A £33.8m new high school where all pupils can get a free evening meal has been put in special measures after a damning report from inspectors. Estyn said high rates of persistent absence and low attendance at Pencoedtre High in Barry are a “significant concern”.
Inspectors found that “across all subjects, pupils produce relatively little written work”. The Barry school’s “general approach to assessment” doesn’t help pupils or teachers understand what is needed to improve.
Teachers make positive working relationships with pupils but their expectations of the amount and quality of work pupils should complete are too low, the report adds. “Across all subjects, pupils produce relatively little written work” and “the majority of pupils make frequent spelling errors”.
Pencoedtre High, which opened in 2018, was formerly Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School when it was girls only. Pupils and staff moved into new-build £22.8m premises in January 2022.
Inspectors praised the secondary for its “broad and balanced curriculum” highlighting “valuable extra-curricular activities” and vocational options. But they warned of a “lack of clear, strategic direction from senior leaders”.
“Pupil attendance is a significant cause for concern and leaders lack a comprehensive understanding of the issues affecting attendance,” the report added, while “the school’s general approach to assessment does not enable teachers or pupils to understand what they are doing well and what they need to improve well enough.”
Inspectors, who visited the 993-pupil school in November, also highlighted problems in core subjects. On reading and numeracy they said “in general pupils do not develop their reading skills sufficiently due to limited opportunities” and “overall, pupils do not develop their numeracy skills in relevant subjects across the curriculum well enough”.
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Inspectors found pupils don’t develop independent learning skills well enough and are often overly reliant on examples from teachers. “A majority of pupils do not take sufficient pride in their work. Their books are often untidy and contain unfinished work or gaps,” the report adds.
On Welsh identity “the school does not promote the Welsh language or celebrate the culture and heritage of Wales well enough”. Not enough consideration is given to the school’s local context in the curriculum, including “the culture and languages of Wales as well as the contributions, stories and experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities”.
With the exception of a few subjects, “teachers’ expectations of the amount and quality of work pupils should complete are too low”. And although many teachers provide pupils with useful verbal feedback their books contain little or no written feedback.
The report goes on: “In the very few cases where comments are seen these are often unclear or overly generous in their praise of very modest work.” Although pupils complete regular assessment this is often too basic and unchallenging.
On the plus side inspectors said Pencoedtre has a positive culture of supporting pupils’ wellbeing and has extensive provision to support their needs. Leaders put strong emphasis on alleviating the impact of poverty on pupils’ lives.
There is a “valuable” and well attended after school extra-curricular programme” which extends the school day up to 6pm and includes a free hot meal for all pupils. This is “a notable feature” of the school, where 37.7% of children are eligible for free school meals, compared to the 18.5% average for Wales.
On wellbeing and attitudes to learning the report says a minority disrupt lessons and “many pupils are welcoming and friendly towards visitors and other adults”.
“Pencoedtre High School is a caring school where most teachers nurture positive relationships with pupils,” the report adds, “the headteacher and senior leadership team managed the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic well.
“However, there is a lack of clear, strategic direction from senior leaders and too much confusion over roles and responsibilities. Consequently, their work is not having enough impact on improving important aspects of the school’s work. These aspects include attendance and behaviour, the quality of teaching and assessment, the provision for skills, as well as the provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) and others in need of additional support.”
The report acknowledges changes and challenges the school has had to navigate since it was established in 2018. The current headteacher came into post during the pandemic in 2020 while the school was still in the early stages of significant change. “This change includes the start of co-educational provision through the amalgamation of two schools as part of the Barry Schools’ Transformation Programme, the formation of a joint sixth form and the transition to a new building,” the report noted.
Finally, inspectors said “unsatisfactory security” at the front of the school is a health and safety concern. The school is the second one run by Vale of Glamorgan Council to be put in special measures within a matter of weeks - Ysgol Pen y Garth was placed in special measures in a report published on January 20.
Putting Pencoedtre into special measures in a report published on February 3, Estyn said it will visit the school each term and made the following recommendations:
- Improve strategic leadership and accountability at all levels, including the school’s approach to self-evaluation and improvement planning
- Improve the provision and strategic approach to supporting pupils’ attendance and behaviour
- Improve the quality of teaching and assessment
- Improve the strategic leadership and quality of the provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN), and the general oversight of the range of provisions offered to all pupils in need of additional support
- Improve the provision to develop the standards of pupils’ skills
- Address the issue regarding site security at the front entrance of the school
Pencoedtre High School and the Vale of Glamorgan Council issued a joint statement, which said: "The Council and Pencoedtre High School leaders have reviewed Estyn’s report following the recent inspection of the school.
“It is extremely rare for a school in the Vale to be placed into special measures, with the vast majority meeting and often exceeding accepted standards.
“Some features of teaching at Pencoedtre were commended by inspectors, but there were also a number of areas that required improvement.
"Estyn noted that pupils are welcoming and friendly and that the after-school programme is well attended, helping pupils develop their social and physical skills. This extra-curricular provision runs until early evening and includes a free hot meal for all who attend.
“The effective partnership work with primary schools to support pupils and parents on the transition to Pencoedtre was also highlighted.
“Sixth form students were identified as engaging very well with learning and also credited for the important role they play in providing mentoring support for younger pupils.
“A comprehensive plan has been drawn up, in conjunction with the school, to improve Pencoedtre’s performance in other areas and much of its contents has already been put into action. This will be monitored on a regular basis.
“A new interim Executive Headteacher was appointed at the beginning of term, with additional leadership capacity provided by the creation of additional posts.
“The Council and school are confident these steps will help Pencoedtre continue improving in areas that need attention and bring the school’s performance up to the high standard expected of educational provision in the Vale.”
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