Pentip Voluntary Aided Church in Wales Primary School is in Llanelli, in the Carmarthenshire local authority. There are around 156 pupils on roll, aged from 4 to 11. There are six single-age classes and one mixed-age class in the school. The rolling average for the past three years shows that about 18% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average of 19%. Most pupils are of white British ethnicity. A very few pupils speak Welsh at home, and a few pupils have English as an additional language. The school identifies around 23% of pupils as having additional learning needs. This is slightly higher than the national average of 21%. The headteacher took up his position in September 2014. The school’s last inspection was in March 2013. Estyn does not inspect religious education or the religious content of collective worship when it is a school with a religious character. Instead, the governing body is required by law to arrange for religious education and collective worship to be inspected separately. Further information is available from the Welsh Government My Local School website at the link below. http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/Schools/SchoolSearch?lang=en 1 A report on Pentip V.A. C.I.W. Primary School March 2019 Summary This is a very caring school where nearly all pupils feel happy and safe. They are cheerful and polite and play and work together harmoniously. Pupils’ behaviour in classes and around the school is good. Most pupils work hard and are keen to do well. Most pupils’ progress accelerates in upper key stage 2, but because their earlier progress is slow, many pupils do not make good enough progress from their starting points. This is especially the case for pupils who are more able. The school’s curriculum is broad and balanced, but does not promote pupils’ development as independent learners well enough. Many teachers underestimate pupils’ abilities and set undemanding tasks. They give pupils too few opportunities to make meaningful choices about what and how they learn. The quality of teaching is variable and, in a majority of classes, teachers do not challenge pupils at an appropriate level. Overall, leaders and managers do not monitor standards of teaching and learning rigorously enough. Currently, they do not demonstrate the capacity to bring about necessary improvements. The governing body is supportive of the school but does not provide effective challenge regarding shortcomings in its provision and pupils’ performance. Inspection area Judgement Standards Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Adequate and needs improvement Teaching and learning experiences Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement Care, support and guidance Adequate and needs improvement Leadership and management Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement 2 A report on Pentip V.A. C.I.W. Primary School March 2019 Recommendations R1 Improve teaching by raising teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve R2 Raise pupils’ standards in writing and numeracy across the curriculum and Welsh oracy R3 Provide greater opportunities for pupils to develop as independent, resilient learners, particularly in the foundation phase R4 Develop leadership capacity at all levels R5 Improve the effectiveness of monitoring and self-evaluation processes and planning for improvement R6 Improve procedures for assessing and tracking the progress of all pupils, notably of groups of vulnerable pupils R7 Improve pupils’ attendance What happens next In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that special measures are required in relation to this school. The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress on a termly basis.