Caerau Primary School, Maesteg

Caerau Primary School is an English-medium school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 400 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

52% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 19% have additional learning needs; 4% are learning English as an additional language; and 7% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 40 pupils (Year 3) to 65 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,876 per pupil, against £4,444 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £120k.

Estyn's report on its May 2023 inspection summarises Caerau Primary School like this:

"Caerau Primary School is an inclusive school that fosters strong relationships between adults and pupils, and supports their emotional and social needs effectively. Provision for pupils’ well-being is a key priority for leaders, and teachers create calm and thoughtful learning environments. As a result, most pupils behave well and demonstrate care and support towards each other. The specialist learning resource and observation classes help pupils to develop language, literacy, and social-emotional skills well. The Rainforest nurture class offers tailored and beneficial support to pupils facing challenges in mainstream classes. The school collaborates closely with parents, but poor attendance and notable lateness hamper the progress of too many pupils across the school."

"The school has developed a curriculum that offers interesting learning experiences. It provides valuable opportunities for pupils to learn about Welsh history and culture and to develop their personal and social skills. However, the curriculum does not develop pupils’ skills systematically enough. Added to this, the majority of teaching does not lead to effective learning. Pupils develop skills, such as their communication and digital skills, appropriately. However, their progress is reading, writing and mathematics is not strong enough."

"Throughout a period of instability, leaders have worked hard to provide a positive environment that supports pupils’ well-being. However, the leadership team has too little impact on the quality of teaching and learning at the school. Their strategies to evaluate pupils’ learning and to bring about improvements are not effective enough. While the governing body supports the school wholeheartedly and is taking steps to become more effective, it does not meet all of its responsibilities appropriately."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Establish a stable and effective leadership and teaching team; (2) Improve pupils’ reading, writing and mathematics skills; (3) Improve pupils’ attendance and punctuality; (4) Ensure that curriculum and assessment arrangements develop pupils’ knowledge and skills systematically and progressively.

The nearest other state primary schools to Caerau Primary School are Nantyffyllon Primary School (1 mile), Croeserw Primary School (1.1 miles), Cymer Afan Primary School (1.2 miles) and Plasnewydd Primary School (1.6 miles).

The nearest railway station is Maesteg Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Caerau Post Office (opposite), 270 metres away.