A primary school in Blaenau Gwent has been praised for fostering a positive and caring environment for children to learn in.

St Mary’s Church Wales Voluntary Aided School in Brynmawr was inspected by Estyn in April and published its report in July, which found pupils were “extremely polite and respectful towards adults, visitors and each other.”

A voluntary aided school is where the school is state-funded, but a foundation or religious group owns the buildings, employs the staff and sets the admission rules.

They also found that older pupils acted as positive role models for those in younger years and were encouraged to take on positive leadership roles within the school community.

“As a Voluntary Aided Church in Wales school, St Mary's has close ties to its local church,” a spokesperson for the Church in Wales said.

“Pupils described praying together, singing hymns and visiting the church as things that make school ‘feel like a really kind place,’ while another wrote that being part of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon helps them feel "connected... part of a much bigger family."

One 11-year-old pupil was said to have described belonging to St Mary's as feeling like "a second home," adding that being part of a Church school helps them understand that "everyone is special, and we all have something to give."

Most pupils from the school were found to have made good progress from their individual starting points, including those with additional learning needs (ALN) and those from low income households.

Inspectors also noted the school carries out a wealth of charity work and community involvement, and praised its pupil-led Spirituality Group for helping steer work around the school's core values, which the report found contributes positively to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The school also holds Gold Rights Respecting status from UNICEF.