Latest data shows 36 schools are in special measures and 27 are judged to be in need of significant improvement
The full list of Wales’ most troubled schools has been revealed in the latest data from Estyn(Image: PA)
A full list of Wales’ most troubled schools has been revealed in the latest data from schools inspectorate Estyn. More than 60 schools are in the top two highest levels of Estyn. A total of 36 are judged by inspectors to need the highest level of monitoring, special measures, while 27 are deemed to be in need of significant improvement.
As well as that list, one entire local education authority – Powys – is judged by inspectors as “causing concern”.
Three initial teacher training providers in Wales, which are rated in different categories, are all also deemed to be in need of “advanced engagement. They are CaBan, the Open University and the University of South Wales initial teacher training. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Two nurseries, also judged under separate categories, are rated by Estyn as needing focused joint improvement.
Estyn said the list was accurate as of Friday March 20, when it was provided, but added that as it is a “live list” there may be movement up, or down, at any time. Since then one more school has been listed as going into special measures and two more in need of significant improvement.
“This is a live list and there will be movement in both directions,” Estyn said, “It may be that there are some providers on the list that we have visited and made a recommendation to remove but have not yet been corroborated, as well as there being some that have been inspected with a recommendation of follow up that are not yet published.”
There are more than 1,400 secondary, primary and all age schools in Wales, as well as pupil referral units.
In Wales school inspections were changed in 2022. Reports no longer have one word summative statements such as “excellent”, “good”, “adequate” or “unsatisfactory”.
Instead Estyn reports are now more detailed and aim at detailing how well providers are helping pupils learn and self assessment is encouraged.
When a school in Wales is placed in special measures, it means the school is failing to provide the standard of education expected. It then receives intensive support and regular, usually termly, monitoring visits from inspectors to evaluate progress against an action plan.
Schools often get extra resources, funding, and consultancy from the local authority to help improve. They will be monitored, re-inspected and may then be removed from the list of schools needing higher levels of monitoring.
The full list of schools in the top two levels of Estyn inspection monitoring in Wales
Abertillery Learning Community Blaenau Gwent All age schools, significant improvement
Bedwas Junior School, Caerphilly, special measures
Bedwas High, Caerphilly, significant improvement
Christ The Word School, Denbighshire All age school, special measures
Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Powys All age schools, significant improvement
Ysgol Ty Coch Rhondda Cynon Taf maintained special school, significant improvement
Archdeacon Griffiths C.I.W. Primary, Powys, significant improvement
Bryncethin Primary School, Bridgend, special measures
Brynhyfryd Primary School, Swansea, special measures
Creunant Primary School Neath Port Talbot, special measures
Fairfield Primary School, Vale of Glamorgan, significant improvement
Llangors C.I.W Primary School, Powys special measures
Lliswerry Primary School Newport, significant improvement
Maesmarchog Community Primary School, Neath Port Talbot, special measures
Melin Primary School Neath Port Talbot, significant improvement
Myrddin C.P. School, Carmarthenshire, special measures
Penywaun Primary School, Rhondda Cynon Taf, special measures
Pillgwenlly C.P. School, Newport, significant improvement
Presteigne C.P. School, Powys , significant improvement
St Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre, Neath Port Talbot, significant improvement
St Josephs R.C.Primary School, Neath Port Talbot Primary special measures
St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School, Cardiff, special measures
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Powys, significant improvement
Trerobart Primary School, Rhondda Cynon Taf, special measures
Tynyrheol Primary School, Bridgend, special measures
Ysgol Bro Cynfal, Gwynedd, special measures
Ysgol Dolafon Primary, Powys, significant improvement
Ysgol Edmwnd Prys, Gwynedd, special measures
Ysgol Gynradd Tanygrisiau, Gwynedd, special measures
Ysgol Llandygai, Gwynedd, special measures
Ysgol y Fro, Carmarthenshire, special measures
Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan, Conwy, special measures
Ty Glyn PRU Torfaen, pupil referral unit, significant improvement
Cysgod y Coed, Monmouthshire, pupil referral unit, significant improvement
Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, Pembrokeshire, pupil referral unit, special measures
Ty Dysgu, Merthyr Tydfil, pupil referral unit special measures
Cwmpawd Gilfach, Caerphilly, pupil referral unit, significant improvement
Abersychan Comprehensive School, Torfaen, significant improvement
Caldicot School, Monmouthshire, significant improvement
Cefn Saeson Comprehensive, Neath Port Talbot, special measures
Cyfarthfa High School, Merthyr Tydfil, special measures
Flint High School, Flintshire, special measures
Gowerton School, Swansea, significant improvement
Llanidloes High School,Powys, special measures
Milford Haven School, Pembrokeshire, special measures
Morriston Comprehensive, Swansea, significant improvement
Pencoedtre High School, Vale of Glamorgan, special measures
St David’s High School, Flintshire, special measures
St Richard Gwyn R.C. High, Vale of Glamorgan, significant improvement
Treorchy Comprehensive, Rhondda Cynon Taf, special measures
Welshpool High, Powys, special measures
Ysgol Aberconwy, Conwy, special measures
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire, significant improvement
Ysgol Bryngwyn, Carmarthenshire, significant improvement
Ysgol Calon Cymru, Powys significant improvement
Ysgol Clywedog, Wrexham, special measures
Ysgol Glan Y Mor, Gwynedd, significant improvement
Ygol Glan-Y-Mor School, Carmarthenshire, significant improvement
Ysgol Gyfun Bro Edern, Cardiff, special measures
Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School, Pembrokeshire, special measures
Ysgol Maes-Y-Dderwen, Powys, special measures
Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi, Isle of Anglesey, significant improvement
Ysgol-Y-Grango, Wrexham, special measures
Primary schools in special measures
Bedwas Junior School, Caerphilly
Bryncethin Primary School, Bridgend.
Brynhyfryd Primary School, Swansea
Creunant Primary School, Neath Port Talbot
Llangors C.I.W Primary School, Powys
Maesmarchog Community Primary, Port Talbot
Myrddin C.P. School, Carmarthenshire
Penywaun Primary School, Rhondda Cynon Taf
St Josephs R.C.Primary School, Neath Neath Port Talbot
St Mellons C.I.W. Primary School, Cardiff
Trerobart Primary School, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Tynyrheol Primary School, Bridgend
Ysgol Bro Cynfal, Gwynedd
Ysgol Edmwnd Prys, Gwynedd
Ysgol Gynradd Tanygrisiau, Gwynedd
Ysgol Llandygai, Gwynedd
Ysgol y Fro, Carmarthenshire
Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan, Conwy
Secondary schools in special measures
Cefn Saeson Comprehensive, Neath Port Talbot
Cyfarthfa High, Merthyr Tydfil
Flint High, Flintshire
Llanidloes High, Powys
Milford Haven School, Pembrokeshire
Pencoedtre High, Vale of Glamorgan
St David’s High, Flintshire
Treorchy Comprehensive, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Welshpool High, Powys
Ysgol Aberconwy, Conwy
Ysgol Clywedog, Wrexham
Ysgol Gyfun Bro Edern, Cardiff
Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School, Pembrokeshire
Ysgol Maes-Y-Dderwen, Powys
Ysgol-Y-Grango, Wrexham
Primaries in need of signifgicant improvement
Archdeacon Griffiths C.I.W. Primary School, Powys
Fairfield Primary School, Vale of Glamorgan
Lliswerry Primary School, Newport
Melin Primary School Neath, Port Talbot
Pillgwenlly C.P. School, Newport
Presteigne C.P. School, Powys
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Powys
Ysgol Dolafon, Powys
Secondary schools in need of significant improvement
Abersychan Comprehensive, Torfaen
Bedwas High, Caerphilly
Caldicot School, Monmouthshire
Gowerton School, Swansea
Morriston Comprehensive, Swansea
St Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre, Neath Port Talbot
St Richard Gwyn R.C. High, Vale of Glamorgan
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
Ysgol Bryngwyn, Carmarthenshire
Ysgol Calon Cymru, Powys
Ysgol Glan Y Mor, Gwynedd
Ygol Glan-Y-Mor School, Carmarthenshire
Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi, Isle of Anglesey
All age schools in special measures or in need of signigicant improvement
Abertillery Learning Community Blaenau Gwent, significant improvement
Christ The Word School, Denbighshire, special measures
Ysgol Bro Hyddgen Powys, significant Improvement
Special schools
Ysgol Ty Coch, Rhondda Cynon Taf, significant improvement
Pupil referral units
Ty Glyn PRU, Torfaen, significant improvement
Cysgod y Coed, Monmouthshire, significant improvement
Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, special measures
Ty Dysgu, Merthyr Tydfil, special measures
Cwmpawd Gilfach, Caerphilly, significant improvement
Play groups and nurseries
Abacus Day Nursery Monmouthshire, non maintained nursery setting, focused Improvement Joint
Sunbeams playgroup + Gwernaffield Flintshire, non maintained nursery setting, focused Improvement Joint
Teacher training providers
CaBan Initial Teacher Education, enhanced engagement
The Open University Initial Teacher Education, enhanced engagement
University of South Wales Initial Teacher Education Partnership Initial Teacher Education, enhanced engagement
Local Education Authority
Powys, causing Concern
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