Ysgol Penrhyncoch

Highlights from Latest Inspection

A group of children in a gymDescription automatically generatedA child and child playing with sandDescription automatically generatedA person and child sitting at a tableDescription automatically generatedYsgol Penrhyncoch is a welcoming village school that has close links with the local community. The headteacher and all staff contribute consistently to creating a caring and inclusive ethos. Nearly all pupils show positive attitudes to learning and, during their time at the school, many make sound progress.

Pupils are beginning to make decisions about what they learn. However, on the whole, pupils, including those who are members of committees such as the school council, do not influence the school's work regularly. Most pupils sp...eak Welsh with increasing confidence in lessons, although a minority of the oldest pupils turn to English occasionally when discussing with their peers.

Many develop their reading skills soundly. They develop and apply their writing skills in activities across the curriculum successfully. However, at times, the oldest pupils rely too much on writing guides, which hinder their ability to write freely and with increasing independence.

They also do not improve the content of their work regularly enough after receiving feedback. Many pupils develop their numeracy skills suitably. On the whole, they develop digital skills appropriately, although the oldest pupils do not apply the full range of digital skills to the best of their ability.

On the whole, teachers provide interesting lessons that engage pupils' interest successfully. However, provision does not always challenge a few pupils to achieve to the best of their ability, particularly those at the top of the school. Teachers provide a wide variety of valuable opportunities for pupils to compete in the local community, for example by taking part in sports tournaments, local shows and eisteddfodau.

Ysgol Penllwyn is federated with Ysgol Penrhyncoch. The headteacher, who works across both sites, embodies the motto 'gyda'n gilydd, gallwn lwyddo' ('together we can succeed'). Although the schools have their own unique communities, they also take pride in the fact that they are part of one federation and hold activities together for pupils and parents regularly.

Recommendations R1 Address the health and safety issue that was raised during the inspection R2 Ensure that teachers' expectations are high enough to support all pupils to achieve to the best of their ability R3 Develop pupils' independent learning skills, including their ability to make choices about their learning, improve their own work and influence the work of the school