“The school is a happy and welcoming community with a safe family atmosphere where all pupils have equal opportunities. The school places a good emphasis on celebrating pupils’ achievements and talents.”
Pengam Primary School is a local-authority-maintained school within Caerphilly County Borough Council. The school is part of the Blackwood Cluster of schools and the local region is known as the Islwyn region. Around half of the pupils come from outside of the school’s designated catchment area. The school currently has 204 pupils aged three to eleven on a roll, including 27 who attend the nursery on a part-time basis. There are seven classes in the school. The headteacher Mrs. Witchell is also the headteacher of Fleur de Lis Primary School. Both schools work collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcomes for all pupils.
Pupils, staff, parents, and Governors have worked together to achieve many accreditations. We have gained our Platinum Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. Our wildlife garden has gained many awards through the Caerphilly in Bloom Awards, Caerphilly Pride in Your Place Awards and Gwent Best Kept Village Awards.
The school kitchen has been recognized by Caerphilly Catering for excellence in hygiene and performance. It was awarded the highest score possible for food hygiene. The school has a well-established Walking Bus. Pupils are encouraged to walk to school on a Wednesday. Our Junior Road Safety Officers are responsible for keeping a close eye on any "Naughty Parkers" outside our school. During the Summer Term 2018, the school gained the Bronze Cymraeg Campus Award for the development of the Welsh Language across the school.
The school badge depicts a bridge, which is seen as very symbolic. Old maps and records describe the area as “BontAber Pengam”. At the time of the badge design, the school had a Welsh Unit as part of the school. “The bridge was seen as representing a bridge between the two languages so that mutual respect of each other’s language could be encouraged in parents and children.
In more recent years it is seen as a bridge between Early Years and Secondary education. Underpinning all that takes place within the school is a strong belief that both parents and children feel valued and have a voice that is not only heard but is listened to. These are “the first steps” and the school believes that it should do everything in its power to ensure that it is a very positive experience for all concerned. Negativity at this early stage can have irreparable damage and is something that should be avoided for the sake of both children and parents.”
