Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron is a close-knit, inclusive and bilingual community.

Through the sensitive leadership of the headteacher and his senior team, a completely clear direction is set that places the pupil at the heart of all the school's work. The headteacher provides passionate and supportive leadership for the future of the school to all stakeholders. Leaders have nurtured a team of staff who are proud to be a part of an organisation that develops and improves regularly.

Pupils' well-being is a very high priority and a strong emphasis is placed on supporting pupils to ensure that they are happy and thrive academically. Most of the school's pupils are considerate and friendly young people who treat each other with care an...d treat staff and visitors with respect. They promote the school's values of empathy, ambition, creativity, resilience and pride through their good behaviour and positive attitudes to learning.

As a result of cohesive provision across the subjects, pupils develop their literacy, numeracy and digital skills well. They benefit from appropriate opportunities to read aloud to grow as confident readers and develop a range of digital skills in different subjects. In key stage 4 and the sixth form, there is a range of interesting courses for pupils to choose from, including some that are relevant to the local area.

There is a very wide range of valuable extra-curricular experiences available to pupils to enrich their learning experiences further. While there are strengths in the quality of teaching across the school, where there is careful planning that engages pupils' interest and provides them with an appropriate level of challenge, there are common shortcomings in the expectations, planning and questioning of a minority of teachers. As a result, their lessons do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to be active in the lesson.

Provision for care, support and guidance is broad and cohesive and staff have a clear understanding of their role in keeping pupils safe. Overall, pupils are clear about whom to approach when they need help and support and appreciate the strong support they receive. Provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) is a notable element of the school's work.

As a result of a wide and comprehensive range of interventions, pupils with ALN make very strong progress. The school provides valuable opportunities for pupils to express an opinion on its work and play an important part in developments. The contribution of sixth-form pupils is key to many of the school's cultural and social activities.

Self-evaluation and improvement planning have led to improvements over time. Leaders usually evaluate the school's work in detail and identify specific strengths and areas for improvement. In a few quality assurance activities, leaders do not consider the effect of teaching on pupils' progress incisively enough.

Recommendations R1 Improve the shortcomings identified in the report in relation to teaching R2 Strengthen evaluations in a few quality assurance activities to consider the effect of teaching on pupils' progress more closely