Ysgol Penllwyn is a rural school with a homely and welcoming ethos. Most pupils make sound progress during their time there. All staff contribute towards creating a maintaining a Welsh ethos where nearly all pupils take pride in speaking Welsh. A minority of pupils have a tendency to speak English with their peers in informal situations. Most pupils acquire a range of suitable literacy and numeracy skills and apply them successfully in activities across the curriculum. However, a few of the writing activities that are provided for the oldest pupils are too limited which, in turn, slows their progress and their ability to work increasingly freely and at length. On the whole, they develop their digital skills appropriately, although the oldest pupils do not always achieve to the best of their ability. Teachers have a productive working relationship with pupils. On the whole, they provide engaging lessons for pupils, which motivate them to enjoy a suitable range of activities. However, they do not ensure that all pupils are ready to learn at the beginning of sessions. As a result, a very few of the oldest pupils disrupt the flow of lessons. Pupils are beginning to make decisions about what they learn. However, on the whole, pupils, including those who are members of committees, such as the school council, do not influence the school’s work regularly. Teachers provide a wide variety of valuable opportunities for pupils to compete in the local community, for example by taking part in sports tournaments, local shows and eisteddfodau. Ysgol Penllwyn is federated with Ysgol Penrhyncoch. The headteacher, who works across both sites, embodies the motto ‘gyda’n gilydd, gallwn lwyddo’ (‘together we can succeed’). Although the schools have their own unique communities, they also take pride in the fact that they are part of one federation and hold activities together for pupils and parents regularly.