14/9/2023

St. Paul's Church in Wales Primary School, located in the heart of Grangetown, has been recognised by Estyn for its commitment to inclusive education and student well-being.

Following a recent inspection, Wales's Education Inspectorate has praised the school for its commitment to the safety, well-being, and progress of all its pupils and acknowledged the unwavering dedication to fostering a sense of community and respect among pupils of various backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.

With 224 pupils on roll, inspectors noted the school's curriculum is designed around engaging and thought-provoking enquiry questions and places pupils at the centre of their learning journey. This approach has enabled them to explore the creative arts, develop physical skills, and learn about their cultural heritage. Notably, the school's commitment to nurturing English, mathematical, and digital skills has resulted in commendable progress among students.

While the report highlighted the school's strong teaching practices and support for pupils with additional needs, it also emphasised the importance of encouraging independent thinking. The school is set to build on its current practices to provide even greater opportunities for students to develop as independent learners.

The report also acknowledges the need to strengthen Welsh language skills, an area where the school aspires to enhance its offerings.

The school is eager to take on the recommendations provided by Estyn and is formulating an action plan to address these areas of development which include:

• Building on existing effective practice to ensure that all pupils have meaningful opportunities to develop as independent learners
• Raising standards in Welsh

In recognition of its exceptional work, Estyn has invited the school to prepare a case study on how an inquiry-based curriculum supports a diverse community school in preparing students for modern life in Wales. This case study will be featured on Estyn's website, showcasing the school's commitment to educational excellence.

Reflecting on the report, Headteacher Ruth Wiltshire said: "I am absolutely thrilled with our inspection report. We're so pleased that Estyn recognises the tremendous effort from our staff, children and their families, who work together as a team to ensure that every child has the very best experience when they come to school.

"Our strong and dedicated staff have developed a curriculum that inspires innovation and reflects the needs of our community. As a result, you can see the pupils strive to make good progress throughout their time at St Paul's and I'm so proud to see the impact this curriculum has on our pupils every day. We look forward to sharing our curriculum approach and working collaboratively with other schools."

Chair of Governors at the school,Araf Haq added, "I wish to thank the Headteacher, staff and governors for all their hard work, especially after a turbulent few years, getting up to speed after the pandemic and the introduction of the New Curriculum. It certainly has been a team effort, and we are all proud of our school."

Cardiff Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "St Paul's CiW Primary School has a clear commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every pupil is given the opportunity to thrive as an independent learner. It was heart warming to hear pupils describe the schoolas a special place with ‘many languages but we are all the same.

"Estyn has recognised the schools collaborative approach which under the leadership of the headteacher and with the support of the governing body, has resulted in a close-knit "family of learners" that fosters a sense of belonging and achievement.

"The whole school community should feel very proud and I would like to extend my congratulations for their hard work and dedication."

At the time of the inspection, 34.3% of pupils were eligible for free school meals. 48.3%of pupils speak English as an additional language and 9.3% of pupils identify as having Additional Learning Needs.

Estyn has adopted anew approach to inspection in schools and Pupil Referral Units across Wales. Inspection reports will no longer include summative gradings (e.g. ‘Excellent', ‘Good' or ‘Adequate') and now focus on how well providers are helping a child to learn.

The new approach aligns with the personalisation of the new curriculum for Wales with inspections involving more in-person discussions, placing less emphasis on achievement data.

Estyn believe that the new inspection approach will make it easier for providers to gain meaningful insights that help them to improve without the spotlight on a judgement.