New colour-coded school performance tables launched today – 2 Deeside primaries see red & 3 classed as green

Two Deeside primary schools have been classed as RED under a new schools colour coded categorisation system launched by the Welsh Government today.

Queensferry and Saltney Ferry primary schools have been deemed to be in need of the greatest improvement due in part, to a decline in key aspects of their performance. 

Sandycroft, Golftyn and Wepre primary schools are ranked green, meaning they are highly effective schools with a track record of attaining a high level of learner outcomes. 

The new system highlights which schools are in need of the greatest support through ranking them by colour, red being in the need of the most support, green the least, the system also allows parents to find out how their children’s schools has been rated in terms of performance.

The new performance measures replace the controversial secondary school banding and now includes a primary school for the first time.

The Government says it will help make sure schools receive the help and support that they need to secure the very best outcomes for their pupils.

This new system is not data-driven or based on results alone it takes into account quality of leadership, teaching and learning in schools’

Of the 1,332 Welsh primary schools assessed, 206 have been put in the green support category and 58 have been put in the red support category, of the 211 secondary schools, 30 have been classed as green while 23 are in the red support category.

In total Flintshire has four primary schools and one high school (see tables below) in the red support category – you can see what each colour category represents below.

As with any ‘ranking’ system the net result in being seen at the bottom of the pack can have a negative impact not only on the professionals within the school but also the communities they serve as parents will naturally seek to place children in higher performing schools.

Acting NAHT Cymru director Dr Chris Howard said:

“The new school categorisation system will anger many schools in Wales at a time when the minister should be recognising the hard work that’s been done to raise standards.

“It will do nothing to encourage schools and teachers working with the most challenging communities.”

Education Minister Huw Lewis said it was time to “wake up” for anyone who did not think he was serious about raising standards.

“My interest is in learners achieving their full potential, rather than vested interests in the system,” he said.

Heres how Flintshire’s primary schools have performed to date:

Secondary Schools