In his Annual Report published today, Meilyr Rowlands reflects on key developments in education over the last three years, and commends the progress in reforming education:

We’re in the middle of significant, historical change in Welsh education. Momentum has increased recently, bringing better cooperation between national, regional and local education organisations.

Now that the new Curriculum for Wales is published, all schools must think seriously about what this new curriculum means for their school community and how they can improve teaching and learning.

The report highlights Bishop Hedley High School in Merthyr where they’ve already tried out some interesting approaches to the curriculum. An innovative enrichment programme is helping their pupils to build stronger life skills and has opened up new opportunities for them to learn in different ways. Case studies throughout the report share effective practice to help schools improve.

The Chief Inspector continues,

Some longstanding challenges remain. Too many secondary schools are still causing concern and the ‘poverty gap’ between disadvantaged learners and their peers has not closed over recent years.

Schools can’t do all this alone. The rest of the system must work together and support our education workforce in transforming education in Wales. That’s why Estyn is taking time out from inspections from September to visit schools and build a national picture of what’s working well in preparing for the curriculum and identify any challenges.

More findings from the 2018-19 Annual Report:

• Standards are good or better in around eight-in-ten non-maintained settings.  In these settings our youngest learners make strong progress, developing literacy, numeracy, physical and personal and social skills effectively. 
• Standards are good or better in around eight-in-ten primary schools and the proportion with excellent standards has continued to increase with one-in-ten receiving the highest judgement.
• Standards are good or better in nearly half of secondary schools inspected in 2018-19 and the proportion of these schools causing concern remains a challenge.
• There have been improvements in the independent special schools and pupil referral units we inspected, with examples of excellence for the first time for many years. Estyn has also identified more effective practice in all-age schools.
• Reform in the post-16 sector will potentially make young people’s experiences in different stages of their education more seamless. However, too many school leavers currently do not always progress into the learning opportunities that best relate to their ambitions, interests and abilities.

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director, says,

Some pupils face emotional, social and developmental barriers to learning while others are disadvantaged by financial and social hardships at home.

The most effective schools do not just focus on the challenges these pupils experience, but identify individual interests and talents, and build on these positives. Research shows that out of all education factors, classroom teaching has the greatest influence on pupils’ learning. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit even more than their peers from high-quality teaching.

Today’s report contains examples from many different schools across Wales whose work has had a positive impact on supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged learners.

Highlighted in the report is the caring environment at Herbert Thompson Primary in Cardiff which has brought a widespread positive impact. Here, every pupil is reminded daily that they are ‘loved, strong, important and special’. Teachers have seen improved relationships between staff and pupils, a reduction in negative incidents and pupils are focused on achieving their full potential.

Today’s report, ‘Effective school support for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils’ recommends that all schools consider the best practice outlined in its case studies to help them increase the impact of funding and tackle concerns with attendance and achievement.

According to an Estyn report, a minority of school leaders do not see the relevance of radicalisation and extremism to their school, which could lead to missed opportunities to identify and address early concerns.

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director, says Schools play a key part in safeguarding young people from radicalising influences. In Wales, nearly half of counter-terrorism referrals are for people aged 20 and under with the highest proportion of these from the education sector.

Radicalisation to violent extremism can happen in the most unexpected places. Schools should be tuned into bullying, in particular the use of racist language and inter-racial conflict between pupils which can indicate radical or extremist views.

Inspectors visited a range of schools and other providers to gather the evidence for this report. In one particular school, staff are able to quickly pick up on issues or any changes in behaviour through a pupil wellbeing survey. The school reacts to any emerging trends by addressing issues through the curriculum in areas like personal and social education, religious education, the Welsh Baccalaureate, English and history.

Welsh Government guidance supports schools to understand their duties, but Estyn recommends that local authorities and consortia need to work together to make better use of the curriculum to support pupils to build resilience when confronted with radicalised and extremist influences.

Estyn inspectors have identified a broad range of good practice in the report. Primary, secondary and all age schools can use this to help them improve their support for pupils with SEN and prepare for changes in legislation.

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director, says,

Over a fifth of pupils in schools in Wales have special educational needs, so it is vital that all schools adapt how they teach and support these pupils to allow them to achieve success alongside their peers.   

Early identification and strong leadership are key to providing effective support, along with involving families and external agencies. This report contains a wealth of case studies to help schools improve their practice now and prepare for the future changes in legislation.

Inspectors found strong all-encompassing support for pupils with SEN between a special school and a primary and secondary school in Caerphilly.  Here, Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre works with the local authority and the two other schools to develop satellite classes so that pupils can join lessons in the mainstream schools. This has led to noticeable improvements in behaviour, enjoyment in learning and social interaction. Pupils and staff in the mainstream schools have developed a better understanding of working with children with SEN.

Another case study in the report highlights how Ysgol Bae Baglan, an all age school in Neath Port Talbot, has placed the needs of these pupils at the heart of strategic planning and involve key staff across the school to join up provision. They support staff through strong communication from the SEN team, detailed information on the needs of individual pupils and practical guides and resources.  As a result, all pupils receive high quality care, support and guidance and those with SEN make strong progress. 

Estyn recommends that schools focus more strongly on the targets in individual pupil’s development plans in order to promote their progress in learning and independence. Schools’ own self-evaluation also needs to give more attention to the progress this group of pupils make.

Training from a Welsh Government funded support hub has partly helped to raise schools’ awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences and how they can involve all staff in supporting vulnerable children.

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director, says Schools play an important role in helping children to build their resilience and an ability to overcome severe hardships that they may experience. Schools that provide the best support know their pupils well and understand their vulnerabilities. They provide a nurturing environment where all pupils can feel safe and happy.  

Public Health Wales found that one in every seven adults in Wales have experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences when they were young, but with early intervention the impact of traumatic experiences can be minimised.

Staff at the most supportive schools like Rhosymedre Community Primary School work closely with other public services and outside organisations to support vulnerable pupils and families. The school makes referrals to children’s services, the school nurse, health services and agencies like Action for Children. These services support the school to meet the needs of their vulnerable children and their families.

Primary schools are more likely to have involved all their staff in this work. Estyn recommends that all secondary schools take a similar approach and train and encourage all of their staff to understand and support pupils with adverse childhood experiences, not just those involved in pastoral work. It also recommends that local authorities should share relevant information about vulnerable pupils and families more promptly with schools. 

Many of the 72 federated schools in Wales have fewer than 150 pupils and around half are Welsh-medium. By pooling resources, many schools have overcome the challenges of attracting staff, managing finances and falling pupil numbers.  

Claire Morgan, Strategic Director, says,

Federating schools can have many benefits when it happens for the right reasons and is carried out in the right way.

Before committing to federation, leaders should consider the long-term aims and how formally working together will benefit pupils’ performance.

Federations also need to work equally closely with parents, learners and staff from all involved schools to listen and act on their views to avoid misconceptions about the partnership.

Our report and its good practice can be used by schools considering federation and to help those already sharing governance arrangements.

In Carmarthenshire, staff who are part of a federation of three rural Welsh-medium schools view themselves as one team. Strong leadership in Ysgol Carwe, Ysgol Ponthenri and Ysgol Gwynfryn has helped teachers and assistants to understand the work of all three schools and share strategy and aims across their community.

Federated schools that focus strongly on improving outcomes for pupils and listen carefully to the views of their community are able to benefit more quickly from working together.