Ysgol Derwenfa CP

Overview

Ysgol Derwenfa is described as a “nurturing and hard-working school” that prioritises the well-being of staff and pupils, fostering a culture of “mutual support” and “respect and kindness.” The inspection highlights strong teaching quality and effective collaboration among staff, governors, and parents, resulting in an inclusive environment where pupils make “strong progress” despite often starting with basic skills below expectations.

Strengths

• The “quality of teaching is strong across the school,” with staff who “know their pupils well” and tailor support to individual needs.
• Pupils make “strong progress in most areas of the curriculum” and classrooms are “productive working environments” where they share an “enthusiasm for learning.”
• There is “effective support for pupils with additional learning needs,” addressing literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.
• Leaders and governors have created a “strong culture of collaboration” with monitoring approaches that provide “a clear direction for the school.”
• Parents feel “well supported by staff” and are encouraged to become involved in school life.

Areas to improve

• Improve opportunities for pupils to develop their numeracy and digital skills progressively across the curriculum.
• Improve pupils’ speaking skills in Welsh.

Safeguarding

The report states that the school places a “high priority on the well-being of its staff and pupils” and is an “inclusive environment” where staff work hard to address pupils’ social and emotional needs.