Garth C.P. School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

The Dee Valley Federation of schools was formed in January 2014 and consists of Froncysyllte Community Primary School, Garth Community Primary School and Pentre Church in Wales Primary School. It is led by the recently appointed headteacher and a team of assistant headteachers at each of the three schools.

These senior leaders manage the day to day running of each of their schools and assume responsibility for operational matters at each school in the headteacher's absence. Garth Primary School is caring and nurturing with an inclusive ethos of mutual respect and trust between pupils and adults. The school provides strong support for pupils' emotional well-being, especially following the pandemic.

This includes daily oppor...tunities for pupils to discuss their emotions and express how they are feeling. Many pupils enter the school with literacy and numeracy skills at the expected level, with a few above the expected level. As pupils move through the school, nearly all make sound progress in improving their literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

They apply these skills well in other areas of learning. Standards of pupils' Welsh skills are good, and many pupils demonstrate creativity and flair in their work. Staff listen carefully and value pupils' opinions.

Across the school, teachers plan imaginative and stimulating lessons based appropriately on pupil ideas and suggestions. They develop activities that provide opportunities for pupils to engage in a variety of enriched tasks. However, curriculum provision for pupils to learn about the diverse nature of society in Wales and the world is not fully developed and there is insufficient focus on Welsh heritage and culture.

The school welcomes pupils who are new to school warmly, and older pupils and staff provide beneficial support to younger pupils. This helps the youngest pupils to settle quickly and begin to enjoy socialising with their peers. The headteacher, senior and middle leaders are beginning to have an impact on improving the opportunities for pupils across the federation.

They have recently begun to reflect on the school's provision and consider necessary improvements to be made, for example in mathematics and teachers' assessment of pupils for the next steps in their learning. Recommendations R1 Develop leadership at all levels across the federation, and share the strong practice that exists R2 Strengthen self-evaluation processes to focus on the impact of teaching on learning and the progress of pupils over time R3 Strengthen teachers' strategic planning for pupil progress across the wider curriculum What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will work with the local authority to review the school's progress.