Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Wirfoddol Santes Helen is the only Catholic school in Wales that teaches specifically through the medium of Welsh. It is situated in the Twtil area in the town of Caernarfon in Gwynedd local authority. There are 92 pupils between 3 and 11 years old on roll, including eight part-time nursery pupils. They are divided into 4 mixed-age classes. Thirty-nine per cent (39%) of pupils speak Welsh at home and 17% are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Approximately 14% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. This is lower than the national percentage. The school has identified 28% of its pupils as having additional learning needs, which is higher than the national percentage. The headteacher has been in post since 2004. The school was last inspected in 2011. 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 Santes Helen January 2018 Summary Ysgol Santes Helen is a happy and caring school that has a strong ethos of inclusivity permeating through it. Pupils behave well and treat each other and other people with respect. Most pupils make good progress from their starting points. Teaching is good and pupils are given broad opportunities to complete exciting tasks that engage their interest and enthusiasm to learn. Assistants support teachers well both inside and outside the classroom to provide beneficial education for pupils. The headteacher has a clear vision, which she shares effectively with her team. All members of staff have a sound understanding of their roles and teachers support the headteacher effectively by leading specific areas of the school’s life and work. Inspection area Judgement Standards Good Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Good Teaching and learning experiences Good Care, support and guidance Good Leadership and management Good 2 A report on Ysgol Santes Helen January 2018 Recommendations R1 Develop the outdoor area for the foundation phase further R2 Ensure regular opportunities to challenge all pupils effectively R3 Improve pupils’ attendance What happens next The school will produce an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection.