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25.
April
2018.
Glowing inspection report sees Ysgol y Wern take an ‘excellent' clean sweep

Ysgol y Wern in Llanishen, Cardiff has received a glowing report from Estyn, after the education inspectorate for Wales found the school to be ‘excellent' across the board. 

Estyn looks at the following five areas: standards; wellbeing and attitudes to working; teaching and learning experiences; care, support and guidance; and leadership and management. Its inspectors judged Ysgol y Wern to be ‘excellent' in all five of these areas - its highest finding possible.

Headteacher, Mrs Moira Kellaway, said: "We are delighted that the hard work of pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider community has been acknowledged in the inspectorate report on Ysgol y Wern. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do to ensure we are always providing the best for our pupils." 

Inspectors found that ‘the school is a happy, active and inclusive community' and that a ‘very strong strategic direction' has been set, with a clear vision ‘based on providing wide-ranging experiences of a very high standard for all pupils', which ‘enables them to achieve to the best of their ability.' 

The report, published by Estyn this month, goes on to say that ‘pupils apply all aspects of their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills extremely skilfully across the curriculum.' 

It also makes specific reference to the ‘pupils' delightful attitude', as they ‘greet each other, staff and visitors in a very friendly, natural and amiable manner.' The inspectors felt that this reflected the values of the school and ‘makes a significant contribution to the caring and homely ethos.' 

The school's attendance rates are consistently high, regularly placing Ysgol y Wern in the top 25 percent when compared to similar schools in Wales. This is seen by the inspectors as ‘an exceptional feature' which ‘reflects the fact that pupils enjoy attending school.' 

Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "Congratulations to Mrs Kellaway, all the staff, children and everyone involved with Ysgol y Wern. Estyn's findings are well-deserved recognition of the effort that has gone in to ensuring an excellent standard of education at the school. 

"Through our Capital Ambition, we want to make sure every child in Cardfiff goes to a good or excellent school. The work of Ysgol y Wern is a great advert for the city's schools, and another clear indication of the rising standards we have seen in Cardiff over recent years." 

When looking at teaching and learning experiences, the report highlights the ‘exceptionally effective working relationship between pupils and staff.' While the provision in early years of the foundation phase, enabling pupils to apply their key skills, is considered ‘an exceptional feature.' 

A full copy of the Estyn inspection report is available to view and download online atwww.estyn.gov.wales.