Prior to federation, expectations of pupils at Park Primary were low, a culture engendered by the levels of deprivation in the community. The quality of teaching was inconsistent and the majority of pupils did not make the expected progress. There was very little evidence of pupil involvement in their learning. An Estyn monitoring visit found no evidence of collaborative planning in the school and “too little focus on consistency and progression.”
Following federation and confirmed by the Estyn inspection of 2023:
- Most pupils at Park Primary School are now making “strong progress from very low baselines”. The strong collaborative work on Curriculum for Wales ensures that “nearly all children are capable and aspirational learners”.
- Thanks to the effective development of pedagogy, and the consistency of expectations, teachers in Park Primary successfully motivate pupils to persevere and succeed in their learning.
- Very successful partnership working on well-being, including an innovative approach to interventions, has ensured that standards of well-being are high in the school. Estyn describes this as “a notable strength and a valuable focus of the school’s work.”
- Pupils now play a crucial role in school improvement, with many taking on useful and impactful leadership roles through a range of inclusive pupil groups.
Gilfach Fargoed Primary, too, has benefited enormously from the partnership, with enhanced opportunities for leadership roles, and wider team working, leading to improved outcomes for learners. In 2023, Estyn found:
- There is effective use of distributed leadership throughout the federation, which works to the advantage of both schools, both being stronger as a result.
- The focus on effective teaching and developing leaders has ignited a passion for learning within the school staff.
Collaborative planning and training, as well as shared research opportunities, have developed expertise, ensured a culture of enquiry and innovation and led to a more informed, reflective workforce who consistently demonstrate high levels of sustained professional practice.