Ysgol Clywedog

Overview

The report describes a school with an "inclusive and caring ethos" where many pupils feel safe, but notes that leadership has not secured "sufficient or sustained improvements" in teaching quality or standards. Consequently, the inspection places the school in "special measures" due to "unsatisfactory" performance in key areas, requiring urgent action to raise achievement and attendance.

Strengths

• The school fosters an environment where "many pupils feel safe" and the majority "understand how to live healthy lives."
• The headteacher provides "supportive and reflective leadership," successfully improving staff morale and gaining community confidence.
• Vulnerable pupils access "swiftly beneficial support" through the student support centre and on-site inclusion centre.
• The curriculum offers a "wide range of academic courses" and vocational choices, supported by helpful local partnerships.
• Pupils have suitable opportunities for cultural engagement and community service, such as supporting local foodbanks.

Areas to improve

• Improve standards across the school, as performance at key stage 4 has "declined considerably."
• Enhance teaching quality, specifically addressing "shortcomings in teaching in around half of lessons" where expectations are too low.
• Strengthen provision for developing pupils’ skills in literacy, numeracy, and ICT, which is currently "underdeveloped."
• Improve attendance and punctuality, which "do not compare well" with similar schools.
• Ensure robust financial management and improve the quality and impact of leadership at all levels.

Safeguarding

The report states that the school’s arrangements for safeguarding pupils’ needs "meet requirements and give no cause for concern."