A CALL has been made for the Welsh Government to hold an inquiry over the management of Wrexham Council’s education department following the publication of two highly critical studies.
A report by Estyn inspectors for education in Wales have called for special measures to be introduced at Ysgol Penrhyn in New Broughton. And Estyn also found many unsatisfactory areas in the way Wrexham Adult Community Learning Partnership offers adult learning opportunities in the county borough.
Freelance education consultant John Morris was “amazed” when he saw the reports and said it was high time the Welsh Government stepped in.
“These documents point to a lack of leadership from the highly paid officers at Wrexham Council. When I read them I could hardly believe it. I think education minister Leighton Andrews should establish an inquiry,” said Mr Morris, who is based in Wrexham.
The Estyn report into Ysgol Penrhyn carried a number of findings where the school was classed as unsatisfactory including:
l Leadership
l Improving quality
l Care, support and guidance.
l Learning experiences.
Under the heading ‘What happens next?’ it said: “HMCI is of the opinion special measures are required in relation to this school.
“The school will draw up an action plan which shows how it is going to address these recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress on a termly basis.”
The Partnership report found unsatisfactory outcomes in areas including
leadership; improving quality; care support and guidance as well as categories for current performance and partnership working.
Under ‘What happens next?’ the report said: “A small team of inspectors will return in about one year for three days to review the progress made in implementing the recommendations and to evaluate the progress of the new partnership structures.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We are aware of the report of Estyn's inspection of the school. The school’s governing body is required to draw up an action plan to address the key issues identified in the report.
“The local authority must prepare a written statement of the support that it will provide to address the recommendations. We will re-examine the position once Estyn has provided advice on the robustness of the action plan and the support to be provided.
"Estyn will carry out monitoring visits to the school each term following publication of the inspection report until such a time as the chief inspector is of the opinion that the school has improved sufficiently for the special measures to be withdrawn.”
The spokesman added: "Wrexham Adult Community Learning Partnership was inspected by Estyn in October 2011. This was an inspection of a partnership between the council, Yale College,Wrexham, and a number of other educational and third sector organisations.
“Our conditions of funding for adult community learning require learning provision to reach at least an 'adequate' standard in Estyn inspection. Any learning provider which does not reach this standard is given the opportunity to improve and is closely monitored until it is re-inspected.
“We have been working closely with the Wrexham partnership since the inspection to ensure an adequate action plan.
“The college and council have given us their assurance they are committed to addressing the shortcomings identified and have put in place detailed plans to achieve this."
John Davies, Wrexham Council head of lifelong learning, said: “I feel we should clarify Wrexham Council, like all other councils in Wales, is regularly inspected by a number of regulators who act on behalf of the Welsh Government – Estyn, the Wales Audit Office and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales..
“The second report refers to an individual school inspection. Local authority officers are working with staff and governors to implement an appropriate improvement plan in response to the report.”