29/4/2025

St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School has recently been inspected by Estyn. At the time of the inspection, the headteacher had been in post for 16 weeks following the resignation of their predecessor. During this period, a number of improvements were introduced to help steer the school in a positive direction, laying the groundwork for further progress — a development noted by Estyn.

Estyn praised the school for a number of positive outcomes and rapid progress in its inspection report.

Key Highlights in the report include:

Leadership and Vision:The school has undergone substantial changes, including moving to a new building and welcoming an interim executive headteacher in September 2024. These changes have brought about a clear vision for improvement and introduced effective systems to monitor and evaluate progress.Leaders have established strong professional learning partnerships, fostering collaboration and driving positive change within the school community.

Positive Learning Environment:The school has created a calm and positive learning environment where most pupils behave well. This environment supports pupils' moral development and promotes a culture of respect and cooperation.

Curriculum Development:The updated curriculum ensures pupil progress across all areas of learning and experience. It successfully incorporates Welsh heritage and culture, reflecting both current circumstances and important aspects of Welsh history.

The curriculum promotes pupils' moral development through engaging activities, such as the 'Big Question' for each class.

Safeguarding and Attendance:Leaders have established a robust safeguarding culture, ensuring the safety and well-being of all pupils. New strategies to monitor attendance are starting to improve attendance rates, demonstrating the school's commitment to pupil welfare.

Support for Pupils with Additional Learning Needs:The school provides effective support for pupils with additional learning needs, ensuring they make good progress from their starting points. This includes careful monitoring and partnership working with external agencies.

Pupil Voice and Engagement:New pupil voice groups have been established, involving children in decision-making processes and enhancing their engagement with school activities.

Executive Headteacher Claire Cook said: "I would like to thank our staff for their hard work and unwavering commitment to the school. They have embraced the recent changes with enthusiasm, and their dedication to continuous improvement is commendable. The efforts of our teaching and support staff are central to the progress we make, and I am proud of how they have worked tirelessly to adapt and innovate in the best interest of our children. 

"Staff have worked collaboratively with other schools within the federation to strengthen their professional development, sharing expertise and resources which has been invaluable. This collaborative approach is key to ensuring that our staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to provide high quality education for our children in St Mellons. 

"We are confident that, through ongoing reflection, collaboration, and a shared commitment at all levels for improvement, we will address the areas highlighted in the report and continue to enhance the learning experience and progress for all of our children. The schools looks forward to demonstrating our progress in the coming months."

The school will address the recommendations provided in the inspection report, focusing on securing long-term leadership arrangements, enhancing the quality of teaching, improving pupils' skills in Welsh, reading, and writing, and further boosting attendance rates.

The Local Authority are working with the school and key stakeholders to finalise plans to establish permanent leadership at the school and proposals will be communicated to parents and the school community.

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Estyn have highlighted the school's commitment to continuous improvement, and the dedication of staff and the leadership team has successfully created a nurturing and effective learning environment for pupils. The progress made in this short time is a testament to their hard work and commitment.

"After a period of change, we are committed to supporting the school as it continues its journey of improvement. Plans will soon be implemented to establish permanent leadership, providing the stability needed to build on the strong foundation of positive and high-quality learning already in place."

At the time of inspection, St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School had 158 pupils on roll. 18.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals and 6.4% of pupils have English as an additional language.