Pupils evaluate the quality of provision at their school

Context

Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid is situated on the outskirts of the village of Rachub near the town of Bethesda.  It is maintained by Gwynedd local authority.  There are 261 pupils aged between 3 and 11 years on roll, including 31 part-time nursery age pupils.

Welsh is the main medium of the life and work of the school.  Many pupils come from Welsh-speaking homes.  About 11% are eligible for free school meals.  The school has identified 19% of pupils as having additional learning needs, including a very few who have a statement of special educational needs.  Very few pupils come from an ethnic minority background.

Culture and ethos

There is an inclusive, supportive and friendly ethos at Ysgol Llanllechid, in which pupils receive equal opportunities to take part in all its activities.  Emphasis is placed on showing respect and courtesy to all, which leads to a safe environment that fosters care for others and tolerance.  The pupils’ voice is central to all learning experiences across the school.

Action

Pupil participation and the school council are co-ordinated by a member of the senior leadership team.  The school council meets weekly to share ideas and discuss areas for improvement in the school. 

The school actively involves pupils in all areas of school improvement and engages them regularly in evaluating the quality of provision across the school.  For example, pupils have been involved in working with the physical education co-ordinator to evaluate the quality of physical education lessons.  They held discussions with the co‑ordinator, observed lessons and fed back to the co-ordinator, teachers and pupils.  Pupils identified excellent practice in physical education lessons and a few areas for improvement.  As a result of the recommendations made by pupils, the school reviewed its policy and expectations on uniform during physical education lessons. 

Members of the council have undertaken a successful campaign to improve their fellow pupils’ reading routines across the school.  The school council developed a questionnaire to find out more about pupils’ reading habits.  It analysed the outcomes carefully and identified strengths and areas to improve in pupils’ reading.  It fed back its findings to pupils in a whole‑school assembly.  It also fed back and made recommendations for improvements to the senior leadership team and the governors during a termly meeting.  Senior leaders acted upon the findings, for example to develop closer links with the local library to support the reading of a few pupils across the school. 

The school council also fed back its findings to parents and carers by letter to engage parents in supporting the campaign to improve reading routines across the school.  Nearly all pupils understand the importance of reading regularly and many have joined the local library with support from their parents. 

At Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid, pupils contribute to the self-evaluation process by evaluating lessons and curricular areas, and helping to create policies.

Outcomes

Nearly all pupils feel that the school listens to them.  Pupils respond confidently to the opportunities that they have to influence and make decisions.

Members of the school council also co-operate with staff, parents, their peers and the local community.  As members of the school council, they gain personal, social and organisational skills.  They also develop their personal and social skills by discussing issues of importance to them with a range of stakeholders. 

Wellbeing at the school is judged as excellent and most pupils make good progress in their learning during their time at the school.  They develop their independent thinking and learning skills successfully.