Garth Primary School, Bridgend

Garth 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 193 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (7% in 2020/21).

Year groups range from 18 pupils (Year 2) to 30 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,546 per pupil, against £4,157 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £19k.

Estyn's report on its March 2023 inspection summarises Garth Primary School like this:

"Garth Primary School is a happy and caring learning community. Leaders, staff and governors work diligently to ensure that pupils’ well-being sits at the heart of their work. The school understands and works with its local community beneficially. As a result, the school, its pupils and their families work together confidently and purposefully."

"Pupils develop positive working relationships with staff and trust them to help and support them at all times. The school’s developing curriculum, and an engaging range of extra-curricular activities and clubs, ensure that pupils enjoy school and take part positively in all the school has to offer. For the most part, teachers challenge pupils effectively and plan learning that supports them to make useful progress in many areas of learning. Many pupils make particularly positive progress in developing their speaking and listening skills."

"Leaders and staff continue to work to develop learning experiences that ensure that pupils develop their skills and understanding progressively. There is a strong sense of teamwork at the school, and the headteacher, senior leaders and staff work together positively. Leaders set in place positive strategies to improve pupils’ skills and support their well-being. Their decision to fund family engagement officers is having a notably positive impact on pupils, their families and the local community."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Address the well-being issue identified at the time of the inspection; (2) Ensure that the curriculum enables pupils to develop skills systematically and progressively; (3) Sharpen monitoring and improvement strategies to focus better on pupils’ learning; (4) Improve pupils’ writing skills.

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a happy and caring community of children, staff, parents, carers and governors. Our school motto of 'Reach for the Stars' is at the heart of everything we do in Garth and we make sure that we try to be the best we can be."

The nearest other state primary schools to Garth Primary School are Cwmfelin Primary School (0.5 miles), St Mary's & St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles), YGG Cynwyd Sant (0.9 miles) and Llangynwyd Primary School (1 mile).

The nearest railway station is Garth (Bridgend) Rail Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Garth Primary School (adjacent), 140 metres away.