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January 03, 2025
A school where staff walked out in protest over pupil violence has been placed in the second highest level of monitoring by education watchdog Estyn. The inspectorate said Caldicot School is in need of "significant improvement".
The 1326-pupil high school must address safeguarding issues, inspectors said. Their report does not say exactly what these issues are but noted that "the school's arrangements for safeguarding pupils give cause for concern" and that "the school's arrangements for site security give cause for concern."
Attendance is also below similar schools and needs addressing, the report, published on December 23 2024 after inspectors visited in October, adds. Inspectors said the newly-appointed acting headteacher has taken positive action, but more needs to be done.
The report follows a walk out by teachers in autumn 2023 with staff saying the then leadership had failed to take action over verbal abuse and physical violence from pupils towards them and other children. In June 2024 a new acting headteacher, Alun Ebenezer, was appointed and immediately introduced a crackdown on uniform standards that included girls being sent home if skirts were deemed “too short”, leaving some in tears.
The inspection report found moral among teachers and the behaviour of pupils has improved since Mr Ebenezer, who the document does not name, was appointed. It says that now: "Most pupils behave well and many engage purposefully in their learning."
But the report makes five recommendations for how the school must improve further. Inspectors will return to monitor progress in 12 months. "Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning have improved considerably. In addition, there has been an increased focus on supporting staff well-being, resulting in better staff morale and teamwork," inspectors said. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
However, the report added: "However, leaders’ work has not had enough impact on improving important aspects including attendance, the provision for skills and the additional learning needs (ALN) provision". Attendance has been a problem since the pandemic.
On learning, the report says: "A minority of pupils do not make enough progress. This is usually because of shortcomings in teaching, particularly around supporting pupils with weaker skills in lessons. " It goes on: "A majority of pupils make at least adequate progress and recall prior learning suitably. A few make strong progress and have assured recall of prior learning" and says there is "insufficient support for pupils with weaker literacy and numeracy skills".
According to the report, additional learning needs (ALN) provision also needs improving and pupils with ALN don't always make the progreess they should. "Leaders do not ensure that the school is meeting all its statutory obligations in this area and improvement planning for ALN provision is not sufficiently effective," inspectors found.
On a more positive note, the report praised Caldicot School's sixth form where pupils "engage positively in their learning" and are "proud ambassadors of the school". "Many work well independently and sustain concentration effectively, although a very few rely too heavily on teacher support," inspectors found.
Inspectors found the school also has "a committed team of staff that work collaboratively to promote pupils’ well-being". Many pupils, including most pupils in the special resource base feel safe in school.
"The acting headteacher has quickly changed the culture of the school to create a positive and caring environment where staff and pupils are valued members of the school community," the report adds. But it makes clear work has to be done.
"Over time there has been a limited impact on improving pupils’ skills and improving the provision for pupils with ALN. In addition, work to minimise the impact of poverty on educational attainment is in the early stages of development," the report goes on.
And while governors are "committed supporters of the school", inspectors said that until recently, their role in holding the school to account has not been effective enough. Despite recent improvements the school - like many in Wales - remains in financial deficit.
Publishing the report, Estyn made five recommendations for Caldicot School to improve. These are:
The report concluded: "In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that this school is in need of significant improvement. The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress about 12 months after the publication of this report."
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