A SCHOOL in Rhyl in special measures has made “insufficient progress” in achieving the recommendations it was given by Wales’ education inspectorate, according to its latest monitoring report.
Christ the Word Catholic School was placed in special measures following a report by Estyn, published in July 2022; a core inspection had taken place two months earlier.
Steps taken at the school since then have included a new governor appointed specifically to address safeguarding concerns, and a new leadership team established under its interim head.
Freedom of Information requests have enabled the Journal to obtain copies of all five of Estyn’s follow-up inspection reports.
READ MORE:
Christ the Word - The Rhyl school fighting to leave special measures
Deputy head of Rhyl school in special measures returns after absence
‘Insufficient progress’ at Rhyl school in special measures - reports
In the latest report, dated June 2024, the school was made to have made “very limited progress”.
During this inspection, Estyn noted that new schemes for phonics and guided reading have been introduced in the lower school, which was described as “helpful”.
Many teachers have introduced worthwhile class book corners and reading monitors, which were commended in the report.
Though, Estyn added that “leaders’ monitoring is not sufficiently robust to identify accurately the areas most in need of improvement”.
As a result, it said, “too many pupils across the lower school do not make the progress they could or should in reading”.
“Overall, the leadership of reading is not developed well enough,” Estyn said.
“Overall, leadership at all levels has not had the impact required on improving pupils’ progress.”
School leaders were found to have provided staff with professional learning about how pupils develop their early reading skills, and strategies to develop their comprehension and analysis of texts.
Where these strategies are being used appropriately and consistently, Estyn said, they are beginning to have a “positive impact on improving pupils’ reading skills”.
A few teachers develop pupils’ advanced reading skills “suitably”, and since January, children have received more regular opportunities to read, discuss and annotate a variety of texts in a range of subjects.
But Estyn added that teachers “do not always choose texts which are appropriate for pupils’ ages, abilities and interests, especially in the upper school”.
“In general, teachers too often miss good opportunities to develop pupils’ vocabulary and reading fluency,” Estyn said.
“In the lower school, a few teachers do not have the knowledge and skills required to teach pupils to read effectively.
“In general, teachers in the upper school do not have the skills to support pupils to make suitable progress in their reading, particularly those who require additional support.
“Across the school, staff sometimes over-direct sessions to develop pupils’ reading skills and this limits the opportunities for pupils to develop their independent learning.”
Meanwhile, Estyn found that “limited progress” had been made since its last monitoring visit regarding strengthening provisions to develop pupils’ reading skills.
Its report said: “There is no clear strategic approach to this aspect of the school’s work, which is currently limited to a number of basic strategies that are at an early stage of development.
“As a result, too many pupils across the school do not make as much progress as they could in developing reading strategies to support their learning. “
While leaders were said to have started a “positive reading culture”, this was described as being “inconsistent across the school”.
Estyn added: “Overall, provision for the progressive development of pupils’ reading skills across the school remains weak.
“Strategies are not sufficiently well co-ordinated, and there are too few meaningful opportunities for pupils to develop their reading skills across the curriculum.”
The school’s next monitoring inspection is due to be undertaken by Estyn within the next six months.
Christ the Word replaced secondary school, Blessed Edward Jones Catholic School, and primary school, Ysgol Mair, when it opened in September 2019.
The £23million school caters for children between three and 16 years old.
A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We fully acknowledge Estyn’s findings from their recent monitoring visit of Christ the Word Catholic School.
“Officers from Denbighshire County Council, GwE, and the Diocese of Wrexham will continue to work with the school in securing improvements across all of the recommendations.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here