Estyn decision to scrap headline gradings has ‘lifted a burden’ on schools

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2024

Estyn’s decision to remove gradings such as “excellent”, “adequate” or “needs improvement” from inspection reports has lifted a burden on schools, a committee heard.

Owen Evans, Estyn’s chief inspector, told the Senedd’s education committee that feedback from schools since scrapping the headline gradings has been overwhelmingly positive.

Giving evidence on Estyn’s 2022-23 report, Mr. Evans said the new approach has led to a far more professional dialogue with schools about what’s working and what’s not.

“I think that’s been incredibly refreshing,” he said. “There are several layers of pressure that come with an Estyn inspection of a school….

“The removal of summative judgements and the fact that you’re going to be labelled with that one word, has lifted a burden on the sectors that we look at.”

‘Outlier’

However, Mr Evans stressed that removing gradings must be seen as a trial.

He said: “We are a bit of an outlier. We are still the only inspectorate in the British Isles that has removed summative judgements and a lot of eyes are on us about how this is working.”

Mr Evans, who has been in post for two years, added that Estyn is likely to carry out a review to ensure the reforms have led to further improvements.

He said it was important to introduce parental reports given the removal of gradings, suggesting that reports for learners themselves could also be on the horizon.

Asked about Estyn’s funding, which has increased from £11.5m in 2021-22 to £16m currently, Mr Evans told the committee the uplift was due to the pandemic.

‘Backlog’

He told the committee the interruption created a huge backlog and Estyn needed to increase capacity to finish its six-year cycle of inspections by the end of the current academic year.

Mr Evans said 90%-plus of the uplift has gone on additional inspections and inspectors.

Arguing the additional funding should become a part of the inspectorate’s baseline budget, he told MSs that Estyn will start visiting schools twice every six years from September.

He explained that the main inspection has been slightly curtailed, so Estyn can afford to have an interim inspection after three years rather than a “big bang” every six.

“It’s imperative the budget stays at that or slightly higher,” he said. “But we realise there’s a lot of pressure on the system – we have to demonstrate the value of what we’re doing.”

‘Self-evaluation’

Laura Anne Jones, for the Conservatives, raised concerns about an emphasis on self-evaluation, saying: “I don’t think anyone’s going to mark themselves badly.”

Laura Anne Jones MS speaking in the Senedd — South Wales East MS Laura Anne Jones MS is the Conservative shadow education minister

Mr Evans shared the shadow education minister’s concerns as he warned that self-evaluation is not yet strong enough within schools for Estyn to rely on it.

The chief inspector, who was previously S4C’s chief executive and a senior Welsh Government civil servant, warned that the pandemic continues to cast a shadow.

Mr Evans said variability between schools has widened, raising attendance as an example.

“Some are coping and some are not,” he told MSs: “I think the social contract between schools and parents has, to a degree, broken down.”

‘Stubborn’

Claire Morgan, a strategic director at Estyn, said average attendance is 87.5%, meaning pupils are missing 12 days of education in an academic year “which is far too much”.

She called for more to be done to tackle “stubborn” attendance issues, saying successful schools have a strong community focus.

Mr Evans said exclusions are rising while the number of children and young people going into pupil referral units has doubled since the pandemic.

He said pupil referral units are no longer helping learners return to mainstream education.

He said: “The wave of anecdote I hear – from everyone from headteachers to teachers and caretakers to support staff – is behaviour, particularly out of the classroom, has worsened.”

‘Relentless’

On Wales’ poor performance in the latest Pisa results, Mr Evans said he was disappointed but not shocked as he called for a “relentless” focus on standards.

He said the results reinforce Estyn’s previous annual reports, which have long raised concerns about numeracy, science and literacy.

Mr Evans suggested a focus on the new curriculum has taken away from subject specialism.

Asked about the impact of poverty on attainment, he said the pupil development grant can make a difference but he suggested the funding is being used to plug budget gaps.

The chief inspector also raised concerns about “great deficiencies” in recruiting teachers in terms of the Welsh language and secondary school subjects such as maths.

Teaching assistant struck off after asking pupil for photos of her body

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER teaching assistant at Haverfordwest High School has been banned from working in education after sending highly inappropriate messages to two female pupils, including asking one girl to send him photos of her body.

Samuel Davies, who was employed at the school through apprentice agency Ap Prentis, was removed from the classroom in October 2022 when safeguarding concerns were raised. An Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel has now found his conduct to be sexually motivated and amounting to unacceptable professional behaviour.

Messages sent under false name

The panel heard that Davies contacted two mid-teen pupils on Snapchat using the name “Sam Bear Davies”. One pupil identified as Learner B received messages asking whether she felt comfortable sending him pictures. In one message he wrote: “I want to see that body and a few pics maybe?” followed by further requests for images.

Another girl identified as Pupil A accepted a friend request from the same account and was shocked to receive the message: “Oh hey, I am your teacher. Do not tell anyone, I would get into trouble, but I think you are really attractive.”

Davies also warned one of the girls not to tell anyone he had contacted her because he would “get into trouble”.

Both pupils later provided screenshots to senior staff which resulted in Davies being escorted off school grounds while an internal investigation began.

Previous concerns about boundary issues

Deputy headteacher and safeguarding lead Tracy Edwards told the hearing she had already spoken to Davies several times about his over familiar behaviour with pupils. Concerns had been raised including allegations that he offered teenagers a drag of a vape off school premises and that he had shown pupils photos of himself vaping in a school toilet. There were also reports that he had been overheard discussing pubs and clubs with under eighteens.

Although some of the earlier claims could not be verified, his behaviour escalated and a formal complaint was made once the social media messages were shared with staff.

Davies resigned from his role in January 2023. Police reviewed the matter but did not take further action.

Panel finds sexual motivation

The EWC committee found a number of allegations proven and concluded that Davies had deliberately targeted children under sixteen and that his actions were sexually motivated.

Panel chair Robert Newsome said Davies had abused his position and caused direct harm to pupils. He noted that Davies had shown no engagement with the disciplinary process, no insight and no remorse.

“This was a pattern that developed after he began his employment,” he said. “He knew what he was doing was wrong and took steps to hide it. His actions place him as a significant risk to learners.”

Davies did not attend the hearing and provided no representation. During the school’s internal investigation he denied all allegations.

Struck off indefinitely

The committee ordered that Davies be removed from the EWC register with immediate effect. He cannot apply for reinstatement for at least five years.

He has 28 days to appeal the decision to the High Court.

Community

Potential Ysgol Clydau potential closure ‘deeply concerning’

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE LAUNCH of a public consultation on the potential closure of Pembrokeshire school Ysgol Clydau just before Christmas has been called “deeply concerning” and unfair to local families.

At the May meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, members backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which included statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School and Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn.

A plea on behalf of Ysgol Clydau was previously made by Cllr Iwan Ward, local member, who said it was “the heart of our society not just a school, it’s family, a community, an anchor for children who deserve the opportunity to grow”.

He added that closure was “a disaster for the future of education locally” and was “not fair and was not moral”.

The Ysgol Clydau consultation has now been launched, on the eve of a plea to keep the school open being heard at County Hall.

A council statement accompanying the launch of the consultation says: “At its meeting on May 8, Pembrokeshire County Council considered a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which outlined the findings of a review of education provision in the Preseli area.

“In particular the review considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population.”

A petition, opposing closure of the school, on the council’s own website, generated 648 responses, meaning it crossed the threshold to be heard at full council.

That petition call, along with a similar one for Manorbier school, which also crossed the threshold, with 1,511 signatures, is to be heard by councillors at the December 12 meeting of full council.

The Ysgol Clydau petition states: “We demand that Pembrokeshire County Council reconsider its decision to close Ysgol Clydau and instead prioritise the needs of our community by keeping the school open. We oppose the closure of Ysgol Clydau and call for full public scrutiny before any decision is made.

“We urge you to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the community, listen to our concerns, and work with us to find alternative solutions that support the needs of our children and families.”

Paul Davies MS

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies has voiced his opposition to the proposal to close Ysgol Clydau, describing the timing of the consultation—just before Christmas—as “deeply concerning” and unfair to local families.

Mr Davies also highlighted the impact that closing Ysgol Clydau would have on the local community and the Welsh language.

“Ysgol Clydau is a crucial part of the local community, and its closure would have a huge impact on the local area. It’s unacceptable that this consultation has been launched without any discussion with local stakeholders and announcing it just before Christmas is very disappointing.

Education

Paul Davies MS opposes proposed closure of Ysgol Clydau

Published

4 days ago

December 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Senedd Member criticises ‘deeply concerning’ timing of consultation

LOCAL Senedd Member Paul Davies has spoken out against Pembrokeshire County Council’s proposal to close Ysgol Clydau, warning that the timing of the public consultation — launched in the weeks before Christmas — is “deeply concerning” and unfair to affected families.

Mr Davies said the school plays a vital role in the community, and that any attempt to close it would have a damaging impact locally, including on efforts to promote and protect the Welsh language.

“Ysgol Clydau is a crucial part of the local community, and its closure would have a huge impact on the local area,” he said. “It’s unacceptable that this consultation has been launched without any discussion with local stakeholders, and announcing it just before Christmas is very disappointing.”

He pointed to the school’s strong record, noting that Estyn inspectors highlighted positive relationships between staff and pupils and praised a curriculum that makes purposeful use of the surrounding area to inspire curiosity.

“Closing this school would be to the detriment of local families, and it would also undermine efforts to protect and promote the Welsh language in the community,” he added.

Mr Davies urged Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure the consultation is meaningful by “genuinely listening to local voices” and working with parents, representatives and the wider school community to find a constructive way forward.