Posted on: Wednesday 29 March 2023
Following a recent inspection by Estyn, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw is now judged to have made sufficient progress to be removed from the list of schools requiring special measures.
The inspection team judged that Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw has made sufficient progress in relation to five recommendations following the most recent core inspection and as a result there will be no further monitoring visits in relation to this inspection.
Inspectors found:
- Improvements in learners’ subject knowledge and understanding
- Improvements in quality of teaching, assessment and feedback
- Improvements in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology
- Improvements in senior leadership, middle leadership and governance
- Improvements in the rigour of self-evaluation and effectiveness of quality improvement processes
Torfaen’s Executive Member for Education, Councillor Richard Clark, said: “After a period of instability, the school now has a permanent headteacher with a clear vision and now with the support of the whole school is developing a culture of co-operation and collaboration to ensure this improvement continues.
“The school has addressed several critical areas, including teaching and skills, and as a result, there has been marked improvement since the core inspection. I want to see more and more children being taught through the medium of Welsh and this inspection and the significant investment made in the school will provide confidence to current and future pupils and parents choosing YGG.
Mark Jones, who was appointed as Headteacher in 2023, following a year as support Headteacher said: “Inspectors have recognised the impact of the improvements within the school and I’m pleased our improvements across leadership and quality of provision has improved teaching and learners’ outcomes. While inspectors identified many tangible improvements since the core inspection in 2019, our improvement journey continues and there are still aspects of the school’s work that need further development as we ensure the best education and standards for all our learners.”
Stephen Vickers, CEO at Torfaen Council, said: “This is a school undergoing a positive transition which I’m pleased has been recognised by inspectors. There has been a significant improvement throughout the school and most vitally pupils are now receiving the level of education and making the progress we expect in our schools.”