Croeso i Ysgol Pontffranc
Welcome to Franksbridge School
A Small School With a Huge Heart
Ysgol Bach Gyda Calon Enfawr
FRANKSBRIDGE SCHOOL
Franksbridge C.P. is a lively, happy, small rural school which enjoys strong support from parents and the local community. The school was first opened on 29th July 1878. Franksbridge is a small hamlet situated 6 miles from the market town of Builth Wells and 7 miles from the county town of Llandrindod Wells.
Children are taught in two classes: Class One accommodates the younger children, aged four to seven years, whilst Class Two is comprised of children aged seven to eleven. Small class sizes mean that each child receives plenty of time and attention from our experienced teachers and expert learning support staff. Learning is tailored to the needs of individuals, ensuring that every child is supported and challenged to fulfil their potential.
In addition to the two main classrooms, we have a third multi-purpose classroom, well stocked fiction and non-fiction libraries, and a computer suite. Delicious dinners are cooked on site by Mrs. Groves.
Franksbridge Community School stands in exceptional grounds, comprising a large play ground, games field, community play area, school vegetable garden, outdoor classroom (The Pavilion), nature reserve, ‘quiet garden’, muddy kitchen, orchard area, playhouse and a wildlife pond. Our children spend a great deal of time learning and playing outdoors. We were a pioneer school for ‘Powys Playful Schools’ and the legacy of that project continues to influence the ethos of our school: the children of Franksbridge School enjoy having the freedom and resources to climb trees, dress up, enjoy role play and make dens at play times, as well as taking part in a wide range of sports and games.
We have a long association with The Arts Council of Wales and our staff have all been involved in Lead Creative School projects. We are committed to bringing excitement, fun and creativity into learning.
All learners at Franksbridge School (children and adults) are committed to developing ‘Growth Mindset’: we take opportunities to explore ideas, methods and possibilities in an open, creative way. We expect to make mistakes along our learning journeys but rather than fearing mistakes, we embrace them as important parts of our learning experiences.
The children of Franksbridge benefit from a wide range of opportunities offered by members of our local community and our wider school community. Franksbridge School is extremely grateful to all our volunteers and partners for enriching the lives of our pupils and, in doing so, strengthening our special community. It is a wonderful example of the high standards that can be achieved by small, rural schools and the symbiotic relationships enjoyed by small schools and their communities.
OUR LATEST SCHOOL INSPECTION REPORT
Our school was inspected by Estyn in November 2025. The report was very positive, and recognised many of the features that make Franksbridge School special.
The report highlights Franksbridge Community Primary School as a welcoming, caring and inclusive learning environment that plays a central role in its rural community. Estyn inspectors recognised the school’s success in nurturing considerate, confident learners and fostering a positive atmosphere where pupils feel well-prepared for the next stages of their education.
The inspectorate highlighted as ‘Spotlights’ two areas of excellent practice.
Spotlight One: A creative and ambitious curriculum that provides hands-on, meaningful learning experiences rooted in both local context and wider global understanding.
The school provides extensive local and wider learning opportunities that inspire pupils and support their aspirations. Staff value and utilise pupils’ own backgrounds, such as strong links to the farming community, to enrich their learning. Through purposefully planned visits and use of resources, pupils develop a strong understanding of their local area, Welsh identity, and the wider world, embedding cultural and historical awareness across the curriculum. Firsthand interactions with people from a range of communities, faiths and cultures help pupils to develop positive and respectful attitudes towards diversity. The school also carefully provides an interesting range of creative and artistic experiences, often involving the local community, to further enhance and enrich pupils’ learning. The school provides extensive local and wider learning opportunities that inspire pupils and support their aspirations.
Spotlight Two: A successful approach to developing strong teaching and learning of Welsh.
A strong focus on strengthening the teaching and learning of Welsh has been effective. Staff model the language with confidence, having enhanced their own skills through purposeful professional learning. They promote Welsh consistently across school life, encouraging pupils to use it naturally and with pride. As a result, pupils of all ages demonstrate positive attitudes towards the language and make strong progress in developing their Welsh communication skills.
Other key strengths identified include:
- A warm and inclusive culture where pupils enjoy school and demonstrate respectful behaviour towards staff and peers.
- Strong emphasis on pupils’ well-being, healthy lifestyles, and meaningful contributions to school life.
- Positive progress in literacy, digital skills, and a growing enthusiasm and proficiency in Welsh language usage.
- Effective early identification and support for pupils’ additional learning needs, supported through close partnership with parents and external agencies.
Areas for continued development:
Estyn made two key recommendations designed to support the school’s ongoing improvement journey:
- Further development of a consistent and cohesive approach to planning and teaching mathematics.
- Expansion of teaching approaches that actively engage all pupils in their learning.
Headteacher’s comment:
“We are incredibly proud of the positive feedback from Estyn, and the recognition of our supportive school community. The report recognises that Franksbridge Community Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive and caring school, where pupils behave kindly and respectfully towards others, co-operating well, showing empathy, and caring for each other. I am also pleased that the report highlights the excellent support provided by the staff, parents and carers, governors and volunteers in our close-knit school community. These findings reflect the dedication of our pupils, staff, and wider community. We also welcome the recommendations, which we will integrate into our ongoing development work to ensure we continue to provide excellent learning experiences for every child.”
Comment from Chair of Governors, Alison Long
The Governing Body was absolutely delighted to receive such a fantastic Estyn report and we would like to thank everybody involved in this achievement. All of us in the community know what a top-quality school we have, and how lucky we are to have such dedicated, focused and hard-working staff. They offer our children, the highest quality education, and such a wide and varied range of opportunities. We all know how good Franksbridge School is and it is rewarding to have this ratified by Estyn. As governors, we also fully acknowledge the recommendations and are committed to working closely with school leaders to build on our strengths and provide the very best learning experiences for all pupils at Franksbridge School.
The full report can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.estyn.gov.wales/provider/6662066