The headteacher, who divides her time between Ysgol Bancffosfelen and a nearby school, provides a clear strategic direction for the school’s work. She has a robust vision to challenge and develop the school, which focuses effectively on the school’s ethos, providing effective teaching and raising pupils’ standards. The vision is also based on ensuring success for all pupils and promoting their Welshness. The school has been through a period of instability in terms of staffing for several years. In a short period of time, the headteacher has provided strong leadership and works successfully with staff, governors, pupils and parents to achieve this vision. The whole school community works closely as a team for the benefit of all pupils, and ensures that pupils’ wellbeing is at the heart of the school community. However, the school’s long-term leadership currently remains unstable. On the whole, teachers’ presentations engage many pupils’ interest appropriately, and they provide interesting tasks that meet the needs of a majority of pupils. Staff have worked hard to develop a stimulating outdoor area for pupils. However, the principles of the foundation phase have not been implemented robustly. Nearly all pupils, including those with additional learning needs, make adequate progress or better in their learning during their time at the school. Overall, over the last term, pupils’ achievement and attainment have started to improve. However, pupils do not achieve to the best of their ability in their literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Inspection area Judgement Standards Adequate and needs improvement Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Good Teaching and learning experiences Adequate and needs improvement Care, support and guidance Adequate and needs improvement Leadership and management Adequate and needs improvement 2 A report on Ysgol Gymunedol Bancffosfelen June 2018 Recommendations R1 Ensure a stable leader for the school R2 Increase the level of challenge in teaching R3 Implement the principles of the foundation phase in full R4 Improve pupils’ oral and written Welsh skills R5 Improve pupils’ numeracy and ICT skills What happens next The school will produce an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection. Estyn will review the school’s progress