A SECONDARY school has been put into special measures following a damning Estyn inspection.

Ysgol Ardudwy in Harlech, Gwynedd needs “urgent improvements” after standards and leadership at the school was found to be “unsatisfactory”,  in a report published on Thursday.

Gwynedd Council said it accepted the findings of the  inspectorate and accepted  the need to improve the school but welcomed other aspects of the report which had led to improvements in the behaviour of pupils.

The Estyn report found that the school has faced a “challenging period” in terms of leadership, following the resignation of the headteacher and chair of governors in September 2018. 

Tudur Williams, who had been at the helm for 28 years, said in a letter to governors and parents that “it was the time was right to leave”.

An urgent restructure was put in place with the deputy headteacher, Aled Williams, appointed as acting head and, very recently, two members of staff also being appointed as link members of the senior leadership team.

The school was also badly damaged during Storm Emma last year.

Inspectors, who visited the school in December, were satisfied that the new acting headteacher has a clear vision for the school, based on raising standards, ensuring pupils’ well-being and improving the quality of teaching.

But being the only full-time member of the senior management team, it was felt that leadership at all levels had “not succeeded in raising and maintaining high standards or improving the quality of teaching.”

As a result, it was found that pupils had performed “poorly” during key stage 4 including core subjects such as Welsh, English and mathematics, with the school performing significantly worse than similar schools over the last three years.

The percentage of pupils who succeeded in gaining five or more GCSE grades A*-A or equivalent has also fallen over the same time period.

Other factors considered by inspectors, including pupils’ well-being, teaching and learning experiences as well as the levels of care and guidance provided, were all found to be “adequate but needing improvement.”

Annwen Hughes, the chair of the governing body since September 2018, said: “I am very pleased that the inspectors describe the school as a close and caring community that offers valuable support and guidance to pupils.

“These comments provide a sound basis for the school to implement Estyn’s suggestions to raise standards effectively.

“As a governing Body we will give the acting headteacher and his team all the support to continue to implement the improvements needed.”

Mr Aled Williams, Ysgol Ardudwy’s acting headteacher, added: “This report offers a clear programme for us here in Ardudwy, as a team, governing body and a whole community to move on to take action and ensure that the school offers the best possible education for the children and young people of the Ardudwy catchment area.

“We look forward to the challenge to fully implement this vision.”

Cllr Gareth Thomas, the cabinet member for education, concluded: “We welcome the positive changes that have already been implemented at Ysgol Ardudwy over recent months and we will continue to work with the acting headteacher and the school’s staff on the work of continuing with the improvement process.

“The Estyn report obviously notes areas that require attention and as a member of the governing body I am fully aware that work has been ongoing for some time to deliver improvements.

“However, it is pleasing to see that the inspectors drew attention to the positive work that has already been carried out at Ysgol Ardudwy and to the acting headteachers clear vision for the future.”

The school will now be asked to produce an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection, with Estyn continuing to review the school’s progress every term.