Pontlliw Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

The school's curriculum provides a wide range of interesting and stimulating experiences acrossmany of the areas of learning and experience.

Pupils' views are an important part of the processof planning activities and, as a result, most pupils apply themselves enthusiastically to theirexperiences. There is apositive environment in the classrooms and most teachers use a goodrange of effective teaching techniques to deliver interesting and engaging learning experiences.However, there is a tendency for teachers to over-direct learning.

This limits the development ofpupils' independent learning and thinking skills.The headteacher has aclear vision for the school, based on developing pupils' well-being, senseof citizenship and ...belonging. She shares this vision successfully with everyone in the schoolcommunity.

Leaders support the headteacher effectively andthere is a strong sense of teamwork across the school. Governors are very supportive of the school's vision and work, although they do not play a robust enough role in the school's self-evaluation processes. As a result, their role ascritical friend to the school is underdeveloped.

There is effective support for pupils with additional learning needs, and the school thinks carefullyabout how to support pupils' basic skills in literacy and numeracy as well as addressing their socialand emotional needs. Asa result, the school isan inclusive environment where staff work hard toensure that pupils make good progress and are becoming ambitious and capable learners.RecommendationsRecommendationsREnsure that members of the governing body play a full part in self-evaluationprocesses tosupport the school to identify all strengths and areas for improvementWhathappensnextThe 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 the school'scommitment to partnership working with parents and carers, for disseminationon Estyn's website.School contextSchool contextPontlliw Primary SchoolLocal authorityCity and County ofSwanseaLanguage ofthe providerEnglishType of schoolPrimaryNumberof pupils on roll223Pupils of statutory school age180Number in nursery classes28Percentage of pupils eligible for free school mealsover a three-year average(The nationalpercentage of pupilseligible for free school meals overathree-year average inPrimary is 23.0%)10.

5%Percentage of pupilsidentified as having additional learning needs (a) (The national percentage ofpupils identified as having an additional learning need inPrimary is 16.1%)10%Percentage of pupils who speakWelshat home1.9%Percentage of pupils with English asan additional language3.

8%Date of headteacher appointment01/09/2013Date of previous Estyn inspection (ifapplicable)01/07/2014Start date of inspection20/03/2023© Crown Copyright 2023:This report may be re used free of charge in any format or mediumprovided thatit is re used accuratelyand notused ina misleading context.The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyrightand the title of the report specified.Publication date: 25/05/2023Please note that the photographsdisplayed may not be of the school that isthe subject of thisreport.