Rhos-y-Fedwen Primary School isn’t just a school it’s a huge part of the community in Rassau, Ebbw Vale, explains Head-teacher Keri Smith.
Since coming to the school two years ago Ms Smith has worked very hard to not only raise education standards, but also to integrate the school with the local community and work with entire families and not just the pupils themselves.
The whole school is now ‘dementia friendly’ trained and is in the process of building a dementia friendly garden. Pupils have forged links with residents at a nearby care home, Bank House, and communicate through a pen-pal scheme whilst the nursery children have a play session there each week. The school is also in the process of setting up an intergenerational choir and working on a project where they will help older people to use modern technology.
During school holidays the school takes part in the Fit & Fed and SHEP (Summer Holidays Enrichment Programme) schemes to help pupils and parents keep fit and healthy.Parents are encouraged to be involved with the school and invited in for class assemblies, and there is an emphasis on celebrating and learning about pupils’ different cultures. There are also support groups for parents of children with additional needs or English as a second language.
Ms Smith also provides the school premises free of charge for mother & toddler groups, a story café and a range of fitness and sporting sessions.
Ms Smith says:
“We are currently a small school, but we really are a fantastic school and we’d love to grow our numbers. We work closely and effectively with our families and I would just love for people, especially potential parents, to see the brilliant and worthwhile work we are doing here.
“We are improving education standards but whilst school work is important we are also making significant progress in working with our pupils and their families to keep people happy & healthy and doing what we can to give children a good start to the rest of their lives.
“We’ve just launched our hashtag, #ProudToBeRYF, which we want everyone involved with the school to use in order to promote just how special a school we are.”
Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Education, Cllr Joanne Collins, says:
“Just this week Estyn have said how important it is for schools to really focus on the health and wellbeing of pupils and how teachers can help to nurture and prepare children and young people for their futures. Rhos-y-Fedwen Primary is certainly doing just this with its academic improvements and strong focus on wellbeing. I’d like to thank the school for its commitment to wellbeing, community links and raising the aspirations for local children and their families. As a local authority we look forward to continuing to work with the school’s leadership and teaching staff to support them on this journey.”
Ward member for Rassau Cllr Gareth Davies is the Chair of the Governing Body and a regular visitor to the school and is full of praise for its staff and pupils. He says:
“Rhos-y-Fedwen may be a small school in terms of pupil numbers, but we have big ambitions to raise standards of education, with a strong focus on improving the health and wellbeing of students and parents alike, whilst broadening the children’s awareness of cultural diversity and the environment. To achieve this we have some fantastic projects and I would encourage potential parents to come in and take a look at the school.”
Angela Carr is the Manager at Bank House Care Home. She says:
“Our partnership with Rhos-y-Fedwen Primary is one of the best things that has happened to us here at Bank House, it’s the highlight of the week, our residents love it and the children love it! The nursery children come and do crafts with the residents or we do games or singing. We even had an Easter egg hunt! The Year 6 pupils write to residents and they write back with the help of our work placement students. It’s fantastic intergenerational work. The school and its children are just wonderful and we hope this partnership continues.”