After completing an application form, the Year 6 iLeader team has been selected for the forthcoming academic year. They will support staff in developing pupils digital competence across the school, ensuring the upkeep of our iPads as well as coaching younger pupils (and staff!) on new and developing apps.

 

Good luck team, I'm sure you will do us proud! They are:

Joe

Mia

Tia D

Connor

Piotr

Seren

Chloe W

Lauren

Tate

Brooke

 

Go to our iLeader section for more information on their work!

 

Pencoed Primary School receives award for E-Safety

 

An Assessor from the South West Grid for Learning recently visited Pencoed Primary School to review the school’s e-safety provision. The Assessor met school staff, parents and carers, Governors and pupils and was pleased to find that the school provides a high level of protection for users of the new technologies.

 

The South West Grid for Learning Trust provides the internet connection and a range of other services to schools across the SW region and is in the forefront of national developments in e-safety.  To enhance these services, they have developed a tool to help schools address e-safety issues, not least the changes to Ofsted inspections, which include a stronger focus on safeguarding. The online tool allows schools to evaluate their e-safety policy and practice and then suggests how the school might do more to protect young people and staff.

 

To apply for the 360 degree safe E-Safety Mark, schools have to reach a series of benchmark levels when they complete the online self review. The evidence is then verified by a visit from experienced Assessors.

 

The prime benefit of using the review and applying for the E-Safety Mark is that it does not focus on the individual aspects of e-safety such as technological solutions, but instead it integrates e-safety into school policy and the curriculum, challenging teachers and managers in the school to think about their provision and its continual evolution.

 

Schools are expected to show that they have provided a high standard of e-safety education and awareness for all staff , pupils and also for parents and carers, to ensure that these users of the new technologies can be safe online – whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile phones or other handheld devices.

 

Following their visit the Assessor  reported that

 

It was a real pleasure to visit Pencoed Primary School and experience the commitment, passion and enthusiasm shown by all stakeholders interviewed. Clearly, E-Safety is a priority at the school and they have benefitted from using the 360 degree Cymru tool.

 

Ron Richards, Lead Assessor for the 360 degree safe E-Safety Mark congratulated the school on its success and commented that it was re-assuring to know that the school had put a lot of thought and effort into improving the on-line  safety of the staff and young people, by addressing these important safeguarding issues.

Community Skills Day

On Monday the school had its first ever Community Skills Day - what a success! All of the Key Stage 2 pupils were involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities which were supported by parents and members of the local community. Some of the activities on offer included bag making, mosaics and electrical engineering. Many thanks to all of the parents and community members who volunteered their time to make the day a real success. All of the pupils had a fantastic time.

Congratulations to Jack George, Rhiannon Witts, Lauren McAndrew and Sadie Owen who represented the school in the Bridgend Rotary Club annual schools quiz competition at Litchard Primary School. The pupils answered a series of challenging general knowledge questions and were a credit to the school. Well done to all of you!

On Friday all of the key Stage 2 pupils once again took part in our VE day celebrations. The celebrations began with a fantastic presentation by the year 6 pupils where they explained all about World War II and showed some of the work they had done. The grandparents and family members of the year 6 pupils were invited to listen and to have a look through the books. We all ended the presentation by having a good old fashioned sing along!

In the afternoon, the sun shone for the rest of the key stage 2 pupils to participate in games, a traditional tea party and a sing-along!

we have had the opportunity to display and celebrate all of the work produced by year 1 as part of the Dragon Craft ICT project.

Well done to four of our Y5 pupils who have been working hard  preparing for a road safety quiz. Yesterday, their dedication paid off, as they competed against 10 other schools and did well enough to secure a place in the Grand Final next month! They were superb and fantastic representatives for the school!

 

A group of pensioners have gone back to school after being treated by young pupils from Pencoed Primary to a special St David’s Day coffee morning.

 

With Age Cymru having been selected by the children as their chosen charity this term, the pupils were keen to invite some of Pencoed’s most senior residents into their school hall.

 

The visitors – many of whom had been former students at the school – were entertained by a concert which showcased the pupils’ talents before having a chance to enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

 

Suzanne Sarjeant, Pencoed Primary School’s Headteacher, said: “Working with family members and the local community is a priority for us as a school. It was fantastic to see the hall full of local visitors who seemed to get so much out of the morning.”

 

Also present for the coffee morning were representatives from Age Cymru, Pencoed Pensioners, Glanffrwd Care Home, Pencoed WI, Read to Dogs, Open the Book, and the Goldies Cymru charity who brought the morning to a fun conclusion by leading a good old fashioned sing-song.   

 

Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “What a wonderful idea by Pencoed Primary pupils to open their doors and welcome the older generation into their school. It’s so important to treat older members of our community with the respect they deserve and I am sure that the pupils learned a lot from this experience.”