'Unsatisfactory' schools lead to more Welsh Government action on Anglesey

Anglesey is already run by Welsh Government commissioners Credit: Anglesey Council

A highly critical report by Estyn schools inspectors has triggered a second intervention into Anglesey council by the Welsh Government. Ministers will appoint a recovery board to 'challenge and support' the council and if necessary 'step in directly if the council is not taking adequate or prompt action to putthings right'. Estyn found that Anglesey schools were unsatisfactory for the following reasons:

  • Standards for children and young people are below what could be expected at all key stages

  • Attendance rates in secondary schools are unacceptably low

  • The school improvement service is inadequate

  • Not enough progress has been made in planning for school places

  • Operational leadership in the delivery of education has not driven improvements in areas of underperformance and schools and officers have not been held to account

  • Business planning and risk-assessment processes have not been robust enough to identify and address the slow pace of progress in education services and schools

Anglesey Council is already subject to Welsh Government action. An intervention board was sent in by ministers in 2008 because of concerns about the way the authority was run. Last year, further action was taken, with the appointment of commissioners who took over the council's decision-making process. This year's council elections were postponed for 12 months on Anglesey. There has been a swift ministerial response to the latest developments.