YSGOL Y FERCH O'R SGER

Overview

The report describes a school with a "strong Welsh ethos" where pupils show pride in their culture and community. While teaching is generally sound and pupils are polite and caring, recent staffing instability has limited leaders’ ability to address inconsistencies in provision and standards.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate "positive attitudes towards the Welsh language" and acquire it quickly, even those with little prior exposure.
• The school’s provision for vulnerable pupils is "commendable" and responds well to their needs through effective agency partnerships.
• Many pupils develop into "independent learners" who work well with others and support their peers.
• Teachers provide a "wide range of interesting and practical learning experiences" that engage pupils’ enthusiasm.
• Pupils have "good knowledge and understanding of e-safety" thanks to the work of digital leaders.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure leadership is "effective at every level" and play a more critical part in quality monitoring.
• The school needs to "raise pupils’ standards of writing," as they currently over-use writing frames and do not write freely enough.
• Leaders must address the "deficit in the school’s budget" and ensure assessment procedures are reliable and effective.

Safeguarding

Although the school has responded to some issues, the report states that "arrangements for safeguarding continue to raise some concern" and requires the school to address aspects of site safety.