Melin Primary, Neath

Melin 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 248 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

42% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 12% have additional learning needs (24% in 2020/21); 6% are learning English as an additional language; and 14% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 28 pupils (Year 1) to 32 (Year 5).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,913 per pupil, against £4,001 in 2021-22. It carried forward £163k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

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

"Melin Primary is a welcoming, inclusive school where pupils feel safe and supported. Most pupils behave well and show positive attitudes to learning. Teachers manage pupils’ emotional needs effectively and provide appropriate support to promote their well-being. Leaders work effectively with a range of professionals to support pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) and, as a result, most make good progress towards their individual targets. They collaborate closely with the pre-school setting to ensure a smooth transition into school for the youngest pupils, enabling them to settle quickly and make rapid early progress in learning. The quality of teaching varies across the school. In the youngest classes, teachers use assessment effectively to identify pupils’ next steps in learning and use this information to plan thoughtful activities that engage pupils’ interests and meet their developmental needs successfully."

"However, although older pupils complete the tasks they are given in lessons, teachers do not consider pupils’ next steps in learning well enough to ensure that they make the progress they should. Most younger pupils make strong progress in developing their literacy and numeracy skills and soon become independent and creative learners. The progress older pupils make in literacy and numeracy is too variable. Across the school, pupils develop their physical, digital and Welsh language skills appropriately. Many younger pupils develop their thinking and problem-solving skills successfully and enjoy making choices in their learning as they begin to develop independence. However, the majority of older pupils do not develop a broad enough range of skills to support their learning effectively across the curriculum. Leaders use a suitable range of evidence to identify the school’s strengths and areas for development."

"However, leaders’ evaluation of the school’s work is not always accurate and does not support school improvement well enough. They do not focus closely enough on improving the quality of teaching and learning. Governors work closely with the acting headteacher to address the impact of poverty on families. They are beginning to participate meaningfully in self-evaluation but this is at a very early stage and governors’ understanding of the school’s work and the progress pupils make is limited. Overall, pupils’ attendance rates are too low."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Improve the accuracy and effectiveness of self-evaluation and improvement planning; (2) Improve the quality of teaching and assessment for older pupils to ensure that they make the progress they should in learning; (3) Strengthen the curriculum to provide authentic, purposeful learning activities that enable older pupils to build on their skills progressively; (4) Improve attendance.

Estyn follow-up status: Significant Improvement.

The nearest other state primary schools to Melin Primary are Ysgol Carreg Hir (0.6 miles), YGG Tyle'r Ynn (0.7 miles), St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Neath) (0.7 miles) and Gnoll Primary School (0.7 miles).

The nearest railway station is Neath Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Metal Box (opp former), 30 metres away.