Doubly Good Inspection Report For Pencoed Comprehensive

Pencoed Comprehensive has become the latest Bridgend County Borough secondary school to receive a positive inspection report from Estyn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both the school’s current performance and its prospects for improvement have been rated as ‘good’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inspectors judged the current performance as ‘good’ for a number of reasons, including the fact that achievements at key stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) have improved in most of the key indicators over the last five years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nearly all pupils were found to be well behaved, with most showing enthusiasm in their lessons, while pupils with additional learning needs are making strong progress. The inspectors also reported that the school has a very caring ethos and provides a wide range of extra-curricular activities which are very well attended. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school’s prospects for improvement are ‘good’ because the headteacher is supported effectively by the senior leadership team, and they communicate well with all staff, helping the school to develop a culture of aspiration and achievement. Governors were also found to be supporting and challenging the school effectively. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Partnership working was also judged as being a strong feature of the school’s work, making a positive impact on pupils’ wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Head Teacher David George said: “We are very pleased with the comments made by the inspection team, especially in identifying the many areas of strength within Pencoed Comprehensive School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The inspection report reflects the dedication of our staff and pupils so I’d like to thank them, members of the governing body, parents and the local community for their ongoing support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The inspectors also identified four areas for improvement in their report, recommending that the school should improve standards in mathematics, improve outcomes for more able pupils, eliminate the budget deficit, and also make better use of data and information to help with self-evaluation and improvement planning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school will now draw up a post-inspection action plan to show how it will address those recommendations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw David, the Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “This is another positive inspection report for our secondary schools, following hot on the heels of Bryntirion Comprehensive’s recent ‘double excellent’ report. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Pencoed Comprehensive School was also one of four local secondary schools to be ranked in the top ‘green’ category in the annual school colour codes released by the Welsh Government last week, so they have even more reasons to celebrate. A huge well done to everyone at Pencoed who can be very proud of this report.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to Pencoed Comprehensive, the three other ‘green’ secondary schools in Bridgend County Borough were Cynffig, Brynteg and Bryntirion, while 24 primary schools were also rated in the top tier. No local schools received the lowest ‘red’ colour coding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​