Holy Name V.R.C. School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Holy Name Primary School is a caring, nurturing organisation that places a high priority on the well-being of its pupils and staff. Pupils enjoy learning and talk with pride about their school. Staff promote respect for others, and they consistently model positive, calm and friendly approaches.

These values are echoed well by the pupils. Most pupils engage positively with learning and make good progress overall. However, opportunities for pupils to transfer their numeracy skills across the curriculum and writing at length need developing further.

Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are a strength of the school. They listen carefully to instructions and apply themselves well to their learning. Teachers offer a wide ...range of interesting, authentic learning experiences, which help to make learning fun.

However, at times teachers can over-direct learning, inhibiting pupils' growth in independence. The school has created a bespoke curriculum incorporating their local surroundings, values and beliefs. They have placed a high emphasis on information and communication technology (ICT) skills, and bilingualism.

Staff use Welsh throughout their teaching time, conversing in both languages with ease. Pupils respond appropriately, showing good understanding of both languages. This is a notable feature of the school.

The headteacher leads the school with the pupils' care and well-being at the heart of her vision. She provides measured, compassionate leadership. Governors know the school well.

They are supportive and sufficiently challenge strategic plans. The partnership between parents and the school is good. Parents talk with pride about their school, particularly about the support the school gives them as parents and about providing adult Welsh lessons.

Relationships with outside agencies are effective in collaborating with the school to provide the best support for pupils. Leaders evaluate the school's work thoroughly. They have clear processes and practices for monitoring and self-evaluation.

Staff reflect well on the success of their practice and this has resulted in beneficial professional learning for staff, improved teaching and measurable progress for pupils. Recommendations R1 Develop independent learning R2 Provide opportunities for pupils to develop writing at length across the curriculum R3 Provide opportunities to apply numeracy skills to problem-solving activities in real-life contexts What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection. Estyn will invite the school to prepare a case study on its work in relation to creating a whole school approach to developing bilingualism, for dissemination on Estyn's website.