Prospectus Prospectws Ysgol Gyfun Comprehensive School

Ysgol Gyfun
Pontarddulais
Comprehensive School
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...Live to learn.
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Specialist Teaching Facility for Children and Young People with
Profound, Severe and Multiple Learning Difficulties.
Prospectus
2013/2014
Prospectws

Welcome to our school
Welcome to Pontarddulais Comprehensive School . Thank you for
spending the time to look at our prospectus. Pontarddulais is a unique
school, I hope the prospectus gives you a feeling for how special this
school is.
Our aim at Pontarddulais is to provide the best possible teaching and
learning experiences for our pupils, to make sure that pupils are supported to do their best and to
achieve their potential. The exceptional result achieved by our pupils at key stage 3 and 4 show how
determined the school is to constantly improve standards of attainment for every child. We believe that
children can only do their best when parents, pupils and teachers work together.
We are very proud of our school community and all the pupils, staff, parents and governors who are part
of it. Pontarddulais is a very good school, our last ESTYN inspection was very successful. Pontarddulais
was described as a very good school with many outstanding features.
The school is justifiably proud of its reputation for the care we provide for our pupils. We have an
outstanding team of staff who work closely with all pupils to ensure their welfare and educational needs
are met.
A very wide variety of opportunities are available to pupils to develop their interest and talents, these
include Music, Drama and Art as well as Sport and Languages. Pupils are encouraged to participate in
and enjoy the extra curricular activities on offer.
Do not hesitate to contact us in the school should you require any additional information or if you wish
to visit the school.
Head teacher – Miss J. Waldron

Welcome to the STF
The Specialist Teaching Facility (STF) opened in 2007 and we have been
fortunate to have celebrated the successes of some very special young people.
The STF provides an inclusive, high quality education, therapy and care
for children and young people with profound/severe and multiple learning
difficulties; including profound physical disabilities and sensory impairments.
Many of our pupils are developmentally very young and developing communication skills is our priority.
We are enthusiastic and creative in ways of meeting our pupils’ very different communication needs through
Augmentative and Alternative Communciation systems which include communication books with symbols
and advanced technology e.g. laptops cursor operated with head movements.
Our philosophy is that every child matters, is unique and has the right to be safe, valued and comfortable.
Learners are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever that is, with inclusive opportunities
at an appropriate level for each individual. Key to our pupils’ success is the high levels of support that pupils
receive from the team of teachers and learning support assistants who are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and
have a ‘can do’ attitude … and a sense of humour!
“Teaching and support staff in the STF are dedicated, enthusiastic and experienced. The quality of their teaching
and support is a significant strength. It is based on excellent relationships and detailed knowledge of individual
needs … The STF is managed well and the head of the facility provides very good leadership. The team ethos
in the STF is a very strong element of success. The environment is friendly, safe and well resourced”.
Estyn 2009
Our pupils enjoy school which is the measure of our success. We celebrate learners’ achievements, no
matter how small. The curriculum is relevant, multisensory and personalised to meet individual needs and
designed to prepare pupils for the next stage of their lives. Pupils are supported by many outside agencies
including physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, specialist careers advisors, specialist. The
community is an important resource. Our relationship with parents is fundamental to our pupils’ progress
- we are a team. Together we decide upon targets and work together to inform, to share approaches, to
provide continuity and to support pupils.
This brochure and the website provide just a snapshot of our work. If you have a son or daughter who you
think would benefit from our speciast teaching and facilities in this inclusive comprehensive school and you
would like to find out more, please contact us for a chat or a visit. We understand that choosing a school
can be a time of uncertainty and are very approachable. -
Head of STF - Mrs J. Gibbs

The
STF team
Mrs Julie Gibbs
Mr Tom Stephens
Mrs Glenda Davies
Mr Phil Jones
Mrs Sophie Cole
Mrs Shelly Brown

ESTYN Report
“Pontarddulais Comprehensive School is a very good school with
many outstanding features. There are outstanding features in the
standards its pupils achieve, the quality of education it provides and
in its leadership and management. Social inclusion is high on the
school agenda and is an outstanding feature”.
Estyn 2009
“The STF is an outstanding feature of provision. Its purpose built
accommodation succeeds in supporting the educational and social
needs of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties appropriately.
These pupils are integrated well into the school community.
The explicit aims and values of the STF promote equality for all
pupils”.
Estyn 2009

Specialist Teaching
Facility
Our philosphy
How we support special learners

Inclusion
Curriculum
Total communication

School Council

Our
Philosophy of Inclusion
Our Garden Project

Comments from Parents
“...has come a long way since he entered the unit. From the boy
frustrated because no one could understand him to a confident boy
who can use his communication book to tell us what he wants. It is
amazing to watch him every day coming from school eager to tell us
what has happened - either through his communication book or his
home-school book.
Thanks for making this happen. We will never be able to thank you
enough”.
“We would like to thank you for all you have done for ... You’ve been
so kind and have treated her with respect and dignity all times.
Since she has been to Pontarddulais, she has been extremely happy
and has thrived beyond recognition. For this we thank you wholeheartedly”.
“Thank you very much for all your support and encouragement that
you have given ... over the years. She has developed into a young
adult that we can all be proud of ”.

What we do at the STF

ESTYN Report
“The STF provision for pupils with profound and multiple learning
difficulties is an outstanding feature. This purpose built provision
is very successful in supporting both their educational and social
needs. Pupils progress well in developing their personal and social
competency. Their ability to use these skills in context is assessed appropriately
and leads to relevant qualifications”.
“There are very good resources in the STF. These include a sensory
room, therapy rooms, teaching areas and specialist ICT equipment.
The STF is supported well by senior leaders and by the LEA. Former
and present pupils of the school provide important support to the
progress of pupils in the STF.”
“Resource provision for pupils is outstanding.”

Pontarddulais Comprehensive School
Caecerrig Road, Pontarddulais, Swansea, SA4 8PD.
Telephone: 01792 884 556 Fax: 01792 884658
E-Mail - Julie.Gibbs@Swansea-edunet.gov.uk
- P-staff.tstephens@pontcomp.swansea.sch.uk
Headteacher: Miss J Waldron MA.Ed, BSc (Hons). Econ.
Learn to live...
Byw i ddysgu...
...Live to learn.
...Dysgu byw.