Craigfelen Primary praised by Estyn for strong community and creative teaching

Inspectors visited the school last term and have now published their findings. They say leaders have built a culture where pupils feel they belong, behave well and show positive attitudes to learning. Staff were praised for working closely together to strengthen teaching across the school.

Creative learning and strong support for pupils

The report highlights Craigfelen’s creative provision as a standout feature. Inspectors say pupils take pride in dance, drama and music, and that these activities help them grow in confidence and work well together.

Pupils with additional learning needs benefit from well‑planned support and strong links with specialist professionals. The school’s community hub — The Cwtch — was also singled out for boosting well‑being and aspiration.

Teachers plan a broad, engaging curriculum that sparks curiosity. Estyn says staff use strong subject knowledge to help pupils become confident speakers and writers, while regular Welsh‑language sessions support vocabulary and pronunciation. Pupils also make effective use of digital tools to research and present their work.

‘A caring, ambitious community’

Alison Williams, headteacher, Craigfelen Primary, said the school was delighted with the findings.

“We are proud that Estyn has recognised the caring, ambitious community we have built at Craigfelen and that everyone contributes to this success.”

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said the report showed Craigfelen is a safe, supportive and creative environment where pupils thrive, congratulating staff and pupils on the outcome.

School plunged into special measures as inspectors uncover ‘serious concerns’ at Ysgol Harri Tudur

Estyn’s hard‑hitting report on Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School in Pembroke, published following a December inspection, warns that around half of pupils are not making enough progress, with many experiencing weak or inconsistent teaching and too few opportunities to develop basic skills.

Inspectors also raised serious concerns about safeguarding, saying staff had not been given the correct guidance on what to do if an allegation is made against a colleague, and lacked training on spotting signs of radicalisation.

The school — one of the largest in Pembrokeshire — must now produce an urgent action plan and will be monitored every four to six months.

‘Shortcomings are not acceptable’

Pembrokeshire County Council said it “fully accepts” the findings and has pledged rapid intervention.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said:

“We take Estyn’s findings extremely seriously. The shortcomings identified – particularly in safeguarding, leadership, pupil progress and the consistency of teaching – are not acceptable for any of our learners and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the school and with the support of the Local Authority.

“We are now putting in place a programme of rapid, decisive improvement at Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School. This will include strong, targeted support alongside firm and sustained challenge.

“Our commitment is clear: we will work relentlessly with the school’s leadership, governors and wider staff to ensure that learners receive the high‑quality education, care and aspiration they deserve.”

The council said it will deploy enhanced school improvement support and leadership capacity, strengthen safeguarding procedures “as a matter of urgency”, and bring in tougher monitoring, accountability and performance systems through a multi‑agency improvement board.

Inspectors highlight weak teaching and poor attendance

Estyn found that while many pupils feel supported and safe, teaching quality varies widely. In around half of lessons, pupils make suitable progress — but in the rest, inspectors say work is undemanding, expectations are low and behaviour is not managed well enough.

The report also highlights poor attendance, especially on Fridays, weak self‑evaluation and improvement planning, underdeveloped literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills across the curriculum, inconsistent behaviour management that leaves some pupils reluctant to report bullying, and a large deficit budget with no agreed recovery plan.

Inspectors concluded that leadership has had “little impact” on key areas of the school’s work.

Some strengths remain, inspectors say

Estyn did highlight a few bright spots in an otherwise tough report. Inspectors said staff work hard to create a caring atmosphere, and many pupils told them they feel supported and safe in school. Vulnerable learners benefit from the Supported Learning Centre, which provides targeted emotional and social help, while the Learning Resource Centre offers a calm, structured space for pupils who need extra support.

The school’s personal and social education programme was also picked out as a strength, giving pupils clear, practical guidance on relationships, identity, sexual health, safety and respect.

Pupils have opportunities to take on leadership roles through the school council and whole‑school Senedd. Inspectors said these roles help pupils feel involved in school life, even though some told them they’re not always convinced their views lead to change.

Six urgent recommendations

Estyn has ordered the school to:

• fix safeguarding issues
• strengthen leadership and accountability
• improve teaching and raise expectations
• boost attendance
• ensure staff are held fully accountable
• provide meaningful opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills

The school must now draw up an accelerated improvement plan, with Estyn returning every four to six months to check progress.

Four Carmarthenshire schools face closure under modernisation plans

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday (14 October) to examine proposals affecting Ysgol Llansteffan, Ysgol Y Fro, Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol Pontiets.

The reports, published ahead of the meeting, recommend issuing a Statutory Notice to close Ysgol Llansteffan from August 2026, while launching formal consultations on the future of Ysgol Y Fro, Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol Pontiets.

Schools identified as “no longer viable”

Council officers say the four schools have been assessed against viability criteria including pupil numbers, budget position and educational standards. Ysgol Llansteffan, for example, has just eight pupils on roll, with projections showing only 18 by 2030. Its cost per pupil is more than three times the county average.

Ysgol Y Fro in Llangyndeyrn currently has 15 pupils and was placed in Special Measures by Estyn earlier this year. Ysgol Meidrim, with 31 pupils, is also in Special Measures following an inspection in 2024. Meanwhile Ysgol Pontiets has 24 pupils and more than 70% surplus places, with projections showing numbers continuing to fall.

The council argues that such small cohorts mean pupils are taught in mixed‑age classes, making delivery of the new Curriculum for Wales increasingly difficult.

At a glance: the four schools under review

Ysgol Llansteffan
8 pupils on roll (PLASC 2025). Estyn: No follow‑up (2024). Proposed closure August 2026, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain.

Ysgol Y Fro, Llangyndeyrn
15 pupils on roll. Estyn: Special Measures (Feb 2025). Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Y Dderwen identified as receiving school.

Ysgol Meidrim
31 pupils on roll. Estyn: Special Measures (Apr 2024). Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Griffith Jones identified as receiving school.

Ysgol Pontiets
24 pupils on roll. Estyn: Not in follow‑up. Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Pum Heol identified as receiving school.

Financial pressures and surplus places

The reports warn that the schools are running unsustainable budgets, with deficits forecast to rise. In some cases, the per‑pupil funding is more than double the county average.

Closing the four schools could save the authority more than £340,000 a year in revenue costs, while the sale of redundant buildings could generate up to £695,000 in capital receipts if no community use is found.

Cllr Glynog Davies, cabinet member for education, said the strategy aimed to ensure a sustainable and balanced provision of education throughout the county.

“These proposals will help to address the challenging circumstances faced by individual schools and the wider school system, which includes schools operating with pupil numbers far below their intended capacity and unsustainable financial situations,” he said.

Local concerns

Cllr Tyssul Evans, whose Llangyndeyrn ward includes Ysgol Y Fro, acknowledged the emotional impact of the proposals.

“Sadly we are as a local authority dependent on funding from central Government and there have been cutbacks. And unfortunately the number of pupils in these schools has fallen drastically over the years.

We are faced with reality. We have to take steps. We have got to live within our means. It is sad, of course it is.”

Previous closures put on hold

This is not the first time Carmarthenshire has faced controversy over school closures. In December 2021, as Swansea Bay News previously reported, plans to shut Ysgol Mynyddygarreg and Ysgol Blaenau were put on hold after an extended review of the Modernising Education Programme. At the time, campaigners celebrated a reprieve, but councillors warned that viability reviews would continue across the county.

What happens next

If scrutiny members back the recommendations, the proposals will go before Cabinet on 17 November 2025. Ysgol Llansteffan would move directly to a Statutory Notice of closure from August 2026, with pupils expected to transfer to Ysgol Llangain. Ysgol Y Fro would enter consultation, with Ysgol Y Dderwen identified as the preferred receiving school. Ysgol Meidrim would also enter consultation, with Ysgol Griffith Jones as the preferred receiving school. Ysgol Pontiets would follow the same process, with Ysgol Pum Heol identified as the likely destination.

Parents would still retain the right to apply for places at other nearby schools under the council’s admissions policy.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Carmarthenshire school closure plans put on hold… for now
Proposals to close Ysgol Mynyddygarreg and Ysgol Blaenau were paused in 2021 after an extended review of the county’s Modernising Education Programme.

Councils clash over Mynyddygarreg school closure plan
Kidwelly Town Council opposed Carmarthenshire’s decision, warning the loss of Ysgol Mynyddygarreg would “decimate” the community.

Llanelli MP and MS voice concern over council’s Mynyddygarreg school closure proposal
Local representatives raised fears about the impact of closing Ysgol Mynyddygarreg on families and the Welsh language.

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrTyssulEvans #education #Estyn #featured #Llangyndeyrn #Llansteffan #Meidrim #Pontyates #ruralCommunities #schoolClosure #smallSchools #specialMeasures #YoungPeopleAndTheWelshLanguageScrutinyCommittee #YsgolLlansteffan #YsgolMeidrim #YsgolPontiets #YsgolYFro

Welsh Government defends curriculum rollout as opposition warns of ‘falling standards’

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle MS told the Senedd that the curriculum, now being taught across all schools, was “transformative” and designed to ensure “every child in Wales deserves the best start in life.”

She said personalised assessment data was already showing improvements in reading and numeracy, with English reading attainment higher across all year groups compared with 2022/23.

“Where educators are getting this right, they are raising the bar for learners,” Ms Neagle said. “Our national support is about having high expectations for our learners, and giving practitioners the tools, support, and confidence to help our children and young people achieve their ambitions.”

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted a £44m support package, including £20m over three years for literacy and numeracy, and £1.4m to strengthen computing and digital skills.

Estyn’s findings

A thematic survey by Estyn, published in September 2025, found that while many schools were embedding the new curriculum effectively, there were still “wide variations” in classroom practice. Inspectors highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between primary and secondary schools, more targeted support for early literacy, and a sharper focus on reading skills.

Conservative criticism

The Welsh Conservatives argue the curriculum is failing to deliver.

Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, said Estyn’s findings showed too many pupils were not reaching their potential, with poor teaching and inconsistent maths standards highlighted as key concerns.

“Labour can pat themselves on the back over their new curriculum, but the reality is school standards continue to fall,” Ms Asghar said. “Welsh children aren’t getting the education they deserve, and that’s down to 26 years of Labour mismanagement.”

The Conservatives also criticised what they called “skewed priorities” in funding, pointing to £12m allocated to music compared with £8.7m for maths, literacy, science and technology.

Plaid Cymru’s view

Plaid Cymru have warned that the reforms risk “patchy delivery” without stronger national direction and a clear workforce strategy. The party has called for more investment in teacher recruitment and retention, and for literacy, numeracy and the Welsh language to be given sharper focus.

Reform UK’s stance

Reform UK have branded the Curriculum for Wales “ideologically driven” and called for a return to more traditional subject‑based teaching. The party argues the reforms are confusing for parents and teachers and risk lowering standards by moving away from clear benchmarks in maths, science and literacy.

Liberal Democrat position

The Welsh Liberal Democrats say they support the principles of the new curriculum, but warn that underfunding and staff shortages risk undermining its delivery. They have called for smaller class sizes, more specialist teachers in maths and science, and stronger mental health support for pupils to ensure the reforms succeed.

Curriculum for Wales explained

The Curriculum for Wales was introduced in 2022 and is now being taught across all year groups. This September, the first cohort of pupils under the new curriculum entered Year 10, beginning work towards qualifications under the new 14–16 Learner Entitlement.

The government says the reforms are designed to give schools more flexibility to shape lessons around four key purposes: to develop ambitious, capable learners; enterprising, creative contributors; ethical, informed citizens; and healthy, confident individuals.

#curriculum #CurriculumForWales #education #Estyn #lessons #LynneNeagleMS #NatashaAsgharMS #schoolLessons #schools #teaching #WelshGovernment

Praise for ‘happy and positive’ Mayhill school

Pupils at Sea View Primary School feel safe and happy, they engage in lessons well and have positive attitudes to school life, inspectors have found.

Leaders and staff have high expectations for pupils’ wellbeing and learning and build positive relationships with families, creating a nurturing environment so that members of the school community feel valued and supported.

A team from Estyn visited the school earlier this year and have now published their report.

Other highlights include praise for the school’s purposeful curriculum that takes account of pupils’ different needs and cultural backgrounds as well as the range of interesting activities to develop pupils’ engagement and independence in their learning.

Most pupils make good progress in their literacy, maths and digital skills.

Across the school, adults and pupils develop their use of British Sign Language (BSL) effectively and this helps all those at the school with hearing impairment to join in with all aspects of school life.

The school’s provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) is effective and skilled staff use a range of beneficial interventions successfully to help pupils with ALN make good progress towards their individual targets

The report adds: “The headteacher is an inspiring leader who establishes a strong team ethos where everyone works together to enhance the learning experiences for all pupils.

“Leaders use a range of evaluation processes well to identify the school’s strengths and areas for development. They work closely with teachers and governors to gather information about the progress the school makes towards its improvement priorities. The governing body provides strong support to the school.

“Leaders develop effective partnerships with other professionals to signpost support for families experiencing poverty and this helps develop successful community partnerships.”

Headteacher Julie Dunn said: “I’m so pleased that the inspectors from Estyn have recognised the happy and supportive environment here at Sea View and the role that all our pupils, staff and families play in achieving this. I hope they are as proud as I am with this report.”

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Robert Smith, said: “Congratulations to all Sea View Primary on a very good inspection report which reflects the great work being done by all at the school.”

#education #Estyn #Mayhill #SeaViewPrimary #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bryniago was inspected by Estyn in June and was found to be hardworking, with the headteacher receiving praise for having ‘very high’ expectations of herself and others.

Inspectors noted that the primary school in Pontarddulais promotes the Welsh language successfully and as a result, most pupils speak Welsh with confidence. The inspection report noted that because of this, pupils have a strong awareness of their local area as well as knowledge of the history and culture of Wales.

Headteacher, Nia Jones, was noted as having ‘strong leadership’ and along with all staff, helps create a caring and interesting learning environment.

In the report, inspectors said: “‘Teachers encourage pupils to contribute to their learning and include their suggestions when planning a ‘menu’ for new themes.

“Staff provide valuable opportunities for older pupils to influence the wider life of the school by contributing to the ‘pupil’s voice’ and participating in projects that have a direct impact on the school.”

The report went on to say “Teachers across the school plan activities to meet pupils’ needs successfully.”

Inspectors also noted how the school has had a positive impact across all schools in Swansea. It said “The school council worked in partnership with the county’s catering department to adapt the school lunch menu across the county.”

Headteacher, Nia Jones, speaking about the report said:

“I am immensely proud of the children and staff of Ysgol Gymraeg Bryniago. We welcome Estyn’s report as a true reflection of the school’s ethos and how we all value and contribute positively to our pupils’ educational journey and the school’s community.

“It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire school family—staff, pupils, and parents.

“Dim ond ein gorau glas sy’n ddigon da” [‘Only our very best is good enough’].

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/18/swansea-school-praised-for-celebrating-welsh-culture/

#Estyn #Pontarddulais #WelshCulture #YsgolGynraddGymraegBryniago

Bore da, good morning and
Esytn thematic review of Educational Visits.
📄Fully prepared
🟥 Red dress, best earrings. Totally got this.

But first...
❄️Is the car iced up, are roads clear
🦻9am appt for hearing aid tuning.
#Estyn #HealthAndSafety #Cymru #Deafened