A SCHOOL in Mochdre has been put in special measures following a visit from education inspectorate, Estyn.

Ysgol Babanod Mochdre, on Station Road, was handed five recommendations to address after Estyn’s inspection on October 16.

With 59 pupils, it is part of the Mochdre federation of schools, which also includes Ysgol Cystennin.

Estyn’s five recommendations for the school are as follows:

  • Strengthen the impact of leadership at all levels in order to secure the necessary improvements.
  • Ensure that all groups of pupils, including those with additional learning needs and those eligible for free school meals, make effective progress in developing literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Ensure that teaching is effective and demonstrates appropriately high expectations of what all pupils can achieve.
  • Develop a rich curriculum that builds on pupils’ skills, knowledge and understanding progressively.
  • Improve attendance, particularly for those pupils eligible for free school meals.

Extracts from the report read: “Long-term staff absences within the federation have had a significant impact on the effectiveness of leadership and provision at the school.

“School improvement work does not focus well enough on outcomes for pupils. Currently, leaders do not show the capacity to secure the improvements needed at the school.

“The school has established an appropriate culture of safeguarding. However, rates of attendance are well below the national average and particularly low for pupils eligible for free school meals.”

The report also highlighted that some of the school’s pupils are not making adequate progress with their numeracy or writing skills, though its efforts to promote the Welsh language were praised.

Ysgol Bobanod Mochdre’s pupils were also said to feel “safe and valued” in the school, with many having “positive attitudes” to learning and understanding the importance of healthy eating.

It added: “Provision to develop pupils’ reading, writing and numeracy skills has not been developed well enough.

“As a result, provision is too varied and does not build systematically on what pupils already know and can already do.

“Leaders place a strong focus on improving attendance and attendance rates are slowly beginning to improve.

“However, strategies in place are not having a great enough impact, and rates of attendance remain too low.”