Commenting on the Welsh Government’s release of provisional secondary school banding information, Shadow Minister for Education Angela Burns AM, said:
“As it stands, this banding data is muddled and incomplete.
“It is nowhere near the finished article and I question the benefits of releasing the information in this state.
“There will inevitably be concerns from families across Wales when early bands are established. Once more data is available and final bands are put in place the situation will change. That’s going to cause undue confusion that could easily be avoided.
“While I appreciate the government’s efforts in trying to include social factors within the banding model, I am worried that situations outside a school’s control will not be properly considered. This is especially evident within attendance and absences for example – particularly in the winter months.
“While it’s imperative that we ensure every learner is supported and developed, it’s crucial that this process does not de-motivate staff, parents and pupils. I’m not convinced the Minister has a model that will make sure that doesn’t happen.”
