A ST Asaph infants’ school has been rated ‘good’ in all areas following an inspection.

St Asaph VP School was inspected by Estyn in November in standards; well-being and attitudes to learning; teaching and learning experiences; care, support and guidance; and leadership and management.

The report, published in January, said the acting headteacher and staff have embraced new ways to “develop the school as a thriving community” and encourage pupils to become “curious and resilient learners”.

It said the school, which caters for 91 pupils on Upper Denbigh Road near Ysgol Glan Clwyd, has an “inclusive ethos where all staff know the pupils well and provide high levels of care, support and guidance”.

Inspectors found the classrooms were “busy and productive places where pupils engage in their learning eagerly” while staff “make effective use of areas of learning indoor and outdoors to develop pupils’ literacy, creative and physical skills successfully”.

The report also said the school’s safeguarding arrangements “meet requirements and do not give cause for concern”, adding that “most pupils know how to stay safe online”.

St Asaph VP School, which is Church in Wales voluntary-controlled, teaches pupils in four single age classes from nursery to year two. Its proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is just over 22 per cent, above the 18 per cent average for Wales.

The inspection report said the school’s Criw Cymraeg pupil committee promotes the development of Welsh language skills successfully through playing games in Welsh at playtimes.

Meanwhile it has “strong and purposeful leadership” which has “a clear vision for the school that focuses on raising standards and developing staff and pupils individuals within an inclusive setting”.

Inspectors recommended improvements including independent numeracy and ICT skills, and for parents and governors to have a more central role in school improvement planning.

Charlotte Bowers, chair of the St Asaph VP School governing body, said: “[The report] really reflects the ethos within our school of working in a community where the pupils are at the heart of everything that we do.

“Pupils benefit from taking part in a wide range of initiatives as they develop into being confident learners that are prepared for their primary education.

“Of course, we always aim to improve what we do and we will implement the recommendations made in the report.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s cabinet lead member for education and children’s services, said: “This is a tremendous school inspection report and I would like to thank and commend the whole team at St Asaph VP for their dedication and commitment.

“The report itself highlights many of the school’s strengths, including the amount of support, guidance and mentoring our pupils receive and the strong link with parents and guardians. The work going on at St Asaph VP reflects the commitment made in Denbighshire to make it a priority to provide a high quality education in its schools and we take pride in the fact that a generation of pupils at this school are benefitting from such enthusiasm and commitment within the school community.”