A North Wales school has been placed in special measures following a critical report. Inspectors will now follow the progress of Ysgol y Grango, in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, after an inspection in November last year.
Head teacher Victoria Brown said there were many positives at the school “to celebrate” and there was a plan in place to address the inspectors’ concerns, to achieve “lasting improvements that will benefit all our students.”
An Estyn inspection report summary for parents and carers found the school provided pupils with “a nurturing and inclusive community, where staff prioritised their wellbeing and fostered a caring and supportive environment. Since her appointment, the headteacher has strengthened relationships with parents and focused on ensuring a secure environment for pupils. As a result, many pupils feel safe and free from bullying.”
But the report went on to say: “However, leadership at all levels, has not had a strong enough impact on improving teaching and learning. In most cases, there are positive relationships between teachers and pupils although in a very few lessons, teachers do not manage pupils’ behaviour well enough. In a majority of cases, teachers use routines to help pupils settle quickly and show enthusiasm for their subjects.
“In a few lessons, strong teaching encourages pupils to think more deeply and make good progress. However, in the majority of cases, poor planning and low expectations mean that pupils do not make enough progress, often due to tasks that lack challenge and fail to capture their interest.”
According to the report, the whole-school approach to developing pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills was “not strategic nor coordinated well enough”, the result being that pupils did not make enough progress in these skills.
Year 10 and 11 pupils had a reasonably wide choice of subjects, including vocational options. There was also a suitable range of extra-curricular activities to enhance pupils’ learning experiences, but there were limited opportunities for pupils to develop their musical skills. While there was a strong focus on Welsh culture, there were insufficient opportunities for pupils to develop their Welsh-speaking skills, the report found.
It also said: “There is a strong focus on supporting pupils’ wellbeing. Pupils generally behave well, although a few disrupt lessons and act inappropriately in corridors or the canteen. They are not always respectful to the school environment.
“Efforts to improve attendance have shown mixed results, with improvements held back by the persistent absence of a few pupils. Staff in the Nurture unit and partnerships with outside agencies provide valuable support for pupils, especially for those with additional learning needs (ALN). However, teachers do not always make the best use of the information given to them to support pupils with ALN.”
In addition, the report said: “Leaders do not evaluate the quality and impact of the provision for pupils with ALN carefully enough. The headteacher has a clear vision for improving the school’s provision. However, senior leaders’ roles do not always match their skills, which affects how effectively they can bring about change.
“Strategic planning is inconsistent, especially in improving quality of teaching, developing pupils’ skills, and supporting ALN provision. Often, middle and senior leaders do not evaluate how the quality of teaching impacts pupils’ learning. While leadership has had a positive impact on communication with parents and pupils’ wellbeing, it has not had enough impact on the quality of teaching or the development of pupils’ skills.”
Inspectors made five recommendations to help the school to improve:
- Improve the quality of teaching
- Strengthen the leadership and provision for developing pupils’ skills
- Improve attendance
- Strengthen accountability and impact of leadership at all leadership levels
- Improve the provision for pupils with additional learning needs and the strategic leadership for this area
The inspectors were of the opinion special measures were required for the school. The school was to draw up an action plan to show how it was going to address the recommendations, the report said.
Headteacher Ms Brown added: “The recent inspection at Ysgol Y Grango highlighted the school’s dedication to promoting pupils’ well-being, which remains at the heart of everything the school does. Inspectors also commended the school’s strong sense of community, where staff and leaders work together to provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for all pupils.
“There are many positive aspects in the report to celebrate and I am resolute in my determination to secure rapid improvements for our students. We have a comprehensive plan in place, and swift, decisive action has already been taken to address the inspection recommendations. Working alongside the governing body and with support from the Local Authority, we are committed to achieving lasting improvements that will benefit all our students, both now and in the future .”
Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Find out what’s happening near you