Ysgol Clywedog Estyn Monitoring visit feedback.

1. Ysgol ClywedogEstyn Monitoring visit feedback. YC 8th-10th October 2013

2. General points • 16 observations – 7 good/8 adequate/1 inadequate • Around school and class behaviour good • The school has made good progress since January 13 • The changes made are appropriate and are starting to have an impact • We will receive a letter by the end of the month highlighting the progress made and issues remaining – this will not be posted on the Estyn website.

3. Jan 13 recommendations • R1. Improve standards at key stage 4; • R2. Improve the quality of teaching across the school; • R3. Improve the rigour and robustness of assessment across the school and ensure it informs learning; • R4. Develop pupils’ writing skills across the curriculum; • R5. Develop the role of middle leaders to ensure that self-evaluation and development planning impact on pupil progress; • R6. Ensure that the curriculum at key stage 4 enables pupils to follow appropriate courses that match their ability; • R7. Improve attendance rates and reduce fixed-term exclusions; • R8. Develop the role of the governing body so that all governors can effectively challenge underperformance; • R9. Work with the local authority to reduce the deficit budget; and • R10. Raise standards further in Welsh and address the issues in its provision.

4. Monitoring visit judgements • Fully addressed • Largely addressed • Partially addressed • Not addressed

5. R1 – Improve standards at KS4 • Partly addressed • 38% L2 inc in 2013 (up 4% on 2012) • 57% L2 – up 16% on 2012. • “Sharp rise in L2 threshold.” • “Gap between the performance of boys and girls has reduced.” • Maths– Strong • English – slight improvement • Science – poor • Next steps – Improve the L2 inclusive score and CSI.

6. R2 – Improve the quality of teaching • Partly addressed • “ The school has an accurate picture of the strengths and weaknesses in teaching.” • “Suitable training has taken place.” • “A reduction in the number of unsatisfactory lessons.” • The proportion of good or better lessons has remained the same. • Next steps – improve the number good lessons and continue to work with the staff on pedagogy.

7. R3 - Assessment • Partly addressed • “ The school has implemented a range of appropriate strategies.” • “Relevant training” and “….regular monitoring.” • “Overall, teachers’ feedback is now more helpful to pupils.” • “The school uses appropriate data to set and monitor targets.” • Next steps – ensure that all pupils respond to the guidance provided. • Improve the rigour of marking written work.

8. R4 - Writing • Partly addressed • “The school has made a number of improvements to its provision for developing writing.” • “Leaders monitor the provision.” • “The quality of pupils’ written work has improved since the core inspection.” • Next steps – improve levels of consistency • Improve planning in line with the new LNF

9. R5 – Middle Leaders • Partly addressed • “The school now has a well organised system for self evaluation.” • “….structured calendar of events.” • “ A training programme has helped to refine the role and expectations of MLs.” • Next steps – more consistency in Departmental SERs/DDPs. • Depts. need to evaluate their own teaching in a more detailed way.

10. R6 – Key Stage 4 curriculum • Largely addressed • “The school has extended the range of options for pupils at KS4.” • “Free choice for pupils in Year 9 for the first time.” • “The school has expanded the number of vocational options.” • 35 courses available. • Next steps – wait for the impact on standards!

11. R7 – Attendance/Exclusions • Partly addressed • “The school has developed and uses a range of appropriate strategies to improve attendance.” • “Attendance has improved following a fall in 2012.” (1% up on 2012) • “…effective strategies to reduce fixed term exclusions from 1000 days in 2011-12 to just 80 days in 2012-13.” • “Clearer communication of the expectations about acceptable behaviour.” • Next – maintain the trend on exclusions and embed the new attendance procedures to achieve 92%+ in 2013-14.

12. R8/9 – Governing Body and Finance • R8 – Partly addressed • “The role of the GB continues to develop.” • “The COG and VCOG have a clear and specific understanding of the many challenges facing the school.” • R9 – partly addressed. • “The school is working closely with the LA to develop and agree their financial recovery plan.”

13. R10 – Welsh provision • Partly addressed • “At KS4 , performance has improved in the numbers taking the full course and the proportion achieving a Level 2 qualification.” • New QA procedures improving the quality of teaching. • Next steps – re-launch the eisteddfod and embed the Welsh dimension work.

14. Finally… • Thanks for your support as parents • They will return in the Spring Term – probably February (we do not know for certain when we will come out of SM.) • Consolidation needed – stability and focus • Focus on pedagogy • Y11 vital – we will not come out of SM unless we hit a benchmark of 40% L2 inclusive • We must maintain this level of focus and achieve more good lessons next time. • Progress made in all 10 areas. • We are trying to make good at least 8 years worth of underachievement in as short a period as possible.