The headteacher drives a strong moral ethos that unites all members of the school community. Leaders at all levels across the school, work very effectively with one another. They have a determined focus on promoting well-being and academic achievement. As a result, there is a well-understood collective purpose amongst staff to act in the best interests of every pupil. Pupils demonstrate exemplary manners and celebrate each other’s achievements with sincerity and enthusiasm. They welcome the inclusivity of the school and display a high level of trust in their teachers. Pupils and staff have a shared ambition for learning that is a hallmark of lessons across the school. Pupils value the distinct academic and pastoral support they receive. As a result, older pupils leave the school as well rounded individuals, with strong public examination results and a clear understanding of how to identify and follow their future pathway. Across the school, pupils are confident and communicate clearly when speaking and writing for a variety of purposes. The strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills laid in St. Nicholas House continue to develop as pupils move through the school. Senior school pupils develop strong subject-specific skills and continue to display high levels of engagement, and sixth form pupils in particular connect their learning in different subjects effectively. Leaders’ planning for strategic and operational improvement is a strength of the school. The governing body is highly effective in the oversight it has of the work of the school. This helps to ensure that improvement priorities are evidence based. However, this work is not yet driving improvements in the consistency of teaching. Across the school, the most effective learning experiences are those that respond to pupils’ questions and work. In these lessons, teachers use their exceptional subject knowledge, provide interesting and adapted learning experiences, and through, for example, careful probing questioning and timely effective verbal feedback, deepen pupils’ understanding. However, across the school, a few learning activities are overly directed, which limits pupils’ opportunities to direct, own and improve their learning. The school complies fully with the Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2024.