Litchard Primary, Bridgend (Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr

Litchard Primary 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 460 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

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

Of its pupils, 9% have additional learning needs (23% in 2020/21); 7% are learning English as an additional language; and 14% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 48 pupils (Year 1) to 64 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,666 per pupil, against £3,650 in 2021-22. It ended 2024-25 with a deficit of £80k.

Estyn's report on its June 2025 inspection summarises Litchard Primary like this:

"Litchard Primary School is a happy, inclusive and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, valued and eager to learn. Staff build strong, respectful relationships with pupils and work well together to promote a calm and purposeful learning environment. Pupils enjoy school and show enthusiasm and positive attitudes to learning across a wide range of experiences. The headteacher provides determined leadership and promotes a shared vision that effectively supports improvement. Leaders place partnership working at the heart of the school’s approach and work successfully with parents, governors, other schools and external partners to enhance pupils’ learning and well-being. Leaders have established a highly effective system to assess and track pupils’ progress and well-being. Staff use this information well to identify needs quickly and check the impact of support, which helps reduce barriers to learning. Teachers plan engaging learning experiences for pupils."

"They make effective use of local links to plan a curriculum that reflects the diverse needs of the community that the school serves. In most lessons, they question effectively, maintain a steady pace and support pupils to make good progress. In a minority of lessons, activities are not always well matched to pupils’ individual needs, and opportunities to develop independent learning skills are limited. Most pupils including those in the Learning Resource Class (LRC) make good progress in literacy and numeracy. They communicate clearly and use subject vocabulary accurately. Staff promote a strong reading culture and help pupils develop effective strategies so nearly all pupils read fluently and understand a range of texts. Most pupils write effectively for different purposes and by Year 6, many produce sustained high quality work. Most pupils apply their mathematical skills accurately to solve problems."

"Over time, many pupils use digital tools appropriately to support their learning. However, they do not practise a broad enough range of digital skills or apply them regularly to deepen their understanding. Most pupils learn to swim competently by the time they leave school, using the school’s own pool. Teachers model Welsh regularly, and this ensures that pupils make steady progress in developing their language skills. Leaders promote good attendance through clear expectations and supportive actions. As a result, attendance has improved over time, including for pupils eligible for free school meals."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Refine teaching to provide appropriate challenge and support for all learners and to develop pupils’ independent learning skills; (2) Ensure that pupils develop and apply a broader range of digital skills.

The nearest other state primary schools to Litchard Primary are Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr (0.8 miles), Penyfai C.I.W. Primary (0.8 miles), Cefn Glas Infant School (0.9 miles) and Penybont Primary School (0.9 miles).

The nearest railway station is Wildmill Rail Station, about 220 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mission Church (opposite), 150 metres away.