Ysgol Calon Cymru

Overview

Ysgol Calon Cymru provides a “calm, caring and enriching learning environment” where many pupils develop as “happy, confident and respectful individuals.” The school offers a broad curriculum with strong pastoral care, though the report notes inconsistencies in leadership planning and variable teaching quality that impact pupil progress in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from “strong provision for pastoral care, support and guidance” and feel “safe, respected and valued.”
• The school provides a “wide and relevant range of subject choices” for Key Stage 4 and sixth form, including vocational pathways.
• Pupil-led groups, such as the ‘Criw Cymraeg’ and LGBTQ+ group, play an important role in developing the school’s “inclusive ethos.”
• Pupils with additional learning needs, including those in the ASC centre, make “good progress” against individual targets.
• There is a “broad and extensive range of extra-curricular activities” that develop personal, physical, and creative skills.

Areas to improve

• Improve the quality of teaching, as it is currently variable and sometimes lacks challenge or engagement.
• Strengthen the provision for literacy, numeracy, and digital skills across the curriculum, where progress is inconsistent.
• Address health and safety shortcomings identified on both campuses and strengthen improvement planning processes.

Safeguarding

The report states there are “clear strengths in the school’s processes to safeguard children and young people,” although it separately identifies shortcomings in health and safety standards.