Llanishen Fach Primary School ‘Excels under Outstanding Leadership’ – ESTYN

Llanishen Fach Primary School is a ‘Good’ school with ‘Excellent’ prospects for improvements according to a recent Estyn report. The Headteacher, Mrs Sarah Coombes, is acknowledged as providing ‘outstanding leadership’.

The school is deemed to be ‘Excellent’ in six areas including: leadership and management, learning experiences, learning environment and most significantly, improving quality. In all the other areas inspected by ESTYN, including teaching, care support and guidance and partnership working, the report measured the school as being ‘Good’.

Summary
• Current performance Good
• Prospects for improvement Excellent

Key Question 1: How good are outcomes? Good
• Standards Good
• Wellbeing Good

Key Question 2: How good is provision? Good
• Learning experiences Excellent
• Teaching Good
• Care support and guidance Good
• Learning environment Excellent

Key Question 3: How good is leadership and management? Excellent
• Leadership Excellent
• Improving quality Excellent
• Partnership working Good
• Resource Management Good

The report highlighted the good standard of teaching, with excellent prospects for improvement, across the school, which ensures that pupils are, and will continue to be motivated and actively engaged in their learning. ESTYN also noted that there are rigorous processes in place for regularly assessing and tracking pupils’ progress and standards with reading and writing being identified as having improved considerably over time. The caring ethos, through which pupils are encouraged to develop tolerance, respect and understanding for each other, was recognised and celebrated by the inspection team.

Commenting on the ESTYN report, Headteacher Mrs Sarah Coombes said:
“We are absolutely delighted with the report which reflects the dedication of our teaching and Leadership team and of the governing body. This report provides us with the encouragement and determination to continue to move the school forward in the knowledge that we are providing the very best start for all our pupils.”

Responding to the report findings, the Governing Body said:
“The Governors at Llanishen Fach Primary School are extremely pleased with the results and outcomes of our 2014 Estyn inspection. No less than nine judgements of good and six of excellent are really outstanding.”

“It is perceived by some that the inspection follows a short intensive period of activity in preparation for the inspectors, however in reality the results have been measured by some very hard work and innovation over the past four years. We are all very proud to be associated with the school and the professionalism of the staff that has been recognised by the Inspection report.”

“We are delighted to have the inspector’s reassurance that our pupils are “very proud of their school” and are “motivated and actively engaged” in our “rich and varied programme”. We are particularly pleased too with their positive recognition of the “caring ethos” and the “positive emphasis on inclusion” within the “vibrant community” of the school, and of our “outstanding leadership”.”