In December, St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School was visited by Estyn inspectors. They have now received their report and are proud to share that it’s a good one!
Inspectors described the school as a happy, enthusiastic and supportive learning community where children feel safe, valued and respected.
The report also praised was the strong standard of reading and writing across the school, alongside good progression in pupils’ work and positive attitudes to learning. The school’s welcoming classroom environments, which support creativity, collaboration and problem-solving in the best lessons were also highlighted.
Estyn commended the school’s strong provision for Welsh, noting that incidental Welsh is frequently heard and pupils confidently use the language in everyday learning. Pupils were also praised for their good use of digital skills (DCF) in meaningful contexts.
The inspection team recognised that St Anne’s effectively supports pupils with diverse needs. Inspectors noted that targeted interventions and precision teaching are enabling pupils to make progress, and praised the school’s ALN provision and transition arrangements, particularly from Year 6 to Year 7. Estyn also confirmed that there were no safeguarding concerns.
Leadership was described positively, with inspectors recognising the school’s effective leadership and strong support for staff and pupils, alongside high expectations from senior leaders.
St. Anne’s welcomes the inspection recommendations and is already committed to further improvement, particularly in strengthening mathematics provision, improving attendance, ensuring greater consistency in teaching and learning, and refining self-evaluation processes.
Ms. Priest-Jones, headteacher, praised the children and the staff for all of their hard work and commitment in carrying out the school’s mission statement ‘Christ’s light shines through our learning’. She said: “St. Anne’s is a vibrant, inclusive and caring school. Our staff are dedicated to nurturing the children and giving them the skills and opportunities to thrive through their primary school journey. I am thrilled that the inspectors saw the progress our children make and the dedication of the whole staff who enable this to happen.”
Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, said: “I am delighted for all the staff and pupils at St. Anne’s to have received this positive report, which celebrates the hard work and commitment of staff and pupils. I am sure that with such dedication, this school will continue to flourish.”
The full report is available to view on the Estyn website.
