Posted on: Tuesday 5 November 2024
During October, Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales conducted their latest monitoring visit of Torfaen Council.
The outcome is that the council's education service is judged to have made sufficient progress to be removed from the list of local authorities causing significant concern.
Estyn inspectors recognised:
- Improved outcomes for learners, particularly in secondary schools
- Strengthened performance management
- Strengthen self-evaluation and improvements in planning processes
- Improved strategic leadership of learning and additional learning needs
The inspectors also reported improvements in leadership, highlighting the development of clear plans to improve evaluation, accountability and performance across the council. This work, led by the Chief Executive and Director, has ensured all staff in the education service understand their role in securing improvements for children and young people across the local authority.
They also noted the Director of Education’s clear vision for improvement across the education service, ensuring that all staff feel valued and contribute meaningfully to the local authority’s ongoing improvements.
Inspectors highlighted a strong focus on improving pupils’ attendance; effective work in identifying and supporting young people who are at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET); and improvements in how young people have helped informed the council’s strategic direction.
Cllr Richard Clark, Torfaen Council’s Executive Member for Children, Families and Education said: “This positive report is most welcome and testament to the forensic approach across the whole council on improving outcomes for all children and young people in Torfaen.
“The impact of our whole system approach means we’re now seeing improvement across all our schools. Credit goes to everyone working hard in the department and in our schools for their efforts.”
Cllr Anthony Hunt, the Leader of Torfaen Council, added:
“A huge thank you to everyone involved in our improvement journey so far, from staff in schools to our Chief Executive, Director for Children and Families, Director of Education, Richard Clark as Cabinet Member and Rose Seabourne and her scrutiny members. Together they’re working hard and making a huge difference, driven by our determination to reduce inequality and improve the life chances for all young people in Torfaen.
“This report is the result of robust challenge and scrutiny and a culture of continuous improvement. The work doesn’t stop here though, it is merely a benchmark and expectation from this point forward. Our young people deserve nothing less.”
Click here to read the full report.