Photo Caption: The new £7m Ysgol Carreg Hir is currently under construction in Briton Ferry as part of the Council’s Strategic Schools Improvement programme.
Education watchdog Estyn has given Neath Port Talbot Council a triple ‘good’ rating for the way it delivers education.
Estyn’s ‘good’ ratings – after a December 2017 inspection - were awarded in three key areas, Outcomes, Quality of Education Services and Leadership and Management.
Despite the authority being one of the most deprived in Wales, Estyn reported that at key stage 4, there are typically twice as many high-performing schools in Neath Port Talbot compared to the national average.
Inspectors noted that Neath Port Talbot know their schools well and monitor, challenge and support them appropriately.
The inspection report singled out praise for key figures when it came to leadership and management, saying: “The Leader, Chief Executive, Cabinet Member for Education and senior officers work closely together to lead services for children and young people well.”
Estyn found a culture of strong partnership working with other local authorities and the local health board that enables the authority to provide a range of support services to promote learners’ wellbeing effectively. They also commended Neath Port Talbot Council on its Strategic School Improvement Programme which has seen millions of pounds invested into new schools despite severe austerity measures.
They said: “During the past five years elected members have made suitable decisions that have resulted in new schools opening and the closure and amalgamation of others.
Cabinet member for Education Peter Rees said: “Despite the austerity hit Council budget being subjected to cuts of £77m since 2010 Neath Port Talbot Council has shown its commitment to education by investing millions in building new schools, supported by the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools’ Programme.”
Estyn noted that Education staff show a strong commitment to professional learning in order to update their knowledge and skills.
The inspectors strongly approved Neath Port Talbot Council’s overall philosophy towards education, in particular, its culture of listening carefully to the views of children and young people.
They said: “The Corporate Plan demonstrates the council’s clear commitment to improving education with one of its three main objectives being ‘to improve the wellbeing of children and young people’.
The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Rob Jones, said: “We are delighted the inspectors have highly rated our education services and recognise that we have a clear understanding of the key challenges that we face.”
“I am very proud to lead a Council that has been applauded by Estyn for its clear vision and where learners make strong progress.”
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Capsiwn Llun: Mae Ysgol Carreg Hir (ysgol newydd gwerth £7m) yn cael ei hadeiladu yn Llansawel fel rhan o Raglen Strategol Gwella Ysgolion y cyngor
Mae’r arolygwyr addysg, Estyn, wedi rhoi gradd ‘dda’ dair gwaith i Gyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot am y ffordd y mae’n cyflwyno addysg.
Rhoddwyd graddau ‘da’ gan Estyn – ar ôl arolygiad ym mis Rhagfyr 2017 – mewn tri maes allweddol, Deilliannau, Safon y Gwasanaethau Addysg ac Arweinyddiaeth a Rheolaeth.
Er bod yr awdurdod yn un o’r mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru, nododd Estyn fod ddwywaith yn fwy o ysgolion sy’n perfformio’n dda yng nghyfnod allweddol 4 yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot o’i gymharu â’r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol.
Nodwyd gan arolygwyr fod Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn adnabod eu hysgolion yn dda ac mae’n eu monitro, eu herio a’u cefnogi nhw’n briodol.
Rhoddodd adroddiad yr arolygiad ganmoliaeth benodol i bobl allweddol o ran arweinyddiaeth a rheolaeth gan nodi, “Mae’r Arweinydd, y Prif Weithredwr, Aelod y Cabinet dros Addysg ac uwch-swyddogion yn cydweithio’n agos i arwain gwasanaethau’n dda ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc”.
Canfu Estyn ddiwylliant o waith partneriaeth cryf gydag awdurdodau lleol eraill a’r bwrdd iechyd lleol sy’n galluogi’r awdurdod i ddarparu amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cefnogi i hyrwyddo lles dysgwyr yn effeithiol. Canmolwyd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot hefyd ar ei Raglen Strategol Gwella Ysgolion lle buddsoddwyd miliynau mewn ysgolion newydd er gwaethaf mesurau cyni difrifol.
Meddent, “Yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, mae aelodau etholedig wedi gwneud penderfyniadau priodol sydd wedi arwain at agor ysgolion newydd a chau neu uno eraill.
Meddai Aelod y Cabinet dros Addysg, Peter Rees, “Er gwaethaf mesurau cyni’n effeithio ar gyllideb y cyngor sy’n golygu gwerth £77m o doriadau ers 2010, mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi dangos ei ymrwymiad i addysg drwy fuddsoddi miliynau mewn adeiladu ysgolion newydd, a gefnogir gan Raglen Ysgolion ar gyfer yr 21ain Ganrif gan Lywodraeth Cymru.”
Nodwyd gan Estyn fod gan staff addysg ymrwymiad cryf i ddysgu proffesiynol er mwyn diweddaru eu gwybodaeth a’u sgiliau.
Cymeradwywyd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot gan yr arolygwyr am ei athroniaeth gyffredinol tuag at addysg, yn benodol, ei ddiwylliant o wrando’n ofalus ar farn plant a phobl ifanc.
Meddent, “Mae’r Cynllun Corfforaethol yn dangos yn glir ymrwymiad y cyngor i wella addysg, ac un o’i dri phrif amcan yw ‘gwella lles plant a phobl ifanc’.
Meddai Arweinydd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, y Cynghorydd Rob Jones, “Rydym yn falch bod yr arolygwyr wedi canmol ein gwasanaethau addysg a chydnabod bod gennym ddealltwriaeth glir o’r heriau allweddol rydym yn eu hwynebu”.
“Rwy’n falch iawn o gael arwain cyngor sydd wedi cael ei ganmol gan Estyn am ei weledigaeth glir a lle mae dysgwyr yn gwneud cynnydd cryf”.
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