EVENLODE Primary School was opened in 1969 as the first open-plan primary school in south east Wales.

It serves the lower Penarth catchment area and is one of the main feeder primaries for Stanwell School.

Located on Evenlode Avenue, it currently houses 450 pupils.

The school has a green rating from the Welsh government and achieved a good rating on current performance and excellent rating for prospects for improvement from ESTYN.

Head teacher Steve Rees said the parents and governing board are "incredibly supportive."

He said: "Evenlode is a very vibrant and exciting place to work. There are always new initiatives and we aim to celebrate high standards.

"We want to make sure everyone is happy and the atmosphere makes it a happy place to be."

He said pupil wellbeing is a high priority for the school and that there is a wide curriculum on offer.

Mr Rees said: "There are opportunities for visits and to hear from guests from the outside world.

"We now have a school parliament so the children have a big say in how their school is run.

"Pupils recently visited the House of Commons, House of Lords and The Senedd and one girl in year six managed to organise free access to the Picasso exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery."

Pupils have also set up a fruit tuck shop in the school of which they control all aspects of including placing ordering, product selection and finances.

They recently announced they had made an £800 profit which they put towards new equipment for the school and for a graffiti artist to come in and paint the shop front.

Evenlode has a group of ambassadors who go and visit their family of schools to pick up ideas as well as receiving guests from the schools.

Mr Rees added: "The Parent Teacher Association are always supportive. They help us to get the resources and facilities that we need.

"We have developed links with the community and have a really interesting initiative with Professor Weston involving a new computer app as well as working with Microsoft."

The school is also the only one to be using Asus technology with 150 children making use of the tablets.

Pupils and staff are also undergoing mindfulness training as part of an initiative called My Cognition as well as having chess sessions for 30 weeks.

Mr Rees went on to say: "Sport has always had a high profile at the school. A local motor company sponsors our football and rugby teams and other sports such as netball, lacrosse, canoeing, cross country, cricket and tennis are played and all children have the chance to take part in outdoor activities."

The school is also developing links with schools in other countries such as Iceland, China, Spain, Brazil and Italy.

Mr Rees stated: "We are looking at different ways to take the school forward with more cross school working.

"We worked with St Joseph's to send our pupils to the NASA space centre in Florida.

"The staff give hugely of their time and they are the most talented and committed group I've worked with at the schools I've headed."

The school is involved in a number of charity initiatives such as supporting the RNLI's new boat appeal and have donated £400 donation to All Saints Church's organ appeal.

Mr Rees said: "The make-up of the school is changing and we have links with religions with visits to Mosques and Synagogues.

"Equality is big for us and we offer everything to both boys and girls."

One of the best new additions to the school for Mr Rees is the new hall.

It offers before and after school care and a free breakfast club and is also open for the community to use.

Bridge clubs, Zumba classes and Karate have all been held there and Mr Rees wants people to know it is also available for hire for birthday parties and wedding receptions.

He said: "The important thing is that all the profits go back into the school itself.

"We have a mix of age and experience on our staff and our deputy head is working with the local consortium with newly qualified teachers.

"The staff give fully of their time and music has a high profile at the school with us sending a choir to sing at the Ty Gwyn care home.

"The children are encouraged to participate in music.

"It is a happy and busy school and alumni always enjoy coming back when they take part in voluntary week here.

"Local businesses such as Foxy's Deli and Windsor Fruit Stores have been supportive.

"We want to create articulate and confident individuals."

School moto: Developing talent and celebrating achievement

Chairman or chairwoman of governors: Ceri Griffiths

Head Teacher: Mr Steve Rees

Number of pupils: 450

Age of pupils: 4-11

Last inspection: March 2015/Good and Excellent