Highlight of the Week

Excellence at the Cathedral School

The Cathedral School has been judged as ‘excellent' by Estyn, Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales.

Having gone under the microscope recently, the school was deemed to be performing well in all respects, having many strengths and with no important areas requiring significant improvement.  The overarching judgements of excellent were made both on the school's current performance and on its prospects for improvement.

Particularly pleasing are the following factors which stood out and led to the highest grade for the school's current performance:

• pupils attain outstanding results in GCSE examinations at key stage 4;
• pupils make very good progress from their starting points at the age of 11 to when they leave school at 16;
• pupils in key stage 3 develop a wide range of skills as a result of their involvement in the innovative Headmaster's Award scheme;
• pupils throughout the school benefit very well from a wide range of extra-curricular activities and participate particularly well in musical and sporting activities;
• pupils and staff throughout the school are responding well to a very positive ethos and a very supportive community for learning within the school; and,
• the system of ‘challenge grades' is driving forward improvements in standards in Junior and Senior Sections

A number of initiatives, including the Headmaster's Award and the Challenge Grade system were identified by the inspection team as sector-leading practice, which the Cathedral School has been asked by Estyn to share with the education sector in Wales.

Acknowledging the very good standards achieved, the report confirms that the Cathedral School is "one of the highest performing schools in Wales" and the inspectors observed "an inclusive and caring ethos within a strong Christian framework".

In terms of the leadership and improvement of the school, the inspectors commented upon the school having "a clear vision based upon a culture of robust self-evaluation and the promotion of personal accountability amongst both staff and pupils". The report praises the leadership provided by the Head, Senior Managers, Governors and Staff. The inspectors agreed with the school's own self-evaluation, and the recommendations they provided for the school's further improvement are all already within its development plan. They praised the efforts made by the school to seek the views of parents and pupils, and they describe the school as a "strong learning community".

Chairman of Governors Mr Gilbert Lloyd says: "The board of governors are delighted with the Estyn report which provides further impetus as we now focus on the exciting next phase of our development with the realisation of a new Infant School and a Sixth Form in 2013."

Headmaster Mr Stephen Morris adds: "This report acknowledges the very high standards achieved at the Cathedral School and reaffirms it as one of the best performing schools in Wales.

"The strong track record of improvement planning in recent years, as well as the clear vision for the future direction of the school were highlighted by the inspectors as strong indicators of the school's ability to continue its strong performance as it moves forward in its development."

The full report can be found online at http://www.estyn.gov.uk/.