As most of you know, each year schools are given a colour banding to show how well they are doing. The highest banding is green, then yellow, amber and red. Last year Blaendulais Primary had a yellow banding and this year we have retained the ‘Yellow’ banding.

We are very pleased that the good work we are doing has been recognised and whilst we understand there is a lot of hard work ahead, I would like to explain to parents how the banding system works and the problems with it.

Much of the decision is on data and how well children do in school. Of course, this is very important, but children are not all the same and year groups are not the same. Most schools have year groups that are very academic and others that are less so. However, we also have children with many other qualities – they may be kind, amazing artists, brilliant at sports, humorous, good at drama or technology. These things are not measured at all in the banding system. At Blaendulais, we value all our children and aim to encourage all their talents as much as possible.

“Many aspects of our performance are self-improving”

The effectiveness of management is another contributor to colour banding. This is not just the Headteacher, but the Governors and all staff who have any management role. This can be affected by all types of things – for example: a new Headteacher in a school, a new Deputy Headteacher, sickness of staff and the school budget.

So, whilst I am delighted that our children are achieving academically and that the management of the school is effective, I did want to explain the reasons why any school could move between green, yellow and amber bands. As parents, the only concern would be if a school was in the amber or red band for several years, for no good reason. Lets continue to make Blaendulais Primary School a happy place, where children thrive in a safe, stimulating & uplifting environment!

We all like positivity, and the children of Blaendulais are no different! The pupils and staff are currently trialling ‘Class Dojo’, which is a points based reward system. So if you hear your child saying they received ‘Dojo Points’, you now know what they mean!