Written question WQ85838

The outcome of Estyn’s inspection of Christ the Word Catholic School, Denbighshire in May 2022 was disappointing. The inspection has identified some serious shortcomings and placed the school in the follow up category of special measures.

Schools have a central role in driving their own improvements through self-evaluation, performance management and improvement planning, and for making the best use of support available to them.

Local authorities have statutory responsibility for monitoring their schools and intervening where appropriate where there are concerns. Where a school is causing particular concern, local authorities should take prompt and effective action to address the issues.

Following the Estyn inspection, Christ the Word Catholic School’s governing body is required to draw up an action plan to show how it will address the recommendations provided. The local authority will also prepare a plan of any action it proposes to take in light of the school’s inspection report. I expect the local authority and regional consortium to work closely with the school, and with the Diocesan authority, to provide support in drawing up the school’s action plan; and to ensure that the school and local authority plans are closely aligned. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress on a termly basis.

Our multi-agency approach, that commenced during the 2021 spring/summer term, has been supporting secondary schools in special measures. Its purpose is to ensure that our secondary schools with the highest needs benefit from effective, joined up support, drawn from across the system, which is focused on their improvement needs and to sustain that improvement. My officials are in discussion with key partners involved to determine whether Christ the Word Catholic School would benefit from participating in the approach.