A Powys school has been invited to share best practice with other schools in Wales after receiving a very positive Estyn inspection report. 

Rhayader Church in Wales Primary School was inspected in October last year, with the report from Estyn being published at the end of the year. 

The inspectors praised the school for its "supportive and caring working relationship amongst pupils, and between staff and pupils" in the report.

They continued: “Pupils feel happy and safe at school. They are polite and courteous and interact confidently with both their peers and adults.

“Pupils are eager to attend school and enjoy the wide variety of learning experiences provided for them."

The school has now been invited by Estyn to prepare a case study on its work in relation to the school’s use of the outdoor learning environment to support pupils learning and well-being. This will then be shared as good practice on Estyn’s website. 

The Estyn report also applauded the leadership and management of the school: “The headteacher is instrumental in creating and sustaining a welcoming and inclusive community with pupil well-being at its heart.”

Inspectors commended leaders and staff: “They work passionately and with commitment to meet the needs of the pupils and the local community, as a result, the school is a vibrant learning community."

Estyn agreed with the school’s own self-evaluation that it should focus on: 

Improving pupils’ literacy skills, in particular their reading and extended writing skills. 

• Strengthening provision to develop pupils’ skills in Welsh from their different starting points. 

• Ensuring that teaching provides appropriate challenge for all pupils and that feedback helps them further improve their work. 

Headteacher, Linda Crockett said that the team at Rhayader Church in Wales Primary School was "absolutely delighted" with the outcome of the inspection. 

“I am so very proud and privileged to be the headteacher, inspired by the incredible children, a team of amazing staff, a uniquely special community and governing body," she said.

Following the visit from Estyn, the school was also accredited the National Nurture School’s UK award, the first school in Powys to achieve this status.   

The assessor said there is a “shared vision" for the future wellbeing and mental health of all the pupils.

“The need for nurture in pupils’ lives to underpin their wellbeing, mental health and ability to be happy, successful participants in later life demonstrates the school’s commitment to each pupil way beyond their time in the school.

“This was aspirational and inspiring and is supported by the school’s strong identity as a faith-based school."

The positive praise was also given to the school in the recent Gwella Section 50, Church in Wales Inspection.

The inspector praised the "caring, inclusive ethos of the school, its nurturing environment and the importance given to the wellbeing of all members of the school community, the "highly positive relationships between all members of the school community which are largely attributed to the Christian distinctiveness of the school” and the “good and continually developing links between the school, church and local community."

The Chair of Governors, Mr Graham Taylor, said: “I am delighted with the many compliments made about the school by the inspectors. Getting independent validation that the school is doing a marvellous job in educating local children is very pleasing.

"The focus now is to continue the good work and make further progress especially in the few areas area the school knows some improvements are needed.”