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Second school report 'critical' Second school report 'critical'
(about 4 hours later)
Education chiefs in Denbighshire are bracing themselves for a second critical report in the space of a week. Education officials in Denbighshire have received a second highly critical report in the space of a week.
Education watchdog Estyn is expected to release the results of its inspection later. Education watchdog Estyn found "ineffective" political leadership and failures to address poor performance.
It comes days after a report by an independent team of consultants told the authority that standards were not high enough. It comes days after a consultants' report criticised standards in schools.
Council leader Rhiannon Hughes said on Wednesday it had "highlighted a number Cllr Dewi Owen has vacated his post as lead member for lifelong learning, while council leader Rhiannon Hughes said work was already underway to address the issues.
of areas where improvement is needed".
The earlier 52-page report written by consultants Cambridge Education was commissioned by the council and paints a bleak picture of education in the county.The earlier 52-page report written by consultants Cambridge Education was commissioned by the council and paints a bleak picture of education in the county.
It said there was evidence of significant underachievement across the age range and that too many pupils were leaving the county's schools without the qualifications they needed.It said there was evidence of significant underachievement across the age range and that too many pupils were leaving the county's schools without the qualifications they needed.
I hope that Denbighshire will take heed... and look at the action plan that is needed to put that education spending back into children who for years and years have missed out on education Ann Jones AMI hope that Denbighshire will take heed... and look at the action plan that is needed to put that education spending back into children who for years and years have missed out on education Ann Jones AM
The report also said the authority needed to "raise its game and move education to the top of the community agenda".The report also said the authority needed to "raise its game and move education to the top of the community agenda".
Differences in attainment between children from rich and poor backgrounds was too great, school attendance levels are too low and the gap in achievement between boys and girls is too wide, the report said.Differences in attainment between children from rich and poor backgrounds was too great, school attendance levels are too low and the gap in achievement between boys and girls is too wide, the report said.
It also questioned the county's funding formula agreeing with previous reports which had said funding for secondary schools was "relatively low".It also questioned the county's funding formula agreeing with previous reports which had said funding for secondary schools was "relatively low".
In response to the report, Mrs Hughes said they would be working more closely with schools and communities to "deliver the best possible education for our children and young people".In response to the report, Mrs Hughes said they would be working more closely with schools and communities to "deliver the best possible education for our children and young people".
But the authority is expected to face renewed and potentially much more damaging criticism, this time from Estyn.But the authority is expected to face renewed and potentially much more damaging criticism, this time from Estyn.
Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones, who is calling for urgent talks between the council and Education Minister Jane Hutt, said: "I think the Estyn report which is an independent and a government report will be extremely critical.Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones, who is calling for urgent talks between the council and Education Minister Jane Hutt, said: "I think the Estyn report which is an independent and a government report will be extremely critical.
"I hope that Denbighshire will take heed of that and look at the action plan that is needed to put that education spending back into children who for years and years have missed out on education.""I hope that Denbighshire will take heed of that and look at the action plan that is needed to put that education spending back into children who for years and years have missed out on education."
Ms Hutt has the power to intervene and direct a local authority if she thinks it is failing to deliver statutory functions or failing to do so to an adequate standard.Ms Hutt has the power to intervene and direct a local authority if she thinks it is failing to deliver statutory functions or failing to do so to an adequate standard.
Since 2001 just one Welsh local authority, the Vale of Glamorgan, has been judged to be under the quality threshold. Three years on it was reinspected and found to be above that threshold.Since 2001 just one Welsh local authority, the Vale of Glamorgan, has been judged to be under the quality threshold. Three years on it was reinspected and found to be above that threshold.