aligns with the personalisation of the new curriculum for Wales with inspections involving more in-person discussions, placing less emphasis on achievement data.

Estyn believe that the new inspection approach will make it easier for providers to gain meaningful insights that help them to improve without the spotlight on a judgement.