Fairwater Primary School, Cardiff
Fairwater Primary School is a primary school for pupils in Cardiff.
- Estyn
- Not in follow-up
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Fairwater Primary School in detail
School in Wales
Fairwater 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 144 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.
39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).
Of its pupils, 6% have additional learning needs (22% in 2020/21); 11% are learning English as an additional language; and 30% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Year groups range from 16 pupils (Year 2) to 26 (Year 4).
Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £8,393 per pupil, against £4,869 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £16k.
What Estyn said
Estyn's most recent full inspection report on Fairwater Primary School dates from 2020.
Read the full Estyn report (school website)
Source: © Crown copyright, Estyn: "Inspection report Fairwater Primary School 2020 (English only)". Quoted under Estyn's re-use terms.
Fairwater Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "To create exciting and challenging learning experiences that foster a love of learning. To create a shared vision which inspires and motivates all members of the school community towards high achievement for all. To create a safe, inclusive and healthy school culture that values the whole school community."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We hope it provides a glimpse into life at Fairwater Primary in Cardiff and offers helpful information to support you and your child on their journey with us. We are honoured to be the headteachers of this fantastic school."
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 26 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Cardiff
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Fairwater Primary School are Herbert Thompson Primary (0.3 miles), Pentrebane Primary School (0.5 miles), Ysgol Gymraeg Coed-Y-Gof (0.5 miles) and Holy Family R.C. Primary School (0.6 miles).
Herbert Thompson PrimaryPentrebane Primary SchoolYsgol Gymraeg Coed-Y-GofHoly Family R.C. Primary School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Fairwater Rail Station, about 970 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gorse Place (e), 110 metres away.
Sources: Welsh Government school data and StatsWales (OGL); Estyn; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASInspection
Schools in Wales are inspected by Estyn, not Ofsted. Read Fairwater Primary School's Estyn reports.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Social & online
Keep up with Fairwater Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fairwater Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fairwater Primary School is in Cardiff; for families living there:
Apply to Cardiff for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Cardiff is 10 (the median across 144 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Questions parents ask about Fairwater Primary School
What is the catchment area for Fairwater Primary School?
In Wales catchment areas are set by the local authority, so Fairwater Primary School has a defined catchment published by Cardiff. Living in it does not guarantee a place - when the school is oversubscribed Cardiff applies the published criteria, which usually put looked-after children first, then siblings, then distance - but it normally carries priority.
How do I apply to Fairwater Primary School?
Apply through Cardiff, naming Fairwater Primary School on your application. Welsh admission deadlines are set by each local authority rather than nationally, so check Cardiff's admissions pages for this year's closing date.
How many road collisions happen near Fairwater Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cardiff is 10 (the median across 144 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Fairwater Primary School?
Fairwater Primary School is at Wellwright Road, Fairwater, Cardiff, CF5 3ED.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)