The school motto ‘Live, learn, succeed together’ is one that is embraced by pupils at Garnteg Primary School as Kath Skellon found out.

TEACHERS at Garnteg Primary have recently been praised by Estyn inspectors for ensuring pupils’ wellbeing and creating a caring environment and partnerships between the school and parents.

Now in her fifth year as headteacher, Susan Roche said she is proud of staff and pupils having won ‘excellent praise’ in the inspection which was carried out in May, receiving a NACE Cymru Challenge Award for More Able and Talented Pupil and also being categorised as a green school for performance by the Welsh Assembly for its highly effective, well run school with strong leadership.

Mrs Roche admits it has been a busy time for the vibrant and active school but wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We have been working towards the NACE award for two years, have had an inspection and been given green school status all within the same academic year.”

“A dedicated Flying Start building also opened on site last year that works with families from birth to three years-old and is also used by the health services for injections and immunisation.”

“The school is flourishing and going from strength to strength and I’m so proud of the children and my very dedicated, committed and enthusiastic team of staff.”

In September Garnteg Primary become the 40th school in Wales and the 350th overall to achieve the NACE Award for more able and talented pupils.

The accreditation was given by given by the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) for high quality work by the whole school, teachers and governors, in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities, to achieve their best.

NACE chief executive, Rowena Gaston said the school has shown itself to be committed to developing a school where all pupils are challenged to be the best they can be. She said the more able and talented children are challenged and this helps the other learners to see what can be achieved.

Zaharah Ally, the More Able and Talented (MAT) Coordinator and year one and two class teacher at Garnteg, said the school is a collaborative working community that promotes and celebrates progression through family learning sessions, extra-curricular activities and rich learning journeys.

“The learning environment at Garnteg inspires and develops talents with high quality outdoor and indoor provision with a wetland area, climbing wall, forest school area, TV studio, culture, music and creative activities.”

“Pupils understand that progression is multidimensional with digital leaders, eco council and school council leading areas of school improvement.”

“Tracking systems are robust and allow for accurate identification of MAT pupils and monitoring ensures they meet their milestones.”

From using the state-of-the-art recording studio to digital leaders acting as mentors and using the digital learning lounge.

Mrs Roche strives to make learning enjoyable and to promote high standards of independent learning.

The recording studio gives pupils of all ages a taste of life behind and in front of the TV camera in a fully-working studio built into a classroom.

Pupils get to have a go at all aspects of making and producing a TV programme, from writing scripts and presenting shows to conducting interviews, operating one of their three cameras and editing the footage to make a DVD.

They work in the studio as part of the main curriculum, linking the productions they make to a range of different topics they are learning about in their other lessons.

"It helps to build their confidence and develop their IT skills.”

“The digital learning lounge encourages them to learn independently and to develop their creative, literacy and numeracy skills.”

The lounge provides a place for the children to use digital media such as laptops and ipads.

“They have created their own apps from scratch and mapped programmes for children to use across the school.”

The school offers a range of clubs for the children to enjoy outside the classroom which range from a digital Lego to maths, code, rugby, football, music and the newly-introduced culture club.

Among the sporting activities the school runs is a cycling club. Forty bicycles have been donated by the community to enable the children do complete their cycling proficiency and encourage them to be active.

Mrs Roche passionately believes that the pupil's voices are important and that they make a valuable contribution to decision-making in the school.

“Our school council and eco committee have a strong voice in the school. The Eco warriors look at sustainability and are currently working towards the school’s third green flag.”

The school council presents a report each term to our governors and introduce themselves at the governors meeting.”

“They tell us what we need to be doing.”

The school is very much at the heart of the community and has firmly established links with the local history group, the Garnsychan Partnership and Communities First.

“We are a community-focused school and are very lucky to be supported by the community, local organisations and the Friends of Garnteg PTA, which is very pro-active and does a lot of fundraising for us towards equipment.”

“We have gone forward in every respect and the resources we have are down to the community.”

At the end of each week pupils are rewarded for achievements, both in and out of the classroom at a good news assembly, which is attended by parents.

Chairman of Governors, Kevin Gauntlett said: “I am pleased with how our school is improving and how wonderful it is. We are making big strides.”

FACTFILE Garnteg Primary School, Hillcrest, Garndiffaith, Pontypool, Torfaen Headteacher Mrs Susan Roche Deputy Miss Christine Thomas Chairman of Governors: Kevin Gauntlett

Pupils on roll: 302 (including nursery)

Ages: 3 to 11.

Last Inspection May 2015

The last inspection carried out by Estyn deemed the school’s current performance good and its prospects for improvement excellent. Pupils’ wellbeing is outstanding with nearly all pupils enjoying learning, are enthusiastic and highly motivated to succeed. The school’s engagement with its local community is excellent and has helped to boost the capacity of families to support their children’s learning at home very well. The school has an optimistic, caring and inclusive ethos and provides an exceptionally stimulating and colourful environment.