Action taken by local government in Wales to help improve the education system has resulted in a number of local councils being taken out of special measures.
Pembrokeshire, Powys and Anglesey Councils have all been successfully lifted out of ‘special measures’ or the ‘in need of significant improvement’ inspection categories.
The good news was announced by Anne Keane, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, during a Welsh Local Government Conference held in Llandudno.
Councillor Ali Thomas OBE (Neath Port Talbot), WLGA Spokesperson for Education said:
“The ability of local government to deliver consistent and improved local education services has recently been called into question, and the great news that three of our local councils have made such significant improvements should help reassure people on this account. I now urge the Welsh Government to trust us as we trust them.
“Local government has consistently said that the efforts being made to improve the quality of Wales’ local education services, such as the regional school improvement services that have been set up on a regional basis by local councils, would all require time to ‘bed-in’ before making their impact felt. While there is certainly no room for complacency, the fact that three councils have already successfully navigated their way out of ‘special measures’ or ‘in need of significant improvement’ inspection categories, as a direct result of the measures that local government has put in place, is certainly a significant step in the right direction.
“Local government has been extremely heartened by the Minister for Education’s repeated confirmation of his commitment to the role local government plays in the delivery of local education services, and local councils are already honouring this by delivering the improved educational outcomes that are required. Every council in Wales is committed to delivering the best possible education system for all learners in Wales, and is demonstrating this with the improvements that are now being achieved.”
