THE school motto ‘Learning together, learning for life’ is one that is embraced by pupils at Undy Primary School as Kath Skellon found out.

TEACHERS at Undy Primary have been praised by Estyn inspectors for providing a good range of stimulating learning experiences.

Thorough and careful planning for the development of pupil’s literacy, numeracy, thinking and information and communication technology skills ensures that the curriculum meets the needs of all pupils.

From the use of the indoor and outdoor environment to a shared learning area known as The Plaza, headteacher Mark Gunn strives to make learning enjoyable and to promote high standards of independent learning.

Now in his tenth year as headteacher at the village primary, Mr Gunn said he is proud of staff and pupils after winning ‘excellent’ praise in a recent Estyn inspection for the learning experiences that are provided through the Plaza.

The room is a hive of activity with pupils focusing on a range of topic-related activities that range from projects such as maths project to the Victorians and studying bridges using Lego.

The area also features a literacy wall and a media zone.

“The Plaza is an area where the children are given independent learning experiences and has been running on a daily basis for four years,” explained Mr Gunn.

“It’s a shared learning area for upper key stage 2 pupils that promotes high standards of independent learning through a range of stimulating, topic-related activities that teachers design to challenge pupils of all abilities.”

Each pupil chooses a level of colour-coded work to do.

If they find it easy they are encouraged to move onto the next level.

They manage themselves but are closely monitored by staff.

Once they finish an activity they evaluate it which gives us feedback.

“It works really well and they love it.

“The activities promote decision-making and collaborative learning and enable pupils to apply the literacy, numeracy, science and thinking skills that they learn in structured lessons to more open-ended tasks.”

“This engages year five and six pupils particularly well and enables them to extend their own learning through problem-solving and investigative approaches.”

Estyn has been so impressed with the initiative that the school has been invited to write a case study about the work of the Plaza for the Estyn website.

There is a happy buzz that can be heard around the building as we tour the school and admire the children’s work that adorns the corridors and classroom walls.

The provision for Welsh language development through Criw Cymraeg is evident as children welcome us in Welsh.

Mr Gunn beams with pride when he talks about the children.

“The children are bright and sparky.

“What they bring to this school is a desire to learn.”

Praising his staff he added: “Every day is different but it is the staff that make it what it is.

“Their enthusiasm and spontaneity is what makes Undy a really good school to work in.”

“After 21 years as a headteacher I still say this is a lovely place to come to work every day whatever the weather.”

There are several initiatives running at the Platinum Eco School, many of which the children are heavily involved in through the school and sports councils and the eco committee.

Mr Gunn passionately believes that the pupils’ voices are important and that they make a valuable contribution to decision-making in the school.

They play an important role in developing and reviewing the school charter and supporting the school’s work as a Rights Respecting School.

“The children have a strong voice in school life and meet with me weekly to discuss various issues and on occasions hold their own assembly.”

The school council elections were held last week.

“They are very effective and meet weekly to discuss their own agenda’s.

“Members talk to their classmates who can raise particular issues or have an input in what equipment is purchased for the playground.

“The eco committee looks at ways to reduce energy consumption.

“We recycle all paper and card and they are also responsible for recycling ball point pens which are then made into street furniture such as bollards.

“The school receives 0.5pence for every pen which goes towards our charity which is Macmillan.”

Undy Primary has Fairtrade status and led to pupils creating designs for a fair trade t-shirt with the winning design being made in Mauritius.

A shirt is proudly on display on the Fairtrade information board which also features a QR code that the children can scan to find out more about the initiative.

The school’s impressive outdoor areas include a vast playground, a courtyard where play for year two is usually linked to science activities and features a wicker storyteller cottage.

Outside the classroom the school boasts a successful choir and offers weekly music lessons through Gwent Music Support Services.

It offers a range of sports, including football, and after-school clubs which run all year such as gardening, media, rock and pop, circuit and chess.

Technology is very much at the forefront of school life with a school radio station which broadcasts in the morning, break and lunch times and at the end of the school day.

Run by the media club the children pre-record their broadcasts and having been running the station since its launch two years ago.

The whole school is wireless connected, enabling pupils to use ipads and laptops in the outdoor areas if needed.

The children also write their own blog in their own section of the school’s website.

The school also has a nursery unit on site that is run from an unused classroom and called The Alphabet Playgroup.

Mr Gunn is looking forward to another busy term with a whole school trip to The Riverfront Theatre in Newport for the annual Christmas panto and a Christmas fayre run by the Friends of Undy Primary School.

The PTFA regularly raise substantial amounts through fundraising events to buy new equipment for the classrooms.

“Our school motto is ‘learning together, learning for life’.

“When they leave here we hope to provide them with the opportunity to make the next step in their successful educational journey.”

FACTFILE

Address: Undy Primary and Nursery School Unit, Pennyfarthing Lane, Undy.

Headteacher Mark Gunn

Deputy: Paula Willis

Chairman of Governors: Barrie Kirwan.

Ages of pupils: Three to eleven.

Pupils on roll: 305

Last Inspection

The school was recently inspected in March of this year by an Estyn team led by Mrs Sarah Jane Morgan. In her report, Mrs Morgan found that pupil’s attitudes to learning are positive and nearly all participate enthusiastically in the wide range of activities the school offers. The school provides an interesting and varied programme of learning and experience that meets the needs of pupils well such as a shared learning area for upper key stage 2 pupils known as The Plaza. Teachers and support staff have consistently high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and work. Mrs Jones also said staff use the stimulating indoor and outdoor environment creatively to enhance learning.