Following Estyn (school inspectorate) follow-up inspections during 2021, Ogmore Vale Primary School and Plasnewydd Primary School in Maesteg have been taken out of special measures after making necessary improvements (pdf).
Ogmore Vale Primary School was placed into special measures in 2019 following concerns over leadership and inconsistent teaching.
Estyn noted significant progress in stabilising the leadership team (despite the pandemic), introducing clear guidance on what’s expected of staff, introducing new reading programmes and made more efforts to identify and help students who require extra support.
There will be no more follow-up inspections, but Estyn concluded that “while there have been real improvements, there is still more that the school needs to do to build on the foundation that has been established.”
Plasnewydd Primary School was placed into special measures in 2018 related to standards of teaching at Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6), quality of leadership and safeguarding concerns.
Plasnewydd has introduced measures including better structured reading lessons, changes to the school’s leadership team, doing more to challenge more-able students and taken measures to improve pupil safety and prevent “pupil absconding and unwanted visitors”.
Estyn’s conclusion was the same as Ogmore Vale – progress, with room for improvement.
Elsewhere, Cefn Cribwr Primary has deemed to have made enough progress to be removed from Estyn’s lists of schools under review.
Archbishop McGrath RC High will remain under review having been “judged not to have made enough progress to date in respect of the key issues for action and in developing the capacity to continue to bring about improvements.”
While overall standards were deemed to be good, there were concerns about communication around decision-making, skills development and some safeguarding issues. Estyn will review the school’s progress again in 6 months.
