Consortium is praised by school inspectors
INSPECTORS have hailed the “strong improvement” in pupil outcomes across all key stages within one of Wales’ four regional education consortia.
Education watchdog Estyn said the Central South Consortium (CSC), which provides school improvement services in Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan, had “a clear vision and strategy to improve schools” that was understood by most stakeholders. In a report, it said almost all schools in the region were engaging purposefully with school-to-school working and the consortium was able to track progress accurately using performance data.
Estyn said the performance of pupils eligible for free school meals – a measure of poverty – had improved at a faster rate than in the other three regions during the past three years, albeit from a very low base.
But the inspectorate warned there were still “significant concerns” in a minority of schools – defined by Estyn as being below 40% – and performance in a range of measures across the local authorities was “too variable”.
It praised the development of a number of new initiatives – including professional learning “hubs” and a group of specialist schools leading on the Foundation Phase – but said it was “too early” to judge their impact.
Estyn said: “The consortium has developed an effective partnership with its schools.
“This is enabling it to move purposefully towards delivering its vision for a self-improving school system.
“There is a positive working relationship between consortium and local authority senior managers.
“Directors, chief executives, senior officers and elected members realise the benefits that can be gained from working within a wider region, and demonstrate a clear willingness to explore other opportunities for greater collaboration both with the consortium and with each other.
“Over the last two years, the consortium has developed into a reflective organisation that is committed to evaluating and improving its own practice and performance.”
In their evaluations, inspectors rate on a fourpoint scale of excellent, good, adequate or unsatisfactory across five key disciplines. CSC was rated good in three and adequate in two.
Managing director Hannah Woodhouse said: “We welcome the report which largely reflects our own view.
“As a region we are committed to strategies where head teachers not only deliver but lead, design and share what works in school improvement.”