Mentor Schools

Our Mentor Schools are settings that have achieved Gold accreditation and continue to lead the way in family and community engagement.

They play a key role in supporting other schools through encouragement, examples and sharing good practice.

Mentor Schools are recognised for their sustained commitment to family engagement and receive our exclusive Mentor School badge.

Meet Our Mentor Schools

Coppice Valley Primary School

About the school
Coppice Valley Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school with around 206 pupils on roll. The school places a strong emphasis on sustainability, community care and creating a nurturing environment where every child feels they belong. Extensive outdoor grounds, including Forest School provision, are integral to the curriculum, supporting pupils to develop confidence, practical skills, and a meaningful connection with nature.

A family engagement strength
The Coppice Community Hub is a standout feature of the school’s approach. Located just outside the main site, the Hub provides pre-loved uniforms, family toolkits, food donations and access to local services. It acts as a daily touchpoint for families, a space to meet, connect and access support in a way that feels informal, welcoming and stigma-free.

A tip for other schools
Start with relationships. Take time to understand your families, create open lines of communication and build a culture where parents and carers feel like valued partners. Small, consistent actions build trust over time.

Gwersyllt Community Primary School

Gwersyllt Community Primary School is a well-established school at the heart of its local community, with 249 pupils on roll. The school has strong generational links with families, with many parents and carers having attended the school themselves. Alongside its commitment to learning, the school is widely recognised for its community work, family engagement and supportive approach to wellbeing.

A family engagement strength

The school’s Community Cupboard and Free Uniform Shop are central to its support for families and the wider community. Families can access free food, toiletries, school uniform, warm clothing and practical support in a welcoming and stigma-free way. Support can also be requested discreetly through Class Dojo or the school family email system.

What began as a small initiative has grown into a significant community resource, supported through local business donations, parent contributions such as “Tin Tuesday” and partnerships with local shops. A recently introduced Lending Library within the Community Cupboard has also helped promote reading for pleasure and improve access to books for families.

A tip for other schools

Make communication easy, visible and approachable. Gwersyllt Community Primary has found that offering families multiple ways to connect with the school helps build trust and stronger relationships over time. Simple approaches such as visible staff presence, dedicated family support communication, accessible newsletters and regular opportunities for feedback can make a significant difference.

The Hollies School

The Hollies is a happy, caring and busy special school in Cardiff for pupils aged 4–11 with autism spectrum conditions, including significant sensory, social communication and learning needs. Pupils are at the heart of everything the school does, with provision carefully shaped around each child’s individual needs. The school works closely with families to help pupils develop the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to manage everyday life as independently as possible.

A family engagement strength

The school’s focused coffee mornings are a key part of its family engagement approach. These sessions offer parents and carers a welcoming space to learn, share information, exchange experiences and build connections across the school community. Parent feedback is central, with families regularly asked what they would like to see offered next. This helps ensure the programme responds to real family needs.

A tip for other schools

Start with an honest review of where you are now. Identify what is already working well, what needs further attention and where the real gaps in family engagement are. Choose one or two achievable priorities, involve colleagues early and move forward one step at a time.

Ysgol Maes Hyfryd Specialist High School

Specialist High School – Flintshire, North Wales

Ysgol Maes Hyfryd is a specialist secondary school in Flintshire supporting pupils with severe and complex additional learning needs. The school provides high-quality care, education and guidance within a safe, caring and stimulating environment.

Staff and governors work closely with families, professionals and the wider community to ensure every pupil feels valued and supported to reach their full potential.

Strong relationships with families are central to the school’s approach. Through open communication, welcoming events and opportunities for parents to engage in school life, families are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s learning journey.

Top Tip from Ysgol Maes Hyfryd
Start with relationships. Listening to parents, valuing their perspectives and creating welcoming opportunities to engage with school life helps build strong partnerships.

Ysgol y Gogarth

Ysgol Y Gogarth is a specialist school serving children and young people aged 3–19 with a wide range of additional learning needs. The school is a vibrant and inclusive community where wellbeing, communication and strong partnerships with families are central to everyday practice.

Staff work closely with families and the wider community to ensure that every learner feels supported, understood and able to thrive. This collaborative approach helps create a positive environment where pupils can develop confidence, independence and a sense of belonging.

One practice the school is particularly proud of is its warm, relationship-centred welcome process. From the very beginning, staff focus on understanding each family’s needs through regular check-ins, open communication and flexible opportunities for families to be involved in school life. This approach helps build strong, lasting partnerships that support both pupil wellbeing and progress.

Top Tip from Ysgol Y Gogarth
Start small and focus on one simple change that strengthens trust with families. Even a short positive message or informal conversation can make a real difference. Over time, these small steps create a strong foundation for meaningful engagement.