Llanyrafon Primary School, Torfaen

Llanyrafon 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 374 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (12% in 2020/21); 2% are learning English as an additional language; and 9% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 42 pupils (Year 1) to 59 (Year 4).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,900 per pupil, against £3,463 in 2021-22. It carried forward £291k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its January 2023 inspection summarises Llanyrafon Primary School like this:

"Llanyrafon Primary is a happy and nurturing school. The headteacher has a clear vision for improving well-being and learning for all pupils and leads a team of enthusiastic teachers and teaching assistants. Leaders, teachers and support staff contribute to a strong sense of belonging and maintain positive relationships across the whole school community. Nearly all pupils enjoy school and speak appreciatively of the opportunities they have to learn and play. The school’s approach to well-being is a significant strength and, in particular, all pupils, staff and families know they will get the emotional support they need. Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary and they generally engage well with their learning. As a result, they make good progress in many aspects of their learning. Occasionally, lessons are overly structured and pupils do not have opportunities to make decisions about their learning often enough. This hampers their ability to be creative thinkers and independent learners."

"Teachers plan learning that enables most pupils to listen, speak and write confidently across the curriculum. They are often highly articulate and especially enjoy reading for enjoyment and for research. Across the school, pupils develop their mathematical skills well. However, they are less confident in using digital devices to support their work and, overall, teachers do not plan enough opportunities for pupils to use their mathematical and digital knowledge often enough in their work across the curriculum. Pupils enjoy working outdoors and teachers plan purposeful activities in the school’s extensive grounds for them to explore nature. Pupils recognise the positive impact these learning opportunities have on their health. The school ensures that pupils have plentiful opportunities to be physically active, not only in lessons but through clubs, visits and playtime games. Nearly all pupils influence the life and work of the school when they take on leadership roles and responsibilities. They confidently make suggestions and plan actions that improve the school day and support the local community."

"Teachers work with their pupils to plan learning experiences that capture their interests and older pupils in particular are beginning to make suggestions about how they learn and how they record their work. Teachers use a range of approaches to help pupils with their work. They ask questions that help extend learning and provide immediate feedback to support pupils’ understanding and their next steps in learning. Many teachers plan lessons that build on previous learning to enable progress for each pupil. They reflect on their lessons to consider how to improve their practice but do not focus their evaluations closely enough on the impact of their teaching on pupil outcomes in all aspects of the curriculum. Leaders and teachers establish a strong culture of safeguarding. During the inspection, a minor safeguarding issue was brought to the school’s attention."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Focus self-evaluation and improvement processes to focus more specifically on the impact of teaching on learning across the school; (2) Continue to develop the school’s curriculum to ensure that it provides breadth and depth of learning across the full range of learning and experience of the Curriculum for Wales; (3) Improve opportunities for pupils to develop and apply their digital skills; (4) Address the safeguarding issue identified during the inspection.

From the headteacher's welcome: "Llanyrafon Primary School strives to provide a happy, safe nurturing environment where every child is valued, encouraged and challenged to achieve their full potential. Our motto 'Achieving Success through Lifelong Learning' shows the importance learning has for all members of our school community. Within our school we have three core values which we all adhere to."

The nearest other state primary schools to Llanyrafon Primary School are Our Lady of the Angels R.C School (0.6 miles), Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran (0.8 miles), Llantarnam Community Primary School (0.9 miles) and Croesyceiliog Primary (0.9 miles).

The nearest railway station is Cwmbran Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kidwelly Road (after), 110 metres away.