Inspectors highlighted positive pupil behaviour, effective leadership and strong support for children, while identifying attendance, literacy and curriculum planning as areas for improvement

ROCH COMMUNITY SCHOOL has been praised as a safe, caring and supportive place for children following its latest inspection by Estyn.

The education watchdog said pupils feel valued, behave well and demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning.

Inspectors described the Pembrokeshire school as a close and caring community where children are confident that adults will listen to them and provide help when needed.

Nearly all pupils were found to be polite and courteous towards staff and one another, helping to create a calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout the school.

The report also praised the quality of teaching, saying lessons are generally well paced and provide pupils with an appropriate level of challenge.

Teachers were found to offer constructive feedback which helps children understand what they have done well and how they can improve their work.

Pupils were also praised for working effectively with partners and in groups, while the school provides meaningful opportunities for children to take on leadership roles and contribute to decisions about school life.

Inspectors highlighted the support available for pupils with additional learning needs.

Targeted literacy programmes and the school’s recently introduced nurture provision were found to be having a positive effect on pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and social development.

The report also said pupils have a strong understanding of online safety and routinely apply safe practices when using computers and other digital devices.

Safeguarding arrangements and the management of the school site gave inspectors no cause for concern.

The school’s leadership also received positive recognition.

The headteacher, who took up the role in September 2024, was praised for working thoughtfully with staff to develop an enthusiastic and increasingly collaborative team.

Estyn said a growing number of staff are contributing effectively to school improvement and professional development.

Governors were described as committed and knowledgeable, with a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and the areas where further progress is required.

County councillor, parent and school governor Nick Neumann welcomed the findings.

He said: “A fantastic Estyn report and a real credit to everyone involved.

“As a governor, parent and county councillor, it’s wonderful to see Estyn recognise the caring ethos, strong teaching and positive attitudes that make Roch Community School such a special place.

“Huge congratulations to the pupils, staff and families. This reflects your hard work, commitment and community spirit.”

Cllr Neumann said the report demonstrated that Roch offered a thriving and supportive environment for children.

He added that the school would be delighted to welcome more pupils and families into its community.

There were 126 pupils on the school roll at the time of the inspection, compared with 144 when the school was previously inspected in 2023.

While the report was broadly positive, inspectors identified three areas where further improvement is required.

The school has been asked to ensure that pupils’ knowledge and skills develop more systematically as they progress through the curriculum.

Estyn also recommended improvements to the teaching of phonics and the opportunities provided for pupils to produce extended pieces of writing.

The third recommendation concerns persistent absence.

Although the school has appropriate systems for monitoring attendance, inspectors said the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent remains too high and has continued to increase.

The school’s overall attendance rate has remained above the Pembrokeshire and Wales averages, suggesting the concern relates to a smaller group of pupils who are missing significant periods of education.

Inspectors also raised concerns about the school’s financial position.

The report said Roch Community School had developed a significant budget deficit over recent years.

While senior leaders and governors were aware of the problem, an agreed plan to reduce the overspend had not been finalised at the time of the inspection.

The report also said some grant funding was not always being used purposefully enough to secure the greatest possible benefit for pupils.

Despite those concerns, the school has not been placed into an enhanced Estyn monitoring category.

It will now prepare an action plan setting out how it intends to respond to the inspection recommendations.

The latest findings indicate progress in several areas since the school’s previous inspection, particularly in relation to safeguarding, classroom challenge, leadership and the effectiveness of governors’ oversight.

Photo caption: Pupils, staff and supporters celebrate outside Roch Community School following the publication of its latest Estyn inspection report.

A CALL for an impartial investigation into the contentious closure of Manorbier school, is to be heard by senior councillors.

Back in June, the final decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school was given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members made the final decision on discontinuation of the school, backed by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of keeping the school open, said: “We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

Following that decision, issues around the contentious closure were heard at the July 16 meeting of the council.

In a notice of motion before councillors, Cllr Kidney proposed: “That council considers a full impartial investigation into the process of closing Manorbier school, specifically the time it has taken, broken promises, inadequate insurance, and the involvement of HR department.”

A supporting statement for his motion said: “The review should be carried out by someone not employed by the authority, with powers to recommend disciplinary action if they deem necessary.

“A full impartial review should hopefully stop another school being treated so appallingly.”

Cllr Kidney also, in a submitted question, sought an apology from the deputy leader, who now has responsibility for education: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education [Cllr Paul Miller] like to apologise to the staff and parents of Manorbier School for his comments at the last council meeting, where he stated children would get a better education in St Florence and children in Manorbier were being taught in one room?

“This is both factually wrong and insulting to staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide teaching of an excellent standard, and if he had taken the time to read the last Estyn report, he may not have made these derogatory comments.”

Members agreed Cllr Kidney’s notice of motion would be heard at a future Cabinet meeting.

In response to Cllr Kidney’s question, said he “had no intention of insulting staff,” who were “doing a great job in very difficult circumstances”.

He went on to say that if he had said the words quoted by Cllr Kidney, he would apologise for them but stressed: “I do believe it will be better for them [the pupils] to be in a larger school.”

On July 16, with the summer holidays approaching, the doors of Manorbier Church in Wales Primary School closed for the final time.

Friends of Manorbier School posted on social media: “This isn’t the ending that our children, families, staff, and community hoped for. Yet as we reach this difficult milestone, we are reminded that Manorbier School has always been so much more than a building. For generations, it has been a place filled with friendship, laughter, learning, kindness, and unforgettable memories.”

It added: “As we say goodbye, we do so with immense gratitude and pride.

“Thank you, Manorbier School, for the memories, the laughter, the kindness, and the community you created.”

A PUBLIC consultation is to be held on discontinuing two schools in the Tenby area, including Greenhill comprehensive, with the aim of establishing a new 3-19 community school.

In a report before Pembrokeshire County Council’s meeting of July 16, members were asked to back a public consultation into establishing a new 3-19 community school in the Tenby area, discontinuing Tenby Church in Wales VC School and Ysgol Greenhill comprehensive.

Back in December councillors backed authorising the Director of Education to commence statutory consultation on establishing a new 3-19 school, a split site initially, but as part of an investment to rebuild/extend Tenby’s Greenhill site, or on a new site.

It included a consultation with the St David’s Diocese to discontinue Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to discontinue Ysgol Greenhill before the report before members in July.

A report for members, presented by the council’s deputy leader, and now Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Paul Miller said that, since the December meeting, St David’s Diocese responded by conditionally supporting the Tenby VC School element, subject to the newly established 3–19 school retaining a religious character, either as a Voluntary Aided (VA) or Voluntary Controlled (VC) school.

The report added: “In accordance with the decision of council at its meeting on  December 12, and the statutory requirements of the School Organisation Code, consultation has been undertaken with the St David’s Diocese.

“In relation to the council’s proposal for Tenby VC School, the comments received from the Diocese do not provide any reason not to proceed with general consultation.”

It added: “As most pupils within the cluster attend community primary schools, it is recommended that consultation be undertaken on the basis of establishing a community primary school.

“It should be noted that, whatever the decision, this would merely reflect the preferred option outlined within the general consultation document.

“Members would still be required to give due consideration to feedback received as a result of the consultation, which may include a preference by consultees for a different governance model.”

Members, by 41 votes to two abstentions, backed the formal consultation, which had been moved by Council Leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson.