The Welsh Government will today publish new information on the performance of Primary and Secondary schools across Wales.
The new National Categorisation System has been introduced to help identify those schools in Wales in need of the most support. Under the new system schools will be assessed on both their performance and their ability to improve.
All schools will be allocated one of four colours with green representing the top performing schools, yellow for good schools, amber for schools in need of improvement and red for schools in need of the most improvement.
Secondary schools will only have achieved the highest ‘green’ category if the performance of their most disadvantaged pupils has reached a certain basic standard.
Education Minister, Huw Lewis said:
“These Categorisation results provide us with some incredibly useful information about how schools across Wales are performing.
“They will also enable us, in partnership with local authorities and consortia, to focus support and resources on those schools that need it most.
“My focus on driving up performance for pupils from deprived background is at the heart of Categorisation which is why no secondary school can achieve the highest green category unless they are also delivering for those pupils eligible for free school meals.
“Ultimately this is about driving up standards and performance in all Welsh schools and for all Welsh pupils.”
The allocation of a colour category will trigger a bespoke programme of support, challenge and intervention for schools across Wales.
Out of 1332 Primary schools assessed, 206 have been put in the green support category and 58 have been put in the red support category.
Out of 211 secondary schools, 30 have been put in the green support category and 23 are in the red support category.
The colour categorisation for all schools will be published today on the Welsh Government website fuller details will be published on the My Local School website on 30 January 2015. All schools are already aware of their category.
Full guidance for schools, local authorities and consortia, as well as a guide for parents, has already been published.
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