BARRY secondary schools are struggling to meet Welsh Government standards.
According to the National School Categorisation report published last Thursday, there is a contrast in performance between primary and secondary schools in Barry.
Out of 20 schools in the area, 12 primaries have been labelled effective, whereas only one secondary, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, was categorised in the top band.
The three remaining secondary schools, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive, St Richard Gwyn Catholic High and Barry Comprehensive have all been placed in the bottom two categories, suggesting they are in need of outside support and improvement.
The National School Categorisation System separates primary and secondary schools into four colour-coded bands: green (highly effective schools), yellow (effective schools), amber (needing improvement) and red (in need of the greatest improvement).
Categories are determined by a range of factors, including performance data, school self-evaluation, quality of leadership and the school’s wider capacity to improve.
Welsh Education Minister, Huw Lewis, said: “We introduced our National Schools Categorisation system to help us identify those schools in need of most support and so we could assess schools on their performance and ability to improve.
“The system helps us to identify schools needing the most support and guidance, those doing well that could be doing better, and those that are highly effective and can help others improve.”
Mr Tyrone Davies, Headteacher of Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, is not disheartened at his school’s banding in the amber support category.
He said: “I am pleased that our categorisation recognises two things. Firstly that we will be able to access support in areas where we are weaker and secondly that we are making progress in these areas.
“We have been asked to improve attendance and results in Mathematics at Key Stage 4. Already this year progress has been made in these areas, which puts us on course for our best results ever this summer.
“When added to our best ever English and Science results last summer, this school would hope to prove itself worthy of achieving the Yellow Category next year.”
Barry Comprehensive School has been banded in the red support category for the second year running. It is one of two schools in the Vale of Glamorgan to be banded in the red group, alongside Eagleswell Primary School in Llantwit Major.
The school has declined to comment about this, as has Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Chris Elmore, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools.
On January 11, the Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet approved £900,000 in funding towards a range of interior and exterior works at Barry Comprehensive school.
The money will go towards improvements in the pupils’ toilets, the main reception and the car parks, with the aim of providing the best possible learning environment for the pupils.
Find out how your school performed on the interactive map below. The coloured pins match the school’s band category:
GREEN BAND:
- Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg
- All Saints Church in Wales Primary School
- Barry Island Primary School
- Colcot Primary School
- Holton Primary School
- Palmerston Primary School
- Romilly Primary School
- Ysgol Sant Curig
YELLOW BAND:
- Cadoxton Primary School
- Gladstone Primary School
- Jenner Park Primary School
- St Helen’s RC Junior School
- Ysgol Gwuan Y Nant
AMBER BAND:
- Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School
- St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School
- High Street Primary School
- Oakfield Primary School
- St Helen’s RC Infant and Nursery School
- Ysgol Gymraeg Sant Baruc
RED BAND:
- Barry Comprehensive School
