Written question WQ87012

The outcomes of Estyn’s recent monitoring visits to both Brecon High and Gwernyfed High Schools in Powys were disappointing. Both schools were judged to have made insufficient progress in relation to the recommendations from their core inspections, which has resulted in them being placed in 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. Both schools will now update their action plans to show how they are going to address the shortcomings highlighted.

Local authorities have statutory responsibility for monitoring their schools and intervening where appropriate, for example if they have concerns about schools’ ability to lead their own improvement. The education partnership between Powys and Ceredigion local authorities will also provide a range of school improvement services and professional learning to support these schools.

Powys local authority will prepare plans to set out the actions it proposes to take in light of the schools’ shortcomings. I expect the local authority to work closely with both schools to ensure that the school and local authority plans are closely aligned. Estyn will monitor the schools’ progress regularly.

Powys have recently used a multi-agency support approach, introduced by the Welsh Government, to support the improvement of Newtown High School, which was removed from special measures in November 2021. My officials are meeting with Powys this month to discuss how the approach could be beneficially deployed for Brecon and Gwernyfed High Schools.