PALMERSTON Primary school is a school on an active mission to include pupils of all abilities and be caring and sharing at all times.

The school’s aims are to improve standards in literacy, maths, teaching and learning and attendance – and its achievements have been widely recognised.

Palmerston has excellent partnership links with schools in the local area, schools across South Wales and with Cardiff Metropolitan University.

It has excellent links with Dow Corning, Cabot, Waitrose and the Riding School for the Disabled at Cardiff Riding School.

Estyn stated that “Creative and innovative partnerships with local businesses have had a positive impact on pupils’ progress” at the school.

There are also very effective partnership between the school and parents and the governors also make an exceptional contribution to the leadership of the school.

Head teacher, Katy Edwards said the school’s ethos and achievements were down to staff, governors, pupils, the parents, and the community.

Mrs Edwards said: “All members of staff within the school are highly skilled to cater for all of the pupils’ needs. Because of this, the school promotes equality and inclusion very successfully and vulnerable pupils feel cherished by their peers. All staff work hard to ensure that there is a tangible ethos of care, support, respect and trust throughout the school, which supports pupils’ wellbeing very successfully. The teaching within the school was recently judged as being excellent with teachers and learning support assistants seen to give exemplary provision to the children. With the help of governors, staff and parents, the school provides an exceptional range of engaging learning experiences. The school runs a large variety of after school sports clubs. We have parents that assist the school in running these. We also have parents come in to the school to talk to the children about their jobs, talents and hobbies, and we also have very active and supportive PTA. So far this year they have organised a variety of activities for the children including a Family Easter bingo event, craft afternoons and fairs.”

The school also provides an exceptional range of engaging learning experiences.

It is the first school in Wales to have a Scrap Store Play pod. Scrapstore Play Pods introduce free play and loose parts into primary schools. They are treasure chests of materials and equipment that encourage children to play creatively, use their imaginations and energy, make new friends, discover new skills, and enjoy their play times. Most of these materials are waste collected from businesses and industry by the company. The scrap is replaced and re-stocked every six weeks.

This is part of a larger project planned by the school to develop the playground.

Pupils have use of a sensory garden and involvement with outside agencies who include paediatricians, occupational health and language and speech therapists.

The school also became part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy with teacher Bev Hopkins being one of Barry’s official torchbearers and the school holding an annual Olympic day.

Mrs Edwards said: “We are involved with Active Travel – a Welsh Government initiative – and we are trying to get the children as active as possible. We are encouraging safer cycling and walking to school and have started the idea of the daily ride. It’s about promoting healthy lifestyles.

“The Olympics and Paralympics are huge for us and we’ve used the torch to get our children to aspire. Our vision is access for all. Instead of a sports day we have an Olympics Day.”

The school also has a variety of pupil voice forums such as the school council, Eco club, Healthy Eating group and Play council. These groups of pupils help the leadership team within the school to make decisions about school improvement. The school also runs a very successful Forest schools programme. As well as after school sports clubs, the school also runs seasonal crafts clubs, an art club, choir and a Welsh club.

Mrs Edwards said: “We have extremely supportive and pro-active parents at Palmerston Primary School who take an active role in the school’s life. Every day at Palmerston begins with a community walk and talk around the playground whilst listening to pop music. What better way to start the day than staff and parents sharing news and solving problems together, in a relaxed way. We have a very supportive PTA who meet regularly and arrange a variety of activities for the children in our school. So far this year they have organised activities such Family bingo, craft afternoons and fairs. We also run a Putting Families First programme where our parents can attend weekly classes on child development, reading readiness, language and play and First Aid.”

Fitness Friday is a scheme where the children and staff meet at Waitrose each week and walk to school together.

The school is privy to right royal occasions – a Jubilee Lunch saw a special visit from the ‘queen’ and regal life is subject to parties.

Its Comenius Project welcomes international visitors and it has hosted a Literacy and Language conference for schools from across England and Wales to share excellent practice.

Teachers have been filming lessons to use for training across the UK and in America.

She added: “Our school promotes equality and inclusion very successfully and vulnerable pupils feel cherished by their peers. There is a tangible ethos of care, support, respect and trust throughout the school, which supports pupils’ wellbeing very successfully.

“We are fantastic because everybody in the school community is valued and works together as a team- the governors, parents, staff and children.”

School motto: Together We Will Succeed

Chairman or chairwoman of governors: Mrs Anne Roberts

Head teacher: Mrs Katy Edwards

Number of pupils: 232

Age of pupils: 3 to 11years

Last inspection: November 2016- Double Excellent

Green School- Categorisation- January 2017