Cogan Primary School Praised for its Inclusive Culture and Strong Leadership in Estyn Inspection
Cogan Primary School is celebrating a positive Estyn inspection, with inspectors recognising the school's highly inclusive ethos, strong leadership and commitment to helping every pupil thrive.
Inspectors highlighted the school's Hearing Resource Base as a particular strength, recognising the successful integration of pupils with hearing loss into all aspects of school life and the inclusive culture that benefits the whole school community.
They said: “The school is a highly inclusive and respectful environment. All pupils in the Hearing Resource Base participate fully in the daily life of the school. There is effective integration of the pupils with a hearing impairment into mainstream classes, but also successful reverse integration with mainstream pupils accessing the HRB class.
“Staff and pupils use a range of non-verbal techniques to support verbal communication effectively throughout the school day, for example, signing, lip reading and radio microphones within mainstream classes.”
The report praised the school's strong commitment to developing pupils' wider communication skills: “The school is a language rich environment where staff model both the English and, increasingly, the Welsh, languages positively. A strong focus on oracy helps most pupils to develop their English spoken language well as they move through the school.
“They develop a purposeful range of vocabulary that they use confidently and accurately. Similarly in Welsh, most pupils develop their oracy skills well, showing enthusiasm for learning and using the language.”
Sue Sibert, Headteacher at Cogan Primary School, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the outcomes of our Estyn inspection. It is especially pleasing that inspectors recognised our school as a highly inclusive community and highlighted the strong leadership that provides clear strategic direction, fosters positive relationships among staff, pupils and families, supports learners’ wellbeing, and creates a positive climate for learning.
“We are also thrilled to have received a spotlight feature celebrating our Additional Learning Needs leadership, Inspiring Inclusion Everyday. This recognition reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child feels valued, supported and able to flourish.
“We are particularly proud of the recognition given to the high priority we place on developing reading skills and nurturing a love of reading for pleasure. The report also acknowledged pupils’ positive attitudes towards learning Welsh and praised our authentic and engaging Llais curriculum.
“Whilst celebrating these wonderful achievements, we also welcome the report’s recommendation, which aligns closely with priorities already identified within our School Improvement Plan. The findings reaffirm our commitment to continuous improvement, and we will continue to build on our many strengths to provide the highest-quality education for all learners. Our focus remains on ensuring every child is supported to become an independent, confident and successful individual.”
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “This report is a wonderful reflection of the care, dedication and ambition that define Cogan Primary School. Its inclusive ethos, together with the exceptional support provided – especially through the Hearing Resource Base - embodies our commitment to giving everyone a good start in life by ensuring every child feels valued and supported to reach their full potential. Well done to everyone involved in creating such a welcoming and inspiring school community.”