PILL Primary School has been given a glowing report from its latest Estyn inspection which found “all pupils are happy to work, play and celebrate equally, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.”

The school overall was considered good, with an excellent learning environment for pupils.

The report said: “The school is very inclusive. All pupils receive equal access to the curriculum and they are highly valued as individuals.

"The very effective levels of engagement in school life engendered by school leaders have resulted in outstanding levels of communication and trust between pupils, their parents and the school.

“The school takes very detailed and extensive steps to ensure that all pupils recognise and celebrate the very diverse school community and treat each other equally.

"Gender equality and equality of opportunity is embedded thoughtfully and highly effectively throughout the curriculum and in all aspects of school life.

“The school works innovatively to ensure that the school community celebrates festivals from all pupils’ faiths positively. Teachers use pupils and their parents as experts in their own religion, inviting them into school to share their knowledge and understanding of their faiths and customs.

“As a result of these efforts, the school has a very strong ethos of equality. Pupils have an extensive understanding, and an acceptance, of the diverse beliefs represented in the school and they treat each other with respect.

“The school creates a very harmonious learning environment, where all pupils are happy to work, play and celebrate equally, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.”

The report added that the school worked well with parents and community groups.

“As a result, pupils and parents from diverse backgrounds understand and respect each other’s cultures, and pupils work together harmoniously in school."

Commenting on the inspection report Newport West MP Paul Flynn said the school was specially designed to be larger than other primary schools because otherwise there was “a danger of ghettoisation into the separate ethnic and racial groups that make up the richly diverse community.”

Mr Flynn said in a blog post: “The school currently has around 32 languages spoken and takes every opportunity to support non English language speakers.

"They recognise and accept the benefits of home language use with induction and registration carried out in their first language prior to joining familiar spoken language groups to help develop confidence and security.

“It is heartening to attend the School Assembly. For prayers some of the children have their hands cupped in the Muslim tradition. Others have them joined in the Christian way. Crucially they are saying the same prayer.

“The foundations of Newport racial harmony are laid in Pillgwenlly where the children of many races and languages mix freely.”