South Wales Echo

School is on the up – but attendance issues persist

ATTENDANCE at a school that went into special measures is still a concern for inspectors but major improvemen­ts have been noted, with one councillor saying she would feel confident sending her children there.

Feedback from the latest inspection of Pencoedtre High School, Barry, was presented to Vale of Glamorgan council’s latest learning and culture scrutiny committee.

Despite the lingering issue of attendance Central South Consortium principal improvemen­t partner for Vale of Glamorgan schools, Carys Pritchard, said the “clear vision” of the school’s new executive head teacher, Innes Robinson, had been embraced by staff.

Committee member Naomi Marshallse­a referred in glowing terms to a visit she and fellow councillor­s made to the school recently, saying: “Innes clearly has a really structured and wellthough­t-through plan of how to change that school and how to turn it around and you can instantly see how that is happening.

“The fact that he now has 12 new teachers starting in September will also really support him in that.”

Mr Robinson, who is also the headteache­r at Whitmore High School in Barry, was announced as the new executive head teacher at Pencoedtre in January 2023.

This was not long after teachers at the school went on strike over the poor behaviour of some pupils.

Teachers were reportedly resorting to locking the doors of their classrooms to keep them and pupils safe and union representa­tive said members of staff felt “at the end of their tether”.

Cllr Marshallse­a added: “I would feel confident sending my children there.”

Progress at Pencoedtre High School is monitored on a halftermly basis by Vale of Glamorgan council and and Central South Consortium, and Estyn visits the school on a termly basis.

The council report presented to members of the learning and culture scrutiny committee was on Estyn’s feedback after a visit in March 2024.

Ms Pritchard said: “Estyn felt that there is a more strategic approach developing in relation to attendance. They noted the policies that have been implemente­d, also the role of engagement officers and pastoral support assistants to support key members of staff there, but there was a recognitio­n that attendance remains a significan­t concern for the school, particular­ly persistent attendance and the attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals.

“There is now a more unified and consistent approach to dealing with behaviour and that is beginning to impact on reducing internal truancy and improving pupils’ behaviour.”