(Taken from Newsletter 6 – Feb 2020)
The school is proud to report that, for the very first time, we are a ‘Green’ school!
Just over a year ago, Estyn judged standards, wellbeing, teaching, care & support and management of the school to be ‘Good’. Whilst this is the ultimate test of a school, every year we are also visited by LA/ERW officials. These visits are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of schools, determine pupil progress and ability to improve.
We are delighted to finally announce (we’ve known since October!), that Blaendulais Primary is now a ‘Green’ school, placing it in with the most effective schools in Wales.
This achievement represents an enormous effort from all at the school – pupils, parents/carers, governors and staff.
On a personal note, I am delighted for the staff of the school. Having worked in many schools over the past twenty years, I have not experienced such a hard working group of people who, quite literally, everyday give their very best for every single pupil in school – ‘thank you’.
“Across the school the quality of teaching is strong. Teachers know their pupils well and have a clear range of strategies in place to enable pupils to succeed”
Of course, we know we are not perfect – no one is…! On a daily basis we come against bumps and lumps in the road ahead. Part of the ‘Green’ status is how we cope with these challenges and overcome them. Sometimes, they are not ‘conquered’ in a week or two. All too often, the school is required to provide sustained, consistent, unrelenting support to overcome these challenges – the resilience of this school is incredible and, I believe, that is a key factor in our recent successes.
So, whilst I am delighted that we are a highly effective school, with a track record of high level outcomes that demonstrates resilience, the school’s next challenge is to continue toward ‘excellence’ and support other schools develop on their journeys toward ‘Green’. Let’s continue to make Blaendulais Primary School a happy place, where children thrive in a safe, stimulating & uplifting environment!
