Wrexham,North Wales - School in Wrexham placed in special measures by Estyn

Wrexham again!

Published date: 08 March 2016 | 

Published by: Andrew Cain
Read more articles by Andrew Cain

A WREXHAM school has been put into special measures following an inspection by Welsh Government inspectors.

The move was made after a follow-up visit in January when Ysgol Rhiwabon was judged to have made insufficient progress on recommendations that were made by the education watchdog Estyn after a core inspection in Januarym 2015.

Some of the areas of concern that are highlighted in the Estyn report include addressing pupil attendance and persistent levels of absence, raising standards at key stage 4, particularly for boys, and strengthening the quality of teaching and marking to meet the needs of all pupils.

On all six recommendations addressed in the report, Ysgol Rhiwabon was found to have made “limited progress”.

The follow-up report from January’s visit says: “Ysgol Rhiwabon is judged to have made insufficient progress in relation to the recommendations following the core inspection in January, 2015. As a result, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales is increasing the level of follow-up activity.

“In accordance with the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are required in relation to this school. The school will draw up an action plan, which shows how it is going to address the recommendations.

“Estyn inspectors will re-visit the school in about three months’ time to inspect progress against the recommendations. “

Ysgol Rhiwabon’s newly-appointed headteacher Melanie Ferron-Evans, who is leading a revised senior management team, said she, the staff and governors of the school accept and support the findings and have been working closely with Estyn during the writing of the report.

Mrs Ferron-Evans said: “There is a clear plan in place to secure improvements against the recommendations in the report. All staff in the school, supported by the governors and the local authority are fully committed to this drive for rapid improvement.

“We are prepared to make all necessary changes and respond positively to all challenges to ensure the best possible outcomes for our pupils. This is evidenced in the significant improvement in key examination areas since September which have already been secured and will be published in August.

“The school is well supported by parents and the local community and this will also contribute to our school’s improvement.

“There are many things to celebrate and to be proud of in Ysgol Rhiwabon as we continue to work hard to achieve the required level of progress against the published recommendations.”

Ysgol Rhiwabon in its current form was established in 1967 after the old Ruabon Boys’ Grammar School and Ruabon Girls’ Grammar Schools were merged. The school is now housed in the old girls’ school building, while houses now stand on the boys’ site.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/159477/school-in-wrexham-placed-in-special-measures-by-estyn.aspx