Clydach Primary school, Clydach

Clydach 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 156 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

26% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 7% have additional learning needs (18% in 2020/21); 7% are learning English as an additional language; and 15% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 9 pupils (Reception) to 32 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £6,691 per pupil, against £4,311 in 2021-22. It carried forward £49k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its November 2022 inspection summarises Clydach Primary school like this:

"Clydach Primary school is an inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and cared for by their teachers. Staff work hard to build positive working relationships and provide good support for pupils’ emotional well-being. Pupils are enthusiastic learners and enjoy sharing their work with visitors. In general, pupils make suitable progress in their skills and understanding across the school. In a few areas of the curriculum pupils are making good progress, for example in mathematics and when developing their oracy skills. However, not all groups of pupils, including those with additional learning needs or the more able, are challenged or supported well enough."

"This means that these groups of pupils do not always make enough progress from their starting points. The school is beginning to develop its curriculum appropriately and is providing a few engaging learning experiences for pupils. However, progress towards the Curriculum for Wales is slow and the school has not yet developed its curriculum well enough to ensure that pupils build on their skills and make sustained progress. The re- introduction of school trips following the pandemic is having a positive impact on pupils’ enjoyment of learning. Pupils engage enthusiastically with experiences such as their woodland walks. Due to significant levels of staff absence, the school does not currently have an effective leadership team."

"The local authority and governors have recently appointed an interim headteacher who is helping to improve staff well-being and pupils’ progress. However, this arrangement is temporary and there remains a lack of capacity in leadership at all levels. This is slowing the progress of the school and reducing its ability to build strong relationships with parents to help them support their children’s learning. In addition, self-evaluation and improvement activities, as well as professional learning opportunities for staff, do not focus sufficiently well on improving the quality of teaching and learning. The local authority and governing body recognise challenges facing the school and are providing additional support."

Estyn made 5 recommendations: (1) Establish stable and effective leadership at all levels and improve communication with stakeholders; (2) Improve self-evaluation and strategic planning to enable the school to identify and sustain the necessary improvements in teaching and learning; (3) Improve teaching across the school to ensure that all groups of pupils are challenged well enough and make suitable progress; (4) Improve the curriculum and provision for the progressive development of pupils' skills; (5) Ensure that professional learning encourages collaboration across the school and improves teaching and learning.

The nearest other state primary schools to Clydach Primary school are Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gellionnen (0.3 miles), Craigfelen Primary School (0.4 miles), St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles) and Ynystawe Primary School (0.9 miles).

The nearest railway station is Llansamlet Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Carpenters Arms (o/s former), 90 metres away.