Rhiwbeina Primary School, Cardiff

Rhiwbeina 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 671 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 2% have additional learning needs; 1% are learning English as an additional language; and 13% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 70 pupils (Reception) to 90 (Year 3).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £4,199 per pupil, against £3,219 in 2021-22. It carried forward £145k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its September 2023 inspection summarises Rhiwbeina Primary School like this:

"Rhiwbeina Primary School is a vibrant school where staff encourage all pupils to achieve the best they can. As a result of this and effective teaching, nearly all pupils make strong progress from their individual starting points. Teachers plan an exciting curriculum, which takes good account of the views of pupils and makes worthwhile use of the local community. They provide a beneficial range of stimulating activities which ensure that pupils fully engage in their learning. The school’s use of drama and other creative approaches are noteworthy and effective. These help to bring history and other curriculum areas alive for pupils and support them to empathise with others whilst improving their communication and social skills."

"As a result, standards of literacy across the school are high. The school provides beneficial opportunities for pupils to learn about Welsh heritage and culture and to gain an understanding of equality and diversity. However, provision for improving pupils’ Welsh language skills does not focus sufficiently on developing pupils’ Welsh speaking skills and, as a result, most pupils make limited progress in this area. Leaders ensure that the school meets the requirements of national reform such as the development of the curriculum and changes to additional learning needs (ALN) provision. The headteacher carefully monitors pupil progress and teaching across the school and works with governors to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are appropriate. However, processes for self-evaluation and school improvement do not sufficiently involve all stakeholders to ensure that they play a positive role in influencing and shaping school development."

"Across the school, teaching is generally strong. Teachers and support staff receive appropriate professional development to support them with their work. However, the school provides limited opportunities for staff to collaborate and share best practice. Governors work closely with the headteacher to monitor and manage the school’s budget effectively. They have a clear understanding of spending plans and support the headteacher to secure appropriate resources for teaching and learning."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Improve strategic planning to involve all stakeholders and further improve the quality of teaching and learning; (2) Improve professional learning to ensure that all staff have opportunity to collaborate and share best practice; (3) Improve pupils’ spoken Welsh.

The nearest other state primary schools to Rhiwbeina Primary School are Llanishen Fach Primary School (0.6 miles), Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd (0.7 miles), Coryton Primary School (0.9 miles) and Ysgol-Y-Wern (0.9 miles).

The nearest railway station is Rhiwbina Rail Station, about 370 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lon-y-Rhyd (after), 150 metres away.