News article | 4 December 2018

Education begins to improve, but Chief Inspector urges schools to prepare for new curriculum

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There are some early signs of improvement in Welsh education this year, according to the Chief Inspector of Education and Training in his Annual Report published today. In primary schools, standards were judged as good or better in eight-in-ten, up from seven-in-ten last year and the proportion judged as excellent has doubled from 4% to 8%. Standards remain good or better in half of secondary schools, the same as last year.

Chief Inspector Meilyr Rowlands says,

For improvement to continue and in preparation for the new curriculum, schools need to prioritise improving pupils’ experience in the classroom. The distinguishing feature of schools that were judged excellent in 2017-18 is often down to the quality of the teaching and learning experiences they provide.

“The best schools have laid the foundations for a good education and in addition offer pupils stimulating experiences in the classroom that often relate to real life. In these schools, there is high quality teaching and strong leadership.

There is much to do to prepare for the new curriculum and I encourage schools to read my annual report and use its resources to help their self-evaluation and improvement planning.

Successful schools like Ysgol-y-Wern, Cardiff, have already approached curriculum change in a positive and enthusiastic way. They offer enriching classroom experiences to challenge pupils and develop their skills. Teachers recognise that planning exciting opportunities, especially in real-life contexts, is the key to engaging pupils and helping them to become lifelong learners.

The report also highlights inspection findings from the other areas of education inspected by Estyn including all-age schools, special schools, independent schools and colleges, pupil referral units, local government education services, further education, work-based learning and Welsh for Adults.

Best practice case studies:

Bridgend
Banana Moon Day Nursery

Cardiff
Ysgol -Y -Wern
The Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School
Ysgol Bro Edern

Carmarthenshire
Cylch Meithrin Cefneithin Gorslas

Ceredigion
Ysgol Plascrug

Conwy
Ysgol y Gogarth

Denbighshire
Martine’s Childcare
Denbighshire County Council

Flintshire
Ysgol yr Esgob
Castell Alun High School

Gwynedd
Meithrinfa Seren Fach
Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn
Aran Hall School

Pembrokeshire
Ysgol y Preseli
Redhill Preparatory School

Powys
Gladestry Church in Wales Primary
Ty Bronllys

Torfaen
Bellevue Nursery