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Watchdog finds school 'failing' School head rejects 'failing' tag
(about 7 hours later)
A south Wales comprehensive school is officially failing its pupils, Wales' education watchdog Estyn is due to announce. A south Wales comprehensive school is officially failing its pupils, says Wales' education watchdog Estyn.
Pontllanfraith Comprehensive, near Blackwood, is expected to be placed under special measures. Pontllanfraith Comprehensive, near Blackwood, has been placed under special measures.
Both the school, which has 800 pupils, and Caerphilly Council, said they were disappointed by the move. But head teacher Ali Stevens said she utterly rejected the report, did not recognise the picture it painted, and staff were disgusted by the contents.
Currently in Wales, there are three other schools and a pupil referral unit requiring special measures. The 800-pupil school has nine weeks to draw up and implement a plan to outline measures to address the concerns.
It was first recommended that Pontllanfraith Comprehensive be placed under special measures following an independent inspection last December. Currently in Wales there are three other schools and a pupil referral unit requiring special measures.
It was first recommended that the school be placed under special measures following an independent inspection last December.
After that recommendation, education watchdog Estyn sent in a second team of its own inspectors to investigate.After that recommendation, education watchdog Estyn sent in a second team of its own inspectors to investigate.
Action planAction plan
According to the Education Act 2005, a school is put into special measures when it is judged to be failing to be giving its pupils an acceptable standard of education and those responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvements to the school.According to the Education Act 2005, a school is put into special measures when it is judged to be failing to be giving its pupils an acceptable standard of education and those responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvements to the school.
But it is likely Estyn and the school will be asked to put together an action plan on how they intend to turn round the school. The report says the school has "shortcomings in important areas, in standards of achievement, in the quality of education and in leadership and management."
That plan will have to be agreed by Estyn with its inspectors visiting once a term to ensure the plan is working. It also said the school "is currently not moving forward corporately, nor at an appropriate pace, to eliminate these important shortcomings."
The school's action plan will have to be agreed by Estyn with its inspectors visiting once a term to ensure the plan is working.
Earlier last year, 35 teachers at the school went on strike in a long-running row over extra responsibility payments.Earlier last year, 35 teachers at the school went on strike in a long-running row over extra responsibility payments.
They had been unhappy about a new system for the payments, which are worth up to £11,000 a year. That dispute was later resolved.They had been unhappy about a new system for the payments, which are worth up to £11,000 a year. That dispute was later resolved.
Pontllanfraith Comprehensive was previously inspected in October 2000, when it was praised for its good standards of discipline.Pontllanfraith Comprehensive was previously inspected in October 2000, when it was praised for its good standards of discipline.