During a recent visit to Rumney Primary School, Estyn, the Education Inspectorate for Wales, has commended the school’s commitment to creating a safe and caring atmosphere for its pupils, with areas needing improvement being identified to ensure all pupils reach their full potential.
The report highlights the school as a caring and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and secure. Most pupils exhibit politeness and courtesy, working well with their peers and showing respect towards others and the school staff. This positive behaviour contributes significantly to the school’s welcoming and supportive culture.
Praise has been given for the comprehensive provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) where pupils make sound progress from their starting points, exemplified by the effective Year 1 nurture provision. The school’s efforts ensure that all pupils receive the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
The inspection found pockets of strong, inspiring teaching throughout the school. In the youngest classes, pupils’ sense of curiosity and exploration is well-developed through engaging and interesting provisions. This dynamic approach to learning allows pupils to contribute their views on what and how they learn, fostering a collaborative and inclusive educational experience.
The school has also been found to boast a whole-school culture of reading, a cornerstone of the school’s educational approach, encouraging a lifelong love of literature among pupils. Inspectors also found the school’s new curriculum includes relevant and exciting topics that capture pupils’ interests, ensuring that learning is both enjoyable and meaningful, keeping pupils engaged and motivated.
While the report identifies positive work taking place at the school, Estyn has determined key areas are needed for improvement;
Strengthen Senior Leadership: Develop the senior leadership team’s capacity to enhance teaching and learning across the school.
Improve Teaching Practices: Utilise existing good practices within the school to ensure all teaching is well-matched to pupils’ needs, enabling them to make appropriate progress.
Enhance Skill Development: Ensure the school’s provision allows pupils to develop their skills progressively and systematically.
The school will create an action plan to address the recommendations, and Estyn will monitor progress approximately 12 months after the report’s publication.
Eleri Williams Headteacher said: “I am pleased that Esytn recognised that the well-being of our pupils is at the heart of the school where pupils feel safe and secure. They also recognised the changes that have already occurred over the past eighteen months and agreed with the priorities set by the school. This report will now provide further impetus to secure continued improvements that our pupils deserve.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Estyn have recognised some of the positive work taking place at Rumney Primary School with clear strengths around ALN provision and the enthusiastic use of literature across the school.
“The report acknowledges the proactive steps taken by the headteacher to address challenges such as the need for more consistent teaching practices and better-structured provision for skill development. Whilst these initiatives are beginning to bring about improvements, Estyn have noted it is too early to see their full impact on classroom practice.
“With support from the Local Authority, the school is committed to building on these strengths and addressing the recommendations to ensure all pupils achieve their best.”
At the time of inspection, Rumney Primary School had 443 pupils on roll. 24.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, 4.4% of pupils identify as having additional learning needs and 4.7% of pupils are learning English as an additional language.
Estyn’s approach to inspection in schools and Pupil Referral Units across Wales no longer include summative gradings (e.g. ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’ or ‘Adequate’) and now focus on how well providers are helping a child to learn.
The approach aligns with the personalisation of the new curriculum for Wales with inspections involving more in-person discussions, placing less emphasis on achievement data.
Estyn believe that the inspection approach will make it easier for providers to gain meaningful insights that help them to improve without the spotlight on a judgement.
