School Times

School starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3.05pm for children in reception to year 2 and 3.10pm for children in years 3 to 6.

Inset Days for 2023/2024

• Monday 4th September 2023

• Friday 22nd December 2023

• Monday 19th February 2024

• Friday 22nd March 2024

• Monday 3rd June 2024

• Monday 22nd July 2024

Parent Pay

All payments for school trips, music lessons, after school club and late clubs will be collected via our e-payment and communication tool - ParentPay.  All parents have a secure online account, activated using a unique activation username and password that has been sent home in a letter.   Click here to access the ParentPay website.  Schools dinners will still be paid via the Council - see details below.

Please click on both the above documents to view the menu and also the schedule to find out what week we are currently on.  

More information on school dinners can be found on the Bridgend Council website Primary School Meals

Primary School Menus

Bridgend County Borough Council menus have been analysed and are fully compliant with the Welsh Government’s Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations.  For £2.50 per day, primary pupils receive a main meal, dessert and a cold drink of semi-skimmed milk or water.

Pupils in nursery to year 4 qualify for universal free school meals, a welsh government initiative to provide free school meals to all primary school children by 2024.

Year 5 and 6 pupils will begin receiving universal free school meals from September 2024. 

Accelerated Reading Scheme

Our pupils in years 3 to 6 are using Accelerated Reader as their main reading focus. Accelerated Reader gives teachers the information they need to monitor pupils’ reading practice and make informed decisions to guide their future learning.
Accelerated reading ensures that pupils are reading the correct books for their reading age. Once they have completed the book the children undertake a quiz related to the book and receive instant feedback. Teachers use Accelerated Reader to monitor independent reading practice and assign close reading skills practice. They receive data that tells them how reading skills are improving.
If you would like further information related to Accelerated Reader, please see the Parent’s Guide on our Website or click on the link below. Alternatively, please discuss with your Childs class teacher

https://www.renaissance.com/2016/09/09/parents-guide-renaissance-accelerated-reader-360/

P.E. Lesson Days

P.E. lessons this term will take place on the following days.  Children attending school should wear their P.E. kit to school on the day of their lesson.

• Reception -  Thursday

• Year 1 - Wednesday

• Year 2 - Monday

• Year 3 - Thursday

• Year 4 - Tuesday

• Year 5 - Wednesday

• Year 6 - Monday

Welsh Government national tests

National literacy and numeracy tests were introduced by the Welsh Government in 2013 and are statutory for all children between the age of 7 and 14. The tests are delivered over a set period each year.  The testing period is usually in April / May.  Below are some sample papers which you may find useful.

School Data

Information on school data for Oldcastle Primary School can be viewed via this link.  Oldcastle School Data