Cwmaman Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Cwmaman Primary School is both a caring, nurturing primary school and a hub of activity and support for the local community. Senior leaders develop strong connections with pupils, families and the community, to reduce the impact of challenges, including poverty, on pupil progress and experiences. Relationships between staff and pupils are a strength of the school.

Staff know the pupils well and use this to provide effective additional learning and emotional support when needed. Leaders value the well-being of all and, as a result, staff and pupils feel cared for, are proud of their school and enjoy attending. The headteacher has a clear vision for the school, with a strong focus on valuing kindness and inspiring all staff and pupil...s to be their best.

As a result, nearly all pupils behave exceptionally well and have high aspirations for their future. Staff have developed an exciting 'Cwmaman Curriculum', which provides the innovation for teachers to plan engaging learning experiences that immerse pupils in the rich history of their local area and Wales. Learning activities capture the pupils' imagination and provide purposeful contexts for them to use their literacy, numeracy and digital skills confidently to solve problems.

Teachers use their sound understanding of progression to ensure that pupils build on their learning in lessons and over-time, and as a result, most pupils make at least expected progress in their learning. In the best cases, teachers provide valuable feedback that informs pupils of their next steps in learning successfully. However, this is inconsistent across the school and many pupils do not recall their next steps in learning with ease.

The strong leadership team, supported by knowledgeable governors, monitor the quality of teaching and learning rigorously. They have a good understanding of the school's strengths and a strong track record of addressing areas for improvement and national priorities. The headteacher is a compassionate leader and his approach to developing an inclusive and caring school is greatly appreciated by parents, staff and pupils.

Recommendations R1 Improve teacher feedback to ensure that pupils understand and can act upon the next steps in their learning