SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Gilwern Primary School

A SMALL village school, situated in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, Gilwern Primary truly stands by its school motto: “nurture, empower, achieve”.

With 179 pupils from reception to Year 6, the school provides a friendly, caring atmosphere for each child, where they are given essential tools to develop professionally and socially.

Gilwern Primary was last inspected by Estyn in January this year, where the school’s current performance was rated as good as well as the school’s prospects for improvement. The Estyn report stated that pupils made good progress as they moved through the school and that the senior leadership team leads the school well.

Each year group within the school is engaged in an exciting range of learning initiatives, which is also something that is acknowledged as being a positive feature of the school within the Estyn report.

From reception to Year 6, pupils are involved in class projects that encourage creative learning.

Years 3 and 4 have been working on a project called ‘blood, bones and gory bits’ where children have learnt about the body and how organs work.

As part of the project, pupils dissected a pig’s heart. Year 3 teacher Alison Baillon-Jones said: “The children have loved doing this project as it really helps them learn. They loved dissecting the pig’s heart, apart from the smell!”

As part of ‘blood, bones and gory bits’, pupils have also been making ‘Frankenstein models’ out of arts and crafts materials.

The children have created models that are half human, half animal which has allowed them to understand the different bodily functions of both species through practical methods. The pupils were also overjoyed after receiving a letter from Steve Backshall, from the CBBC programme Deadly 60, commending them on their work during the project.

Other projects pupils are working on within the school are ‘Technotastic’, where children create a fantasy story using ICT skills, and ‘Blitz’ which has seen year six pupils learn about the Second World War, including information about evacuees, air raids and life during wartime.

The reception year has been working on a project called ‘When I fall asleep’ where children are learning about night-time routines, bed-time stories and nocturnal animals.

The different projects span across all ages and year groups and really make learning interesting and original while combining the core curriculum to ensure pupils receive the best education possible.

Head teacher Roger Guy said: “It’s all about the teaching at this school; we want pupils to have a love for learning and to achieve.

“We want to add value to each child’s education and make school exciting for them because school should be exciting.

“I think at this school we really focus on being outward looking. We want our pupils to have a vision and not just in terms of school but a vision looking worldwide,” he said.

In order to encourage the outward vision of pupils, Gilwern Primary has links with countries worldwide. The school is one of a select group of schools across the UK to hold the full International School Award. The school actively promotes Global Citizenship through various classroom activities.

Gilwern has also been a part of the UK India Education Research Initiative (UKIERI), which is recognised nationally as outstanding practice. As part of UKIERI the school has been involved with six schools in Jamshedpur, India, which is home to the TATA Group, which owns the steel industry in South Wales.

Children have had the opportunity to work with Indian pupils, and this learning experience has increased their understanding of Indian cultural values and allowed Gilwern pupils to respect and appreciate different countries.

Pupils also have connections with Stuttgart in Germany and Northern Ireland as part of their Comenius Project “Mighty Me,” a European Union educational project, which aims to help staff and pupils better understand European cultural values.

Mr Guy said: “We hope these kinds of projects encourage pupils to have aspirations and it teaches them the importance of working together.”

Among its many notable credits, Gilwern Primary has also been awarded a Rights Respecting Schools Award which recognises achievement in putting the rights of a child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. A Rights Respecting School teaches children about respect in all relationships.

Gilwern Primary School also has many extra-curricular activities including football, gymnastics, a choir and art. The school also has an eco-committee, known as eco explorers, who have earned their Green Flag status.

The school council also acts as an integral role in the interaction between staff and pupils. The school council is represented by two pupils from each year group including head boy Isaac Hutchinson and head girl Bronwyn Morris who were elected by their peers to take on these roles.

Throughout the school a caring atmosphere is truly felt. The aim to create a nurturing environment for children, to inspire them and to build upon individuals’ strengths has been met successfully and affectively. All pupils show enthusiasm and drive and a real eagerness to learn. Foundation phase leader Joanna Broad said: “We are very lucky here at Gilwern, not only are we fortunate to be situated in such beautiful surroundings, but all the pupils and staff show a willingness to make the school a success.”

Fact File:

Headteacher: Roger Guy

Pupils: 179

Age range: Five to 11 year olds

Motto: Nurture, empower, achieve

Last Estyn Inspection report, in January 2014, rated the school’s current performance as good and rated the school's prospect for performance as good. The report said that most pupils begin school with language, literacy, numeracy and personal and social skills that are appropriate to, or above, those expected for their age. Most pupils make good progress as they move through the school.

In order for the school to improve, the report encouraged improving standards in Welsh and ensuring subjects such as numeracy and science are focused upon.