A small rural school in Powys has been praised for its “welcoming, inclusive and caring” environment in its latest Estyn inspection, which also commended its hands-on curriculum.

The inspection at Franksbridge C.P. School, carried out in November, highlighted the school’s success in supporting pupils to become confident, considerate learners, while preparing them well for the next stage of their education.

Inspectors singled out two areas of outstanding practice. The first was the school’s ‘creative and ambitious” curriculum, which offers pupils hands-on learning experiences that draw on the local community and broader global contexts. Staff make particular use of pupils’ backgrounds, including strong links to the farming community, to enrich lessons. The inspectorate found that pupils develop a strong understanding of their local area, Welsh identity, and the wider world. Visits and interactions with people from different cultures and faiths help pupils develop positive and respectful attitudes to diversity, while creative and artistic projects involving the local community add extra depth to learning.

The second area was the teaching and learning of Welsh. Inspectors praised staff for modelling the language confidently and encouraging pupils to use it naturally and with pride. Inspectors found that as a result, pupils of all ages demonstrate positive attitudes towards the language and make strong progress in developing their Welsh communication skills.

Other key strengths highlighted in the report include the school’s warm and inclusive culture, where pupils enjoy school and show respectful behaviour towards staff and their peers. Inspectors also praised the strong emphasis on pupils’ well-being, healthy lifestyles, and meaningful contributions to school life.

The report noted positive progress in literacy and digital skills, alongside a growing enthusiasm and proficiency in Welsh. It also highlighted the school’s effective approach to identifying and supporting pupils with additional learning needs, with close cooperation between staff, parents, and external agencies helping to ensure every child receives the support they need.

Estyn made two recommendations to support the school’s ongoing improvement: developing a more cohesive approach to planning and teaching mathematics, and developing teaching methods to actively engage all pupils in their learning.

Headteacher Rhian Wilkie, who has led the school since 2014, said: “We are incredibly proud of the positive feedback from Estyn, and the recognition of our supportive school community. The report recognises that Franksbridge Community Primary School is a welcoming, inclusiveand caring school, where pupils behave kindly and respectfully towards others, co-operating well, showing empathy, and caring for each other. I am also pleased that the report highlights the excellent support provided by the staff, parents and carers, governors and volunteers in our close-knit school community.

“These findings reflect the dedication of our pupils, staff, and wider community. We also welcome the recommendations, which we will integrate into our ongoing development work to ensure we continue to provide excellent learning experiences for every child.”

Chair of Governors Alison Long added: “The Governing Body was absolutely delighted to receive such a fantastic Estyn report and we would like to thank everybody involved in this achievement.

“All of us in the community know what a top-quality school we have, and how lucky we are to have such dedicated, focused and hard-working staff. They offer our children, the highest quality education, and such a wide and varied range of opportunities. We all know how good Franksbridge School is and it is rewarding to have this ratified by Estyn. As governors, we also fully acknowledge the recommendations and are committed to working closely with school leaders to build on our strengths and provide the very best learning experiences for all pupils at Franksbridge School.”