Cwm Ifor Primary School, Caerphilly

Cwm Ifor 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 192 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 14% have additional learning needs (21% in 2020/21); and 5% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 15 pupils (Year 2) to 30 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,292 per pupil, against £3,745 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £52k.

Estyn's report on its May 2026 inspection summarises Cwm Ifor Primary School like this:

"Cwm Ifor Primary School is a caring and inclusive school where pupils can thrive. Leaders, governors and staff focus on meeting the needs of all pupils, and keep well-being, respect and kindness at the centre of everything they do. Staff create purposeful learning environments where pupils develop confidence and positive attitudes to learning. A strong culture of safeguarding helps pupils feel secure and happy in school. All pupils benefit from an engaging curriculum, which reflects the locality and helps pupils to develop a secure understanding of diversity and inclusion. Exciting learning experiences support pupils to develop important social, creative and physical skills alongside their academic learning."

"Positive working relationships between staff and pupils contribute strongly to pupils’ good behaviour and willingness to learn. Most pupils, including those with additional learning needs (ALN) and pupils from low- income households, make good progress. Staff place a strong emphasis on developing speaking and listening skills from an early age. Most pupils become confident readers, and many write effectively for different purposes. Pupils enjoy learning Welsh and use digital technology confidently to support their learning. Recent work to strengthen mathematics teaching is helping many pupils to build secure understanding and reasoning skills."

"Teachers provide useful feedback and encourage pupils to reflect thoughtfully on their work. Pupils contribute positively to school life through leadership groups and by sharing their views about learning activities. Staff provide effective support for pupils with ALN, including through the nurturing provision in the school’s Cwtch class. School improvement processes are effective and bring about positive change for provision and pupils’ outcomes, although attendance remains a challenge. Working relationships with parents and carers are broadly positive, but there are not always enough opportunities for parents and carers to become involved in the life of the school and understand how they can contribute most effectively to their children’s learning and well- being."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Broaden engagement with parents and carers to enable them to support their children’s learning and well-being more effectively; (2) Continue to improve attendance.

The nearest other state primary schools to Cwm Ifor Primary School are Hendre Primary School (0.5 miles), Hendredenny Park Primary School (0.6 miles), Plasyfelin Primary (0.8 miles) and Ysgol G.G. Caerffili (1 mile).

The nearest railway station is Energlyn & Churchill Park Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Troed y Bryn (after), 50 metres away.