Welsh schools inspectorate Estyn conducted an extensive inspection of Castle Park Primary School December 2022.

Estyn described the school as a "well-led, welcoming place to learn", with "dedicated" teachers.

Pupils "enjoy" school, behave well, "engage positively" with lessons and "enjoy exciting opportunities" to learn – with "positive attitudes" to reading and writing and "good" maths skills.

Other highlights from the report include:

• Teachers working with students to plan lessons which "engage them and capture their interests".
• Staff being "committed to improving all aspects of school life", develop "nurturing relationships" with pupils.
• Teaching assistants assessed as "highly effective in supporting pupils to make progress", with their roles reflecting the "warm and supportive school ethos in their working relationships with pupils, providing strong support for vulnerable pupils and those with additional learning needs".

"From a young age, pupils are keen to do well and to take on new challenges," Estyn concluded.

In September 2024, Castle Park was one of the first in Wales to receive an interim inspection. Estyn’s focus was to understand how Castle Park’s staff had progressed in two key areas:

• Supporting pupils in understanding the purpose of their learning, and the progress they make.
• To improve pupils’ Welsh language skills across the school.

In their report, Estyn acknowledged how “leaders and staff at the school have worked well to address [previous] recommendations”.

You can read both the full and interim reports, including Estyn’s letter to parents and guardians, here.