2013 Banding Data For Wrexham Schools Released

Results of the ‘school perfomance’ / banding system for schools in Wales were published this morning.

This is the third year data of this kind has been published by the Welsh Government with a total of 218 schools being banded in 2013.

The system focuses on the school’s on topics such as GCSE results, performance in certain subjects, attendance.

Schools in Band 1 are the best performing across all measures while schools in Band 5 require additional support. In total 81 schools moved down at least one band in the past 12 months, with 71 schools moving up at least one band. Close to 80 per cent of schools (172 schools) have stayed in the same band, or moved up/down by one band between 2012 and 2013.

In Wrexham three schools moved up a Band from last year, with Ysgol Morgan Llwyd is now recorded Band 2 and in 2012 it was Band 4. The Maelor School is now Band 2 and last year was Band 3; while St Joseph’s Catholic And Anglican High has moved from Band 4 up to Band 3.

Both Ysgol Y Grango and Rhosnesni High School have gone down a Banding grade since last year, with Ysgol Y Grango moving from Band 2 to Band 3, and Rhosnesni High School moving from Band 3 to Band 4. Ysgol Rhiwabon has also been recorded as going down a Banding grade since last year, and is now classed as Band 4.

Darland School in Rossett has remained the same as 2012 wih a Band 4 rating, as has Ysgol Bryn Alyn, which has also been recorded as Band 4 for the past two years.

Only one school in Wrexham was recorded as Band 5, which was Ysgol Clywedog, which has been in special measures since the start of the year. The school has been recorded as Band 5 since 2011 when the recordings began.

Speaking about the Banding system, Education and Skills Minister Huw Lewis said: “Banding data is crucial in helping us see how our schools are doing, allowing us to direct support to those schools which need the most help to improve.

“If we’re to improve the performance of schools across the board in Wales we need to both challenge and support them. Challenge if they’re underperforming or coasting, but offer the support they need, financially and through sharing best practice, to deliver the best results for our young people.

“It’s encouraging that since Banding has been in place absenteeism has fallen and we’re seeing improvement in our exam performance.

“Recent statistics show an all time high of 15 year olds in Wales achieving the Level 2 inclusive, in other words five good GCSEs including grades A* to C in English or Welsh first language and mathematics.

“We’ve seen this reflected in Band 5 schools last year improving their Level 2 inclusive performance by 10 per cent in 2013. We continue to narrow the gap with England on GCSE performance and that’s very encouraging.”