Croesyceiliog School removed from special measures

Following a recent monitoring inspection visit, Croesyceiliog School has been removed from special measures.

In a letter to the council during November, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, Estyn said: Croesyceiliog School is judged to have made “sufficient progress" and that "the school no longer requires special measures".

Previously Estyn’s inspectors placed the school in special measures and judged that standards were well below what was expected, with an overall judgment of "unsatisfactory".

At the original inspection the inspectors said the school needed to address five key recommendations, but following a monitoring visit in November 2021, the school is now judged to have made strong progress against all Estyn’s recommendations.

Inspectors found:

• The school has worked hard to raise pupils’ achievement and develop their skills, independence and resilience. Pupils’ work is now notably better than at the time of the last monitoring visit.
• Teaching has improved substantially since the last monitoring visit. The school has developed a more strategic and focused approach to improving teaching with a carefully planned programme of professional learning activities and sharing of good practice
• Attendance had already improved and was above expectations in 2019. During the pandemic, the school has continued to use a range of strategies to support attendance, particularly that of the most vulnerable pupils.
• The executive headteacher has communicated a strong vision for improvement. Her ambition and determination are understood well and accepted by all staff and the governing body. As a result, leaders across the school community have a clear understanding of their roles, and improvements in leadership have had a positive impact on nearly all areas for the school’s work.
• The school has strengthened performance management arrangements successfully. These now focus explicitly on raising standards and enhancing provision, and link clearly to whole-school priorities.
• There are strengthened arrangements for self-evaluation and improvement.  Leaders, at all levels now have a clear and realistic picture of strengths and areas for development.

Executive Headteacher, Mrs Lewis stated that: “The school community, students, staff and the governing body thoroughly deserve this very positive monitoring report.  Since I commenced leading the school I have been delighted with the resolve of all members of our school community to improve the overall quality of education at Croesyceiliog. 

“We are lucky to have a wonderful school building and our students and staff are rightly proud of what has been achieved so far.  Our aim is to build upon this progress ensuring we provide rich and engaging learning in and out of the classroom, develop students that are kind and have the skills, knowledge and attributes to lead successful lives.”

Torfaen council’s executive member for education, Cllr Richard Clark, said: "We are delighted with this news which reflects the combined efforts of the whole school. This is a first important step towards the school becoming a centre of excellence where students, parents and everyone in the school community have high aspirations for every learners matched with fantastic teaching and support to every learner.”

The leader of Torfaen council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, said: "Over the last few years we have worked with the executive headteacher, school governors and the inspectors to take whatever action was necessary to turn the school around.

“The quality of our children's education is our highest priority. I must commend the headteacher for her outstanding leadership and challenge to the entire school to drive the necessary improvement.

“However, it doesn’t stop here. While there have been real improvements, there is still more that the school needs to do to build on the foundation that has been established."

To view the report visit www.estyn.gov.wales