Looking back over the latest seven-year inspections cycle, Meilyr Rowlands – Wales’s chief inspector – said Welsh secondary schools were increasingly “taking ownership” of their own improvement and sharing expertise and best practice with each other.
“There’s been a shift in education in Wales towards greater collaboration,” he stated. “This is most clearly seen in how a new curriculum is being developed with the involvement of the profession.
“There has also been a change in how school improvement and staff development are now increasingly based on school-to-school working and on consortia of local authorities working together. Overall, there has been a noticeable shift towards a ‘self-improving system’.”
Estyn stated that at schools which have a strong commitment to continual improvement, “leaders focus on improving teaching and learning, supporting teachers to innovate, investing in staff development, and creating the right conditions for staff to work together within and beyond their organisation”. Among the secondary schools it highlighted were Bryntirion Comprehensive in Bridgend, Fitzalan High in Cardiff and Ysgol Glan-y-Môr in Pwllheli.
In Estyn’s most recent inspections findings were “broadly similar” to those for the last seven years as a whole. Half of secondary schools inspected during 2016/17 were good or excellent, a slight improvement on the previous last year.
Inspectors noted that the schools which are most successful at raising standards for all their pupils – and at closing the gap in the performance of pupils eligible for free school meals compared to their peers – were those which encourage greater involvement of parents and the community, and create a culture where education is respected and valued.
As the secondary school accountability system became increasingly linked to examination results, some schools focused “too much on examination technique rather than on providing a broad education”.
However, across the seven-year cycle the learning environment was good or better in eight out of 10 Welsh secondary schools.
“Many schools create a sense of community and foster an inclusive, welcoming ethos,” inspectors stated.
“The best schools enable pupils, staff and governors to feel a strong sense of pride in themselves and their school.
“In the very few schools where the learning environment is unsatisfactory, the ethos around the school is not positive, there are not enough learning resources, and buildings are in a poor condition.”