Lansdowne Primary School is in Canton, an inner-city area of Cardiff. There are 454 pupils on roll, aged from 3 to 11, including 37 nursery children who attend for a morning or afternoon session. There are 17 single-year classes, including the nursery. The number on roll has increased significantly since the school’s previous inspection in February 2011. The rolling average of pupils eligible for free school meals over the last three years is 26%. This is above the national average (19%). Around half the pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds and the same proportion have English as an additional language. A handful of pupils speak Welsh at home. The school identifies that around 25% of pupils have additional learning needs. This is just above the national average (21%). The majority of these pupils have general learning difficulties. A very few pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The school’s substantive headteacher took up her post full-time in November 2013. Currently, she is the headteacher for the first half of each week and the deputy headteacher acts as headteacher for the second half. This arrangement is due to end in September 2018 when the headteacher will once again undertake her duties full-time. Further information is available from the Welsh Government My Local School website at the link below. http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/Schools/SchoolSearch?lang=en 1 A report on Lansdowne Primary School October 2017 Summary The school benefits from very effective leadership and a strong professional culture at all levels. There is a positive record of change management over the last three years that has led to significant improvements in the school. The senior leadership is well placed to improve the school further. The quality of provision and teaching in the foundation phase is consistently high and there are many strong features towards the end of key stage 2. Most pupils make good progress as they move through the school, particularly those who have English as an additional language. The school is highly effective in developing pupils’ wellbeing. It engages exceedingly well with parents to build their capacity to support their child’s learning and to develop their own skills very well. The consistent, well-planned focus on developing pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills is effective, particularly in English and mathematics lessons. Pupils make a good start in developing their Welsh skills in the foundation phase and they build well on these early skills in designated Welsh lessons in key stage 2. Inspection area Judgement Standards Good Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Good Teaching and learning experiences Good Care, support and guidance Excellent Leadership and management Excellent 2 A report on Lansdowne Primary School October 2017 Recommendations R1 Improve pupils’ ability to read Welsh and to use the language beyond designated Welsh lessons, particularly in key stage 2 R2 Increase the opportunities for pupils to undertake extended writing R3 Improve opportunities for pupils to use their numeracy skills across the curriculum What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection. Estyn will invite the school to prepare a case study on its work in relation to leadership and the management of change and in relation to its work engaging with local families for dissemination on Estyn’s website.