Pupils and staff at Pen-y-Cwm Special School are celebrating after receiving an outstanding inspection report from Estyn.
The school is now situated on the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale and has 112 pupils aged between 3 and 19 years, all with statements of special educational needs for severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties or autistic spectrum disorders.
The recent inspection judged the school as ‘good’ in all categories, with comments including:
- Pupils make good progress in their learning in relation to their abilities and recognised needs
- There are highly effective arrangements to support pupils’ health and wellbeing
- Pupils are offered a broad and balanced range of relevant learning experiences within and beyond school
- Leaders and managers have strong commitment to school improvement
Headteacher Darya Williams said:
“The school seeks to empower and support individual learners to be resilient, independent and to develop skills to reach their potential. What a joy it is to be able to celebrate that this was recognised as overwhelming success by the inspection team. It is a privilege to lead a strong and effective staff team and together, to be able to make a very real difference to learners with additional learning needs in Blaenau Gwent. We are excited by future opportunities and are committed to continuous school improvement for the benefit of our very special learners.”
Chair of Governors, Pastor Wayne Evans says:
‘’It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this wonderful outcome for a truly special, special school.
It is particularly good to note that absolutely every element in each of the areas scrutinised by the team of Inspectors was judged to be at least good and in many cases better! It was an overwhelmingly positive Estyn inspection, and appropriately celebrates the work of our magnificent school leaders, our dynamic and inspirational staff team, our committed and effective governors and at the very heart of it all, our fantastic learners and their families. I am incredibly proud of them all! I look forward to a successful and happy future for this amazing school.’’
Councillor Keren Bender, Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Education said:
“On behalf of the Council I would like to congratulate the staff and pupils at Pen-y-Cwm Special School for this outstanding inspection report. The school works with some of the most vulnerable children and young people from Blaenau Gwent and the surrounding areas and I know the leadership team and staff go above and beyond to tailor education to each and every one of these pupils and ensure they are given the same opportunities and life chances that all our pupils deserve. Well done everyone.”
To read the inspection report in full go to: https://www.estyn.gov.wales/sites/default/files/documents/Pen-Y-Cwm%20Special%20School.pdf