A SCHOOL in Prestatyn has been found to need “significant improvement” following an visit from education inspectorate, Estyn.

Ysgol Clawdd Offa, a primary school based on Ffordd Clawdd Offa, was handed five recommendations in Estyn’s report, published on March 25 after its inspection on January 22.

Its recommendations, which the school must draw up an action plan to explain how it will meet them, are as follows:

  • Ensure all pupils have equitable access to inclusive learning experiences that take full account of their individual learning needs, and support them to make the best possible progress.
  • Ensure self-evaluation processes and professional learning for all staff focus on securing improvements in pupils’ learning through high-quality teaching.
  • Improve provision for the systematic development of pupils’ literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
  • Improve attendance for all groups of pupils.
  • Strengthen arrangements to promote pupils’ healthy eating and drinking.

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While Estyn found the Ysgol Clawdd Offa to be “a calm and safe community for pupils and parents”, it noted that not all of its pupils are attending regularly enough.

The impact of the school’s work to improve attendance was also seen as “inconsistent”.

Pupils were also seen to make good progress in developing listening and speaking skills, but the overall quality of teaching and assessment at the school was labelled “too variable”.

Estyn added: “In the minority of classes where teaching is weak, staff do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve, and do not respond well enough to pupils’ individual learning needs in the activities they plan.”

The inspectorate felt the school’s provision for pupils with additional learning needs or requiring extra support also needed improvement.

Pupils’ development with their writing was described as “too slow”, and in mathematics, their skills were said to be “underdeveloped”.

Most of the school’s pupils exhibited good behaviour, and showed awareness of how to eat healthily and the importance of keeping hydrated, meanwhile.

Though, Estyn found that, across the school, pupils often bring in sweet snacks and drinks.

Its report added: “Overall, adults do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve.

“They do not use assessment information well enough to plan for pupils’ next steps in learning and focus too much on what pupils will do, rather than what they should learn.

“In a minority of classes, where teaching is weak, pupils’ learning lacks purpose, the pace is too slow, and consequently pupils make limited progress.

There are important shortcomings in leadership, which mean that pupils do not achieve as well as they should. 

“Overall, since its last inspection, the school has struggled to secure improvements in important areas of its work, such as ensuring high-quality teaching for all pupils.”

The Journal invited Denbighshire County Council to comment.