Inspectors tell school it needs ‘significant improvement’

Bedwas High School is “in need of significant improvement”, according to inspectors.

The school was visited by inspectors Estyn in January this year, with the organisation releasing its report on Monday March 23.

Inspectors highlighted inconsistent teaching quality, weak development of key skills, and weak leadership capacity as some of the main issues facing the school.

The report also noted that opportunities to develop pupils’ digital skills and cross-curricular literacy and numeracy remain limited, and that attendance, while improving overall, continues to be too low among pupils eligible for free school meals.

It also discusses how senior leadership capacity has reduced significantly, with persistent weaknesses remaining as a result, particularly in teaching and leadership.

A list of six recommendations has been put forward by Estyn, with the school now having to draw up an action plan to outline how it intends to address the issues.

The recommendations include improving the quality of teaching to enable pupils of all abilities to progress, and to review the roles and responsibilities of senior leaders to help them provide “the necessary strategic direction”.

It also calls on the school to “strengthen arrangements for self-evaluation, improvement planning, professional learning, and line management of senior and middle leaders” – as well as to improve how it develops pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills.

Other recommendations include ensuring governors can “fulfil their roles fully” and challenge and support senior leaders to make improvements.

Estyn also calls on the school to work with the council to “provide robust financial management” – and drew attention to the school’s budget deficit and lack of a financial recovery plan.

The report also notes how leaders are overstretched and that governors didn’t meet for an extended period.

Estyn will monitor the school’s progress over the next 12 months.

However, inspectors did highlight a number of strengths in their report, in particular around pupil behaviour and attitudes, and a strong focus on wellbeing and pastoral care.

The report also describes the school as providing a “supportive environment where most pupils feel safe”, and praises the school’s “helpful guidance as pupils join the school and move on to post-16 education, employment, or training”.

A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The Inspection report has been accepted by the school and the findings will now form the basis of a detailed action plan to deliver improvement going forward.

“The council will continue to work with the school and the governing body to understand the reasons behind the inspection outcome and ensure that the necessary changes are implemented.

“Staff, pupils, and parents will be fully supported throughout the improvement process.”