Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen is a caring, inclusive community in which all staff ensure that pupils' well-being and engagement is central to their work. The headteacher provides calm, assured leadership and works tirelessly to raise pupils' aspirations and provide staff with the support they need to help pupils thrive. Leaders at all levels have a clear understanding of their roles and carry out their duties diligently.

They carry out a wide range of activities to evaluate the school's work, although they do not always focus sharply enough on the impact of provision on pupil outcomes. In many instances, engaging teaching helps pupils to make sound progress in their subject knowledge and understanding. However, teachers do not always p...lan lessons that consistently challenge and meet the needs of all pupils.

Whilst pupils have some useful opportunities to practise their literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, this aspect of the school's work is not planned and co-ordinated well enough. In addition, pupils do not have enough opportunities to practise speaking Welsh. Care, support and guidance is a strength of the school and has a positive impact on, for example, pupils' attendance, including those eligible for free school meals.

Effective provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) helps them to make good progress against their individual targets. The Learning Resource Centre (LRC), which caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, is successful in supporting these pupils through Key Stages 3 and 4 and preparing them for life after school. Leaders have been successful in creating a strong culture of safeguarding across the school.

As a result, most pupils feel safe and valued and are proud of their school. Recommendations R1 Streamline self-evaluation and improvement processes and ensure that they focus consistently on the impact of provision on pupil outcomes R2 Increase the effectiveness of teaching by ensuring that it provides appropriate challenge for all pupils R3 Strengthen provision for the progressive development of pupils' literacy, numeracy and Welsh skills What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will work with the local authority to review the school's progress.