THERE was mixed news for Monmouthshire in the 2019 school categorisation results, with more of the county’s schools achieving the highest level – ‘green’ – but with several schools slipping into lower categories than they were placed in 2018.

The Welsh government’s National School Categorisation System, introduced in 2014, places schools into one of four colour-coded support categories – green, yellow, amber, and red – to demonstrate the level of support they need.

Red-scoring schools require the most support, and green-scoring schools require the least.

Monmouth Comprehensive School and Abergavenny’s King Henry VIII School both attained ‘green’ ratings, an improvement on their ‘yellow’ ratings in 2018.

But in the south of the county, Caldicot School slipped from a ‘yellow’ to an ‘amber’ rating. Chepstow School retained its ‘amber’ status.

13 of Monmouthshire’s primary schools secured the highest ‘green’ rating – the same number as last year.

And five of those schools to achieve a ‘green’ rating this year have improved on last year’s results. They are Undy Primary School, Overmonnow Primary School, Cross Ash County Primary School, Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ffin, and Kymin View Primary School.

Llanfoist Fawr Primary School (pictured at top) was one of eight primary schools in the county to retain it's 'green' rating.

However, two schools to win ‘green’ ratings in 2018 have been downgraded two levels this year to the ‘amber’ rating.

They are Goytre Fawr Primary and St Mary’s RCP School.

Schools in the lower categories generally improved their results on last year. Both Raglan Primary and Our Lady and St Michael’s RC school secured ‘yellow’ ratings for 2019, and Magor VA Primary School climbed from a ‘red’ to an ‘amber’ rating.

The county’s sole special school, Mounton House, also improved its results. Last year the school was given an ‘amber’ rating, but this year it was upgraded to a ‘yellow’ rating.

Responding to the results, Cllr Richard John, Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Today’s results show that there are more Monmouthshire schools in the top ‘green’ category than ever before, including two of our four secondary schools, while just one school is categorised as ‘red’ and will continue to receive significant support.

"We are committed to ensuring that all schools in the county receive the most appropriate support and challenge to continue the drive to raise standards. 

"Monmouthshire schools and clusters continue to build their capacity to self-improve and are becoming more resilient.

"It is important that all educational professionals work together to ensure schools and educational settings receive the best possible support to enable the realisation of the new curriculum and the reform agenda.

"With our partners we will be providing and brokering tailored support for all schools and settings.

"We will continue to support agreed identified areas for improvement and will strive to share current best practice within and beyond the county.”