Ysgol Acrefair

Overview

The report describes Ysgol Acrefair as a school with a “friendly, caring environment” where pupils feel happy and safe. It highlights that most pupils, including those with additional learning needs, make “good progress” in literacy, numeracy, and ICT, supported by effective leadership and a “strong culture of continuous improvement.”

Strengths

• Teachers plan the curriculum effectively, using “interesting activities” and the “forest school area very well” to develop creative skills.
• Pupils are developing into “confident, independent learners,” particularly in the foundation phase, with good standards of behaviour and self-discipline.
• The headteacher provides “effective leadership” and a clear strategic direction, with staff successfully sharing leadership responsibilities.
• The school engages well with parents and has communicated its vision and values effectively.
• Staff identify additional learning needs early and provide targeted support, ensuring vulnerable pupils receive necessary help to succeed.

Areas to improve

• Ensure consistency in teachers’ expectations of what pupils can do, particularly for more able pupils.
• Improve the standards of Welsh oracy in key stage 2, as many pupils lack confidence speaking Welsh outside lessons.
• Provide regular opportunities for pupils to write independently at length and improve the presentation of their work.
• Improve attendance, which has remained lower than in similar schools despite strategies to promote punctuality.

Safeguarding

The report states that the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils “meet requirements and give no cause for concern.”