Guidance on supporting maintained schools and PRUs going into a statutory category

This guidance is designed to support maintained schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) that have been placed in a statutory category. It provides guidance on what happens when a school or PRU goes into a statutory category, what the school or PRU and local authority must do following the inspection, what they could do and what to expect from Estyn. This guidance can be used in conjunction with the ‘How We Inspect’ document which can be found on our website. This guidance is intended for maintained schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) and is not applicable to independent schools.

Being placed in a statutory category following a core inspection can be a very challenging experience for the school or PRU. It is challenging for the whole school or PRU community, but it can also be challenging for individuals, particularly leaders, on a personal level.

This guidance provides a range of considerations and ideas on how schools/PRUs can be supported through this process. However, each provider’s context is different and not all the ideas or considerations in this document will be appropriate in all circumstances.

It may also be helpful to consult the latest Welsh Government Guidance on Schools Causing Concern.