Llanfoist Fawr primary is a vibrant and active school where its enthusiastic pupils embrace the motto ‘achieve to grow’. Kath Skellon

PUPILS at the Llanfoist Fawr have quite literally been flying the flag for the county. They are extremely proud to have been recently chosen to design a flag that has been flown both in Parliament Square in London and at Runnymede Meadow to commemorate two historic events.

The ceremonial flag, designed by Year six pupils, represented the constituency in the 2015 national flag project to commemorate 750 years since the Simon de Montfort parliament and 800 years since the sealing of Magna Carta.

Headteacher, Jon Murphy said: “It was an honour and a privilege to be nominated by Monmouth MP David Davies to represent the constituency. We genuinely feel that the children now have become part of history in designing a flag that represents Monmouthshire.”

Mr Murphy is relishing his post at the helm of the busy school and credits much of the vibrant learning environment that has been established to his teachers and Learning Support Assistant’s (LSA), who carry out a plethora of roles.

“They are the unsung heroes of the school who run breakfast and after-school clubs, the forest school area and the library, doing roles which take them beyond the daily classroom and have an impact on learning right across the school.”

“They can be employed for additional learning needs or employed as foundation phase staff working with the infants.”

“There are more support staff here than teachers and they have a positive impact and extend the curriculum providing opportunities to enhance and enrich it.”

“There is not a member of staff here who does not have additional responsibilities and everyone works as a team.”

“It’s not just a job for them it’s a vocation and they are passionate about what they do for the learners.”

The school is constantly evolving with technology.

“As technology evolves so do we. By September we will have 70 ipads on top of the 40 laptops we have and 20 stand along computers.”

Every classroom, the library and main hall has 65-inch Apple TV screens so the children can ‘air drop’ their work onto the screen and share it with a wider audience.

“The children don’t have to all cram around an ipad to watch an oracy film they can now use the interactive screens.”

“Our support staff have embraced this new technology for example in an after-school creative movement class.

“Using an interactive screen and YouTube the children learn dances with LSA Sue Tew, whose day job is as a foundation phase learning support assistant.”

In the library, support staff member Jayne Jones is on hand to assist pupils with their reading and shows them how to use a decimal-based index system and advises them on what they should reading for their ability.

Aside from lessons in the classroom the children enjoy plenty of time outdoors taking part in activities in the forest school area and studying newts that live in the pond. They have a vast playing field for sports such as tennis and rugby and make good use of the outdoor classroom, funded by the school’s parent and teacher association.

Among the newest additions to the outdoor grounds is an organic garden which has been part-funded by the PTFA. Caretaker Mark Neil has been busy transporting tonnes of soil onto several beds that will be allocated to the classes. Each class will be given a budget of £30 and decide what to grow before buying plants at their local Waitrose branch.

Mr Murphy is keen that everyone should have a voice and much of this is expressed through the school’s Eco and School Council’s.

He admits that is has been a busy but exciting time at the school with a visit to London, a camping trip at the school and the annual Blorenge Challenge all set to take place.

“The school choir is also preparing to join other schools from Monmouthshire to perform at St David’s Hall in Cardiff in July.

“I’ve been here four years but it still feels like the honeymoon period. There is so much going on but coming to work every day is a joy.”

“While the curriculum is quite rightly hugely focused on literacy and numeracy we must not lose sight of the bigger picture and the holistic aspect of learning.”

“The learning opportunities the staff provide is what makes the school try to produce rounded individuals.”

“I never lose sight that we are shaping them for the future and equipping them with the skills to be happy and productive members of the community.”

Factfile

Llanfoist Fawr Primary School

Head Teacher: Jon Murphy

Pupils on Roll: 207

Ages: Four to 11 years

Chair of Governors: David Best

School Inspection

The school's first inspection was carried out by Estyn in May 2012. In his report Rob Isaac found the school provides a stimulating and broadly balanced curriculum where pupils are keen learners and behave well. Standards in literacy and numeracy in the foundation phase are above average and rising. By the end of Key Stage two most pupils are fluent, confident and expressive readers. The creative skills of many pupils are excellent, especially in their inventive artwork and tuneful music making. Teachers have introduced a series of curricular innovations for literacy, numeracy and personal development and these are having an increasingly beneficial effect on standards.