Gilfach Fargoed Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

This school is part of a federation, characterised by strong leadership, high expectations, good quality classroom provision, and a focus on the well-being of staff and pupils. The headteacher has fostered a successful learning culture where everyone, staff and pupils, feel proud to be members of the school community, and want to do their best. The federation leaders are strategic in their approach to partnership working.

This benefits the staff, in terms of their professional learning, building capacity and effective deployment. Most importantly, it benefits the pupils in receiving effective teaching, that results in notable progress from their starting points. As a result, by the end of their time at the school, nearly all pupils... achieve well across the curriculum, and develop their self-confidence and sense of empathy and responsibility.

The provision for most areas of learning is strong, although leaders have rightly recognised the need to strengthen the provision to develop pupils' wider mathematical skills and ICT (information and communication technology) systematically. Teachers devise exciting, engaging topics and activities that their pupils enjoy. The professional relationships between staff and the pupils are a particular strength of the school.

As a result, classrooms are well resourced, purposeful, happy learning environments where learning proceeds at a good pace. Pupils influence the learning appropriately and contribute their views about what interests them. In the best examples, teachers allow pupils to think for themselves, but this is not always the case and, occasionally, teachers over-direct the learning.

Teaching assistants provide skilled, worthwhile support for any pupil that may require help to keep pace with their peers. Staff care deeply for their pupils and know them well as individuals. In addition, leaders work supportively with families wherever appropriate, for example to help them to improve their child's attendance.

Recommendations R1 Ensure that teaching and learning experiences develop pupils' digital and mathematical skills, coherently and systematically R2 Share the strong practice across the school to support pupils to think for themselves and extend their independent learning skills