Gilfach Fargoed Primary School, Bargoed

Gilfach Fargoed 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 174 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

25% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 5% have additional learning needs (12% in 2020/21); and 5% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 14 pupils (Year 4) to 25 (Year 5).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,864 per pupil, against £3,726 in 2021-22. It carried forward £179k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its November 2023 inspection summarises Gilfach Fargoed Primary School like this:

"This school is part of a federation, characterised by strong leadership, high expectations, good quality classroom provision, and a focus on the well-being of staff and pupils. The headteacher has fostered a successful learning culture where everyone, staff and pupils, feel proud to be members of the school community, and want to do their best. The federation leaders are strategic in their approach to partnership working. This benefits the staff, in terms of their professional learning, building capacity and effective deployment. Most importantly, it benefits the pupils in receiving effective teaching, that results in notable progress from their starting points."

"As a result, by the end of their time at the school, nearly all pupils achieve well across the curriculum, and develop their self-confidence and sense of empathy and responsibility. The provision for most areas of learning is strong, although leaders have rightly recognised the need to strengthen the provision to develop pupils’ wider mathematical skills and ICT (information and communication technology) systematically. Teachers devise exciting, engaging topics and activities that their pupils enjoy. The professional relationships between staff and the pupils are a particular strength of the school. As a result, classrooms are well resourced, purposeful, happy learning environments where learning proceeds at a good pace."

"Pupils influence the learning appropriately and contribute their views about what interests them. In the best examples, teachers allow pupils to think for themselves, but this is not always the case and, occasionally, teachers over-direct the learning. Teaching assistants provide skilled, worthwhile support for any pupil that may require help to keep pace with their peers. Staff care deeply for their pupils and know them well as individuals. In addition, leaders work supportively with families wherever appropriate, for example to help them to improve their child’s attendance."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Ensure that teaching and learning experiences develop pupils’ digital and mathematical skills, coherently and systematically; (2) Share the strong practice across the school to support pupils to think for themselves and extend their independent learning skills.

The nearest other state primary schools to Gilfach Fargoed Primary School are Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargoed (under 0.1 miles), Pengam Primary School (0.6 miles), Ysgol Gymraeg Trelyn (0.6 miles) and Park Primary School Bargoed (0.6 miles).

The nearest railway station is Gilfach Fargoed Rail Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gwerthonor Place (opp 56), 190 metres away.