The quality of teaching in Wales’ schools has come under scrutiny by the chief inspector of education, as he points out significant shortcomings in various aspects of education across the country. Owen Evans, the chief inspector of education and training in Wales, highlights in his latest report that nearly half of schools and pupil referral units in Wales are not meeting the required standards in teaching, directly impacting students’ learning experiences. The annual report by Estyn addresses the notable gaps in developing crucial literacy, numeracy, and digital skills in children. Inadequate recruitment of teachers for key subjects like maths, science, and Welsh language further exacerbates the education system’s challenges.
In schools, the emphasis on developing basic numeracy and literacy skills has improved, leading to good initial progress among learners. However, there is a concern that students do not consistently make sufficient progress in the later years of primary school and the beginning of secondary school to develop more advanced literacy and numeracy skills. Wales’ performance in international assessments, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), reflects the need for improvement in higher-level numeracy and literacy skills.
Despite some schools showing high-quality teaching and thoughtful planning resulting in excellent pupil progress, the report highlights the need for around a third of primary schools to address inconsistencies in teaching quality. Furthermore, efforts to improve attendance rates post-pandemic are progressing slowly, with an estimated 10-year timeline to recover secondary school attendance levels. The implementation of the Curriculum for Wales, a significant education reform, has seen progress, but many schools still struggle to align curriculum development with effective teaching and assessment strategies.
The inspectorate also identifies substantial variations among schools in developing their curriculum and addressing curricular transitions as students move from primary to secondary education. In some cases, the planning for student progression is underdeveloped, and teachers’ expectations of students’ achievements are considered too low. Schools’ self-evaluation processes, another crucial reform, are deemed insufficient, hindering the system’s overall progress.
Highlighting the challenges around tackling absence, the chief inspector raises concerns about schools and local authorities lacking the capacity to handle the increase in persistent absence effectively. Variations in attendance rates between local authority areas and schools, with older secondary age children and those eligible for free school meals being least likely to attend classes, are also pointed out. The report indicates a decline in national attendance rates in secondary schools and primary schools, underscoring the need for focused interventions to address this issue effectively.
Given the rise in home-educated children in Wales, the report voices concerns about the substantial increase in elective home education rates, with 13 in every 1,000 pupils opting for home education in the 2023-2024 academic year. Though early years provision continues to perform well, and many primary and secondary schools demonstrate strong support for students’ well-being, care, and guidance, challenges persist in areas like finance, pupil behaviour, and access to support services like CAMHS or pupil referral services.
While there are commendable efforts by schools to integrate anti-racism into their ethos and promote Welsh language and culture, the report underscores the need for stronger leadership to drive improvements across Wales’ education system. The Welsh Government has acknowledged the report’s findings and pledged additional funding to address areas requiring improvement, such as literacy, numeracy, and attendance. With a focus on enhancing basic skills and aligning teaching strategies with students’ needs, there is a collective effort to propel Welsh education towards higher standards and better outcomes for all learners.