St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School, Cardiff

St Mellons C.I.W. 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 245 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

21% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 5% have additional learning needs (11% in 2020/21); 14% are learning English as an additional language; and 42% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 25 pupils (Year 3) to 34 (Reception).

Estyn's report on its February 2025 inspection summarises St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School like this:

"Over the past year, the school has experienced significant changes, including moving to a new building, a rapid increase in pupil numbers, and changes in leadership. In September 2024, an interim executive headteacher was seconded to the school. The new leadership arrangements have had a positive impact, but their long-term stability is uncertain. Leaders have created a clear vision for improvement and introduced worthwhile systems to monitor and evaluate progress. They are working closely with staff, governors, and the local authority to drive positive change and have established worthwhile professional learning partnerships with the executive headteacher’s existing schools. Many pupils start school with skills appropriate for their age."

"While they develop speaking and listening skills well, many pupils’ progress in reading, writing and Welsh is limited. Many younger pupils are not yet sufficiently confident in applying new phonic skills to supporting their reading and writing. Only the oldest pupils use reading effectively for learning. Welsh language development slows as pupils move through the school, and many older pupils struggle to retain simple words and phrases in Welsh Leaders and staff have created a calm and positive learning environment, and most pupils behave well, but too often teaching does not challenge pupils sufficiently. Whilst teachers support pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) well overall, they do not consistently provide enough challenge to help all pupils progress effectively. The school has updated its curriculum to ensure pupil progress in all areas of learning and experience."

"Teachers support pupils’ moral development effectively. However, overall, it is too early to measure the impact of the revised curriculum on the progress that pupils make with their skills, knowledge and understanding over time. Leaders have established a strong safeguarding culture. They monitor attendance closely, with new strategies starting to improve attendance rates, although a minority of vulnerable pupils still have low attendance. Extra-curricular activities are limited, but new pupil voice groups now involve children in more opportunities to make decisions about their school. While many governors support the school well, a minority need a clearer understanding of their roles in order to ensure they provide the most effective support and challenge for the school."

Estyn made 4 recommendations: (1) Secure long term leadership arrangements and improve leadership capacity at all levels including that of the governing body; (2) Improve the quality of teaching; (3) Improve pupils’ skills in Welsh, reading and writing; (4) Improve rates of attendance for those pupils at risk of the impact of poverty.

Estyn follow-up status: Special Measures.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School are St Cadoc's Primary School (0.6 miles), Glan-Yr-Afon Primary (0.7 miles), Pen-Y-Bryn Primary School (0.8 miles) and Pontprennau Primary School (0.9 miles).

The nearest railway station is Llanishen Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Road 2 (near), 110 metres away.