Estyn Inspection Of Abersychan School
A recent inspection conducted by Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, on Abersychan School during October 2016, provided an overall judgement on the school’s current performance and on its prospects for improvement.
The report has judged the school’s current performance as ‘unsatisfactory’ and its prospects for improvement as ‘adequate’. The school’s current performance is regarded as ‘unsatisfactory’ in that important areas for improvement outweigh strengths, and the school’s prospects for improvement are regarded as ‘adequate’ in that strengths outweigh areas for improvement.
In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that this school is in need of significant improvement.
On the current performance, Inspectors found the following positive features at the school:
- The performance of the pupils eligible for free school meals in the level 2 threshold including English and mathematics has generally been in line with averages for similar schools over the last three years
- At key stage 3, the proportion of pupils who achieve the core subject indicator has increased rapidly and is now generally in line with the proportion in similar schools
- In a minority of lessons, teachers plan suitable activities that engage pupils’ interests
However, current performance is judged to be unsatisfactory because:
- Pupils’ outcomes at key stage 4 are too low in most subjects
- The performance of boys and progress of pupils with additional learning needs are particularly weak at key stage
- Attendance rates are too low and persistent absenteeism is high
- A minority of pupils do not remain focused in lessons and demonstrate poor behaviour
- The rates of fixed term exclusions are too high
- Teaching does not offer appropriate challenge for a minority of pupils
- A minority of pupils do not have suitable opportunities to develop their literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skills across the curriculum
Inspectors found the school’s prospects for improvement are adequate because:
- The headteacher has generally brought about higher expectations over the last year and increased levels of accountability across the school
- There is a clear management structure and most staff understand their roles and responsibilities
- The school has appropriate systems in place to manage the performance of staff
- The school has acted decisively to tackle some long-standing issues, such as staff absenteeism
- Governors understand their role and provide appropriate challenge to the school
However:
- The leadership of wellbeing and additional learning needs in the school is not strong enough
- A minority of leaders do not have high enough expectations for pupils’ outcomes and the monitoring of pupils’ progress is poor
- Self-evaluation and improvement planning does not always identify areas for improvement precisely enough and, as a result, priorities are not sufficiently specific, or actions robust enough, to bring about the improvements required
In light of their findings, Estyn have made the following recommendations:
- Raise standards at key stage 4, and for pupils with additional learning needs
- Improve attendance and behaviour
- Strengthen the quality of teaching and the provision for skills
- Strengthen the provision for additional learning needs
- Improve leadership across the school, and in particular the leadership of wellbeing
- Strengthen self-evaluation and improvement planning
The school will draw up an action plan which shows how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress about 12 months after the publication of this report.
Torfaen’s executive member for education, Cllr David Yeowell said: “The school’s poor recent exam performance and the findings of this report are well below our expectations.
“We have already met with the school to review what additional steps need to be put in place to ensure performance improves rapidly this year. The school have responded very positively to this work to date and have already requested that we support them by appointing additional governors to support their recovery work. I am pleased to say we have already made these appointments.
“The governing body and leadership team are focused on preparing the post inspection action plan and this will be ready in mid-January. Immediate and swift action is being taken to address the recommendations.”
Chair of Governors Ron Marchant said: “We are pleased that the inspectors recognised many good features in the school and accept that the areas of weakness identified must be improved.
“The school is committed to ensuring that all its pupils have the best possible education to achieve their full potential. We have already taken steps to address standards, attendance and behaviour and will tackle all recommendations head on as a whole school team.
“We will discuss our way forward with pupils, parents and staff to ensure we identify the best way to meet the recommendations and achieve the best outcomes for pupils.’
Torfaen’s chief education officer, Dermot McChrystal said:
“Abersychan School’s leadership and governing body are aware of the task they face in improving the outcomes for their children over the coming year – too many learners have not achieved the results they should have done. The local authority will be further supporting the school in its recovery journey this year. We have already appointed highly experienced additional governors at the school’s request who will support the rapid pace of change in the school that is now required.
A parents meeting to discuss the report and next steps will be held in the school on the 10th January. You can view the report on the Estyn website.
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