Two Cardiff schools which share the same site and interim head have been put in special measures after damning reports from inspectors.
Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College have been deemed 'unsatisfactory' by Estyn
Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College were deemed the lowest rank of unsatisfactory across all areas from teaching to leadership and prospects for improvement are also unsatisfactory, says inspection body Estyn.
Concerns were raised about pupil safety and absenteeism as well as performance at the schools in Ely which work together as a federation with 830 pupils – 554 from Michaelston Community College and 207 from Glyn Derw high.
The schools are due to be combined into the £30m new Cardiff West Community High School next year.
Two separate reports from inspectors found:
- Half of pupils at both schools cannot read and extract information effectively from texts
- Many pupils fail to make enough progress in literacy and numeracy
- Teachers only plan work and manage classrooms well in a minority of lessons
- Behaviour, punctuality and attitudes are poor
- Two thirds of teaching is not sufficiently challenging and engaging
- At Glyn Derw no pupils achieved A* or A grades at Key Stage 4.
- Half of all pupils say the schools do not respond to bullying well enough
- A large proportion of buildings are in a poor condition and;
- Truancy is too high
On standards at Michaelston inspectors said: “Many pupils have weak literacy skills... too many pupils display a limited vocabulary when considering their age and ability. In addition, most pupils make basic errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar in written work.”
Better communication needed
The federation, which serves one of the most disadvantaged areas in Wales, has had three head teachers in the last 18-months and has ‘unsatisfactory’ leadership, inspectors found. The current head is Malcolm Willis. Martin Hulland will be the head of the new Cardiff West Community high School.
“Generally, communication across the school(s) is weak. There is a vision for improvement that informs aspects of the school’s strategy. However this vision has not been shared well enough with staff and stakeholders.”
Incidences of bullying are high and a minority of pupils say they do not feel safe in the school.
On Glyn Derw inspectors said “in a majority of lessons teaching contains short comings” while for Michaelston Community College there are not enough text books or ICT equipment.
Estyn did offer some praise. Nearly all teachers mark pupils’ work regularly and include encouraging comments in pupils’ books, the schools are inclusive and a Czech-Roma project has improved attendance.
However, it says money spent on pupils does not represent good value in comparison to standards reached.
Council will work closely to improve standards
Responding to the inspection cabinet member for education, Sarah Merry said: “We recognise the need for improvement and we have been working closely with the Michaelston and Glyn Derw Federation to achieve this.
“The local authority, with Welsh Government, is investing £30m to deliver the brand new Cardiff West Community High School, part of our £164m 21st Century Schools programme for the city.
“Between now and the establishment of Cardiff West Community High School next September, the local authority will continue to support the federation’s senior leadership team and Governing Body in order to ensure that the required improvements identified by Estyn are taken forward at pace.”
In a joint statement, head teacher Malcolm Willis and chair of governors Dewi Jones said: “The Estyn inspectors have recognised that this evaluation gives an honest appraisal of current performance, and we are very clear on our priorities for action.
“We are all committed to ensuring that our pupils have the best possible education, and staff and governors will continue the hard work to improve standards at the Michaelston and Glyn Derw Federation.”
A school subject to special measures has regular short-notice Estyn inspections to monitor its improvement. Senior managers and teaching staff can be dismissed and the school governors replaced by an appointed executive committee.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/half-children-cant-read-cardiff-12292243
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