SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Llantarnam Community Primary School

EVERY staff member and pupil at Llantarnam Community Primary School values and respects each other’s contribution to this education facility.

This small community primary with just 195 pupils from nursery to year 6 has a warm, friendly feel and provides a welcoming atmosphere to every guest and member of the community.

The school clearly abides by its motto: “Where everyone matters.”

The school has an excellent track record with 100 per cent of pupils achieving the expected outcome in core subjects at Key Stage 2 and 89 per cent of children achieving the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase.

Llantarnam received its last Estyn Inspection in 2011 where the school’s current performance was deemed as good, as well as its prospect for improvement.

The children are described as “excellently behaved” and the teachers noted as a “credit to the school” by their pupils.

Head teacher Anne Webster-Blythe said: “The school is important to the community; we interact with the community and maintain a good relationship.”

“When anyone ever comes to our school they also mention how friendly the environment is and how well behaved the children are.”

The school continues to improve upon its literacy and numeracy framework and has followed the work of educational writer Pie Corbett in raising standards in training for writing – as ensuring pupils receive the highest standard of education is paramount at this facility.

Llantarnam Community Primary offers a diverse range of curricular and extracurricular activities for pupils, its choir deserving a special mention.

The school choir is not only a part of the school, but an integral part of the locality.

It has performed at events across Gwent, including the launch of the new community rooms at Cwmbran library, where the members sang in front of local councillors and members of the Welsh Government at the official opening last month.

Leo Perham, 10, is a member of the choir. He said: “There was a lot of pressure on us during the event, but it was so much fun.

“We have also performed at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran, put on a James Bond night and performed at Llantarnam Comprehensive with other bands.”

Recently, the choir was issued with new uniforms. Choir leader and teacher Sarah Ellaway said: “The uniforms make the pupils stand out and look professional so that when they perform, they really look the part.”

Another extra-curricular activity the school is particularly proud of is its eco club.

Overseen by teacher Gavin Davies, the club focuses on the sustainability of the school and what is important to the environment.

Pupils were recently asked to make videos illustrating the top 10 ways to be environmentally conscious and also received useful tips on how to do this from representatives of Melin Homes when they visited the school.

The eco club is definitely brimming with success after receiving its first green flag for its environmental efforts.

Alongside the eco club, Llantarnam Primary is also part of Forest Schools Education.

Its large grounds and outdoor facilities mean that the pupils are encouraged to engage in physical education and learn outdoors.

A unique addition to outdoor learning at the school are the Polish chickens kept in a large coop within the grounds.

The four chickens were brought to the school to teach the pupils about life cycles and provide them with a distinctive educational experience.

Pupil Jay Williams, nine, said: “I like holding and feeding the chickens. I was nervous at first but now I think it’s really fun.”

Sport is a big motivator for pupils at this school too.

Its football club is particularly popular among both boys and girls.

The club meets once a week for training sessions and is involved in inter-school tournaments across the area.

It is currently appealing for a new kit and hopes that local businesses will come forward to sponsor the pupils who show extreme dedication to the sport week on week.

The players are very talented, according to their coach Mr Biggins, with one player, Alys Hone, 10, being selected to play for the Gwent girls’ team.

Llantarnam Community Primary School is preparing for big changes in the near future as it awaits its move into new premises.

The school will be saying goodbye to its old site when it moves into a new building just down the road.

Mrs Webster-Blythe said: “We are very excited to be moving as it will provide us with so many more opportunities, but we will be very sad to leave this site which we have been at for so many years, as it feels like home.”

The new school, however, will be fully modernised, explained Mrs Webster-Blythe, adding: “It’s going to be a 21st-century school. The pupils will have full access to laptops and iPads and there will be wi-fi throughout the whole building.”

The head teacher is keen to assure parents that the whole school will benefit from the move and that its main purpose remains to deliver an excellent standard in education, particularly in literacy and numeracy.

She said: “Our nursery is thriving and our school is growing.

“Our caring ethos and the family feel is what makes us unique.

“I walk around the school and I know all the pupils’ names and want that to remain when more children come to us in the new building.

“All the staff and pupils work very hard to make this school a success and we are very proud of our excellent features.”