MORE than £1million was spent on agency staff at a Rhyl school in special measures in the last two academic years, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.
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.
A FOI request made by the Journal to Denbighshire County Council has shown that, in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, £1,142,590 was spent on agency staff at Christ the Word.
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‘Very limited progress’ at Rhyl school in special measures - report
Christ the Word had the seventh-biggest average number of pupils of all schools in Denbighshire in that time (844), and caters for children between three and 16 years old.
Steps taken at the school since being placed in special measures have included a new governor appointed specifically to address safeguarding concerns, and a new leadership team established under its interim head.
In total, £9.3m was spent on agency staff across schools in Denbighshire in the last two academic years.
A breakdown of these figures can be found below.
A council spokesperson said: “Levels of agency worker fluctuate in all schools across the county for various reasons.
“Denbighshire County Council cannot comment on individual cases.”
Denbighshire schools – overall totals
2022-23 - £4,832,628
2023-24 - £4,541,251
Grand total - £9,373,899
1. Christ the Word Catholic School, Rhyl - £1,142,590
2022-23 – 843 students - £647,186
2023-24 – 845 students – 495,404
2. Rhyl High School - £724,762
2022-23 – 1,173 students - £281,225
2023-24 – 1,161 students - £443,537
3. Ysgol Llywelyn, Rhyl - £625,392
2022-23 – 606 students - £340,829
2023-24 – 611 students - £284,563
4. Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, Denbigh - £571,747
2022-23 – 133 students - £293,385
2023-24 – 125 students - £278,362
5. Ysgol Emmanuel, Rhyl - £502,361
2022-23 – 412 students - £257,645
2023-24 – 398 students - £244,716
6. Ysgol Christchurch, Rhyl - £481,406
2022-23 – 391 students - £231,437
2023-24 – 382 students - £249,969
7. Prestatyn High School - £459,794
2022-23 – 1,447 students - £220,497
2023-24 – 1,484 students - £239,297
8. Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin - £450,127
2022-23 – 1,093 students - £236,651
2023-24 – 1,132 students - £213,476
9. St Brigid’s School, Denbigh - £314,963
2022-23 – 459 students - £155,379
2023-24 – 462 students - £159,584
10. Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph - £295,938
2022-23 – 1,046 students - £109,748
2023-24 – 1,016 students - £186,190
11. Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, Rhyl - £293,422
2022-23 – 414 students - £196,754
2023-24 – 415 students - £96,668
12. Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen - £245,121
2022-23 – 1,072 students - £183,679
2023-24 – 1,068 students - £61,442
13. Denbigh High School - £244,807
2022-23 – 491 students - £121,415
2023-24 – 499 students - £123,392
14. Ysgol Y Castell, Rhuddlan - £225,573
2022-23 – 209 students - £116,823
2023-24 – 194 students - £108,750
15. St Asaph Infants - £184,859
2022-23 – 58 students - £117,554
2023-24 – 56 students - £67,305
16. Ysgol Clawdd Offa, Prestatyn - £180,893
2022-23 – 315 students - £125,825
2023-24 – 317 students - £55,068
17. Ysgol Hiraddug, Dyserth - £170,345
2022-23 – 182 students - £59,489
2023-24 – 189 students - £110,856
18. Ysgol Y Parc, Denbigh - £146,556
2022-23 – 156 students - £71,273
2023-24 – 140 students - £75,283
19. Ysgol Penmorfa, Prestatyn - £146,555
2022-23 – 364 students - £81,296
2023-24 – 361 students - £65,259
20. Ysgol Bryn Collen, Llangollen - £132,198
2022-23 – 155 students - £55,785
2023-24 – 156 students - £76,413
21. Ysgol Melyd, Meliden - £124,325
2022-23 – 139 students - £53,834
2023-24 – 142 students - £70,491
22. Ysgol Trefnant, Denbigh - £107,984
2022-23 – 77 students - £61,234
2023-24 – 60 students - £46,750
23. Ysgol Frongoch, Denbigh - £105,138
2022-23 – 206 students - £48,239
2023-24 – 212 students - £56,899
24. Ysgol Llanbedr, Ruthin - £104,992
2022-23 – 58 students - £43,942
2023-24 – 58 students - £61,050
25. Ysgol Y Llys, Prestatyn - £98,138
2022-23 – 313 students - £63,894
2023-24 – 302 students - £34,244
26. Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Corwen - £95,155
2022-23 – 87 students - £46,847
2023-24 – 86 students - £48,309
27. Ysgol Pen Barras, Ruthin - £94,935
2022-23 – 252 students - £38,752
2023-24 – 265 students - £56,183
28. Ysgol Y Faenol, Bodelwyddan - £94,133
2022-23 – 119 students - £51,965
2023-24 – 134 students - £42,168
29. Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant, Rhyl - £88,934
2022-23 – 355 students - £42,685
2023-24 – 368 students - £46,249
30. Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh - £88,592
2022-23 – 113 students - £45,207
2023-24 – 108 students - £43,385
31. Ysgol Gymraeg Y Gwernant, Llangollen - £88,004
2022-23 – 140 students - £51,230
2023-24 – 143 students - £36,774
32. Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn - £81,673
2022-23 – 414 students - £51,257
2023-24 – 409 students - £30,416
33. Ysgol Borthyn, Ruthin - £66,705
2022-23 – 97 students - £31,091
2023-24 – 93 students - £35,614
34. Ysgol Tremeirchion - £56,464
2022-23 – 69 students - £32,214
2023-24 – 68 students - £24,250
35. Ysgol Bryn Clwyd, Denbigh - £56,540
2022-23 – 41 students - £27,836
2023-24 – 44 students - £28,704
36. Ysgol Carrog, Corwen - £47,635
2022-23 – 33 students - £21,546
2023-24 – 30 students - £26,089
37. Ysgol Pentrecelyn, Ruthin - £47,246
2022-23 – 20 students - £32,402
2023-24 – 17 students - £14,844
38. Ysgol Gellifor, Ruthin - £44,361
2022-23 – 31 students - £8,809
2023-24 – 33 students - £35,552
39. Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Ruthin - £39,045
2022-23 – 101 students - £21,043
2023-24 – 94 students - £18,002
40. Ysgol Esgob Morgan, St Asaph - £36,401
2022-23 – 105 students - £22,612
2023-24 – 117 students - £13,789
41. Ysgol Bodfari, Denbigh - £33,964
2022-23 – 27 students - £11,533
2023-24 – 35 students - £22,431
42. Ysgol Tir Morfa, Rhyl - £28,812
2022-23 – 115 students - £20,940
2023-24 – 109 students - £7,872
43. Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog, St Asaph - £28,300
2022-23 – 39 students - £8,673
2023-24 – 49 students - £19,627
44. Ysgol Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh - £28,147
2022-23 – 273 students - £18,694
2023-24 – 280 students - £9,453
45. Ysgol Pant Pastynog, Denbigh - £25,635
2022-23 – 65 students - £16,804
2023-24 – 61 students - £8,831
46. Ysgol Dyffryn Ial, Llandegla - £24,537
2022-23 – 47 students - £12,209
2023-24 – 41 students - £12,328
47. Rhos Street School, Ruthin - £21,647
2022-23 – 197 students - £14,247
2023-24 – 200 students - £7,400
48. Miscellaneous - £18,296
49. Ysgol Bro Famau, Llanarmon yn Iâl - £15,517
2022-23 – 55 students - £6,383
2023-24 – 53 students - £9,134
50. Ysgol Henllan, Denbigh - £14,737
2022-23 – 63 students - £13,612
2023-24 – 62 students - £1,125
51. Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ruthin - £11,207
2022-23 – 63 students - £3,602
2023-24 – 61 students - £7,605
52. Bro Cinmeirch, Denbigh - £9,038
2022-23 – 82 students - £2,104
2023-24 - 87 students - £6,934
53. Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Corwen - £4,210
2022-23 – 100 students - £2,727
2023-24 – 105 students - £1,483
54. Ysgol Bro Elwern, Corwen - £3,198
2022-23 – 56 students - £607
2023-24 – 55 students - £2,591
55. Ysgol Betws Gwerfil Goch, Corwen - £220
2022-23 – 26 students - £0
2023-24 – 19 students - £220
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