Ysgol Clydau

Overview

Ysgol Clydau is described as a “happy, caring and welcoming community” where pupils feel safe and behave respectfully. Most pupils make suitable progress in core skills and creative areas, supported by staff who foster a “homely and supportive working relationship.” However, the report notes that feedback does not always help pupils identify next steps, and some able pupils lack sufficient challenge.

Strengths

• The school has a “strong culture of safeguarding,” ensuring pupils feel safe and enjoy their time there.
• Staff provide a curriculum that “makes purposeful use of the local area” and “ignites the curiosity of nearly all pupils.”
• Provision for pupils with additional learning needs is “comprehensive,” enabling most to make sound progress.
• Pupils demonstrate “robust attitudes towards physical activities” and develop creative skills well.
• The governing body is “extremely committed” and provides purposeful support to leaders and staff.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must ensure feedback helps pupils improve their work, as it currently focuses too much on praise rather than specific improvements.
• Staff need to provide appropriate challenge for all pupils, particularly those who are more able, to ensure they achieve to the best of their ability.

Safeguarding

The report states that leaders “promote a culture of safeguarding successfully” and that procedures are “sound and are not a cause for concern.”