Ysgol Cystennin

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Ysgol Cystennin is part of the Mochdre federation of schools, which includes Ysgol Babanod Mochdre. Ysgol Cystennin provides a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and secure.

Ensuring the well-being of pupils is a high priority for all members of the school community. As a result, pupils feel cared for and valued by staff. The headteacher has maintained a positive team ethos during a period of significant challenge.

She has established an inclusive and caring culture. However, long term staff absences have had a significant impact on the effectiveness of leadership and provision across the school. School improvement work does not focus well enough on outcomes for pupils.

Currently, leaders do not show the... capacity to secure the improvements needed at the school. Provision to develop pupils' digital and Welsh language skills is appropriate and supports most pupils to make suitable progress. However, overall, the school's provision for developing pupils' skills as they move through the school is ineffective in many important areas.

As a result, a majority of pupils, including those with additional learning needs (ALN), do not make effective progress in developing their reading, writing or numeracy skills. The school is at a very early stage in reforming its curriculum in response to Curriculum for Wales. Teaching and learning experiences provided for pupils do not support them to make enough progress across the full breadth of the curriculum.

The range of experiences to enhance the curriculum, such as visits and extra-curricular activities, is underdeveloped. Leaders have introduced a beneficial approach to supporting positive behaviour and as a result most pupils behave well. Teaching engages pupils well and learning environments have recently improved.

However, across the school, teachers do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve. The school has established an appropriate culture of safeguarding. However, rates of attendance are well below the national average and particularly low for pupils eligible for free school meals.

Recommendations R1 Strengthen the impact of leadership at all levels in order to secure the necessary improvements R2 Ensure that all groups of pupils, including those with ALN, and those eligible for free school meals, make effective progress in developing literacy and numeracy skills R3 Ensure that teaching is effective and demonstrates appropriately high expectations of what all pupils can achieve R4 Develop a rich curriculum that builds on pupils' skills, knowledge and understanding progressively R5 Improve attendance, particularly for pupils eligible for free school meals What happens next In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that special measures are required in relation to this school. The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school's progress usually every four to six months.