Ysgol Awel y Mynydd is a new primary school that is situated in the area of Sarn Mynach in Llandudno Junction, in Conwy local authority. The school was established in 2016 following the closure of two local schools and merging them in a new building in September 2017. There are 494 pupils on roll, including 62 nursery age pupils who attend the school on a full-time basis following their fourth birthday. Pupils are taught either in the Welsh-medium stream or the English-medium stream, and most are taught in mixed-age classes within these streams. There are two units of the school grounds that provide specialist education for pupils in the foundation phase and key stage 2. Over time, around 20% of pupils have been eligible for free school meals. This is slightly higher than the national percentage of 18%. The school has identified around 29% of its pupils as having additional learning needs, which is slightly higher than the national percentage of 21%. Around 21% of pupils come from Welsh-speaking homes, and a few speak English as a second language. Most pupils come from white British backgrounds. The headteacher has been in post since the school was established in 2016. Neither the headteacher nor the deputy headteacher were present during the inspection. An acting headteacher has been in post since September 2019 and the acting deputy headteacher since October 2019. This is the school’s first inspection. 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 Ysgol Awel y Mynydd December 2019 Summary Although it has now improved, over time the school’s leadership and management has not been effective. As a result, leaders have not acted strategically enough to ensure that the school’s process for improvement have a positive enough effect on provision or pupils’ standards. Nor have pupil assessment and progress-tracking procedures been robust or reliable enough. As a result, leaders and teachers have not targeted individuals or specific groups of pupils in enough detail to ensure that they make the best progress. However, nearly all pupils are polite and behave well. Pupils have positive attitudes towards their work, and show enthusiasm and perseverance in their tasks. A majority of pupils make consistent progress in their literacy and numeracy skills, but pupils in the specialist units make sound progress against their targets. Staff have a positive working relationship with pupils, which engages a majority of pupils’ interest well and encourages them, overall, to work diligently in an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Staff promote the Welsh language appropriately and are skilful language models for pupils. Nearly all members of staff support pupils conscientiously and provide activities that correspond fairly appropriately with a majority of pupils’ needs. However, activities do not always correspond to the needs of a minority of pupils. As a result, a minority of pupils, particularly those who are more able, do not always achieve to the best of their ability. Inspection area Judgement Standards Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Adequate and needs improvement Teaching and learning experiences Adequate and needs improvement Care, support and guidance Adequate and needs improvement Leadership and management Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement 2 A report on Ysgol Awel y Mynydd December 2019 Recommendations R1 Establish robust and effective leadership R2 Strengthen self-evaluation and planning for improvement processes R3 Establish and make effective use of pupil progress-tracking processes R4 Ensure that teachers plan purposefully to develop challenging opportunities for pupils to apply their literacy, numeracy, and information and communication technology (ICT) skills across the areas of learning R5 Raise standards and improve pupils’ literacy, numeracy and ICT skills R6 Ensure that pupils contribute effectively to their own learning and to making wider decisions about the school’s work R7 Comply with Welsh Government guidelines when planning the expenditure of specific grants What happens next Special Measures In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that special measures are required in relation to this school. The school will produce an action plan showing how it will address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress, usually every four to six months.