St Woolos Primary School, Newport

St Woolos 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 347 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

23% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 4% have additional learning needs (28% in 2020/21); 47% are learning English as an additional language; and 85% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 41 pupils (Year 5) to 45 (Year 6).

Its delegated budget for 2026-27 works out at £5,123 per pupil, against £3,594 in 2021-22. It carried forward £47k of reserves at the end of 2024-25.

Estyn's report on its May 2023 inspection summarises St Woolos Primary School like this:

"St. Woolos Primary School is an effective and caring school, which holds the community it serves at the heart of all it does. Pupil well-being is a strength of the school. This is due to the priority leaders and staff place upon pupils being happy and ready to learn. There is a strong focus on inclusion and ensuring equality for all, whilst celebrating diversity. Teachers are effective in delivering a curriculum that supports pupils to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills purposefully over the time they are at the school. From their starting points, pupils respond well and become confident when applying their skills in oracy, reading, writing and numeracy across the curriculum."

"However, pupils are less confident in using digital skills or when using the Welsh language. Staff provide interesting lessons and an abundance of purposeful visits to support the learning and inspire pupils to consider their own contributions in the future. However, opportunities to develop creativity through the expressive arts are less well developed. Pupils feel that they have a voice in their school and its curriculum, and are confident when suggesting improvements, such as more opportunities to develop their physical skills. Over time, and through constant reflection, leaders implement well-considered plans to improve the school for the benefit of the pupils. For example, there is a strong focus on improving oracy. This not only supports the youngest pupils but enables pupils who transfer to the school from other settings."

"This is particularly helpful to those who are new to the English language. As a result, most pupils rapidly develop linguistic skills that enable them to access the curriculum and develop as independent learners. Governors are play an active role in the school and are effective in supporting it to move forward. Together, with the headteacher and deputy headteacher, they have a clear understanding of the school’s position and where the focus for improvement lies. Parents trust leaders and staff. They are very supportive of the school and appreciate its work in nurturing and developing their children."

Estyn made 2 recommendations: (1) Improve pupils’ digital and Welsh oracy skills; (2) Improve provision for expressive arts, creativity and to support the development of pupils’ physical skills.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Woolos Primary School are Maindee C.P. School (0.4 miles), St Mary's R.C. Primary School (0.5 miles), Clytha Primary School (0.5 miles) and Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Gwenlli (0.5 miles).

The nearest railway station is Newport (S Wales) Rail Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

26 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Presbyterian Church (near), 90 metres away.