TORFAEN'S Executive Member for Education Cllr David Yeowell has branded the results of the latest school categorisation as "disappointing."

Just one secondary school in Torfaen is not in the red or amber banding in the latest rankings released by the Welsh Government.

The 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.

St Albans RC High School is rated as green for the second year running, meaning it is seen as “highly effective,” and has “a track record of raising standards and the capacity to support other schools to do better.”

Green schools will receive up to four days of support a year.

READ MORE:

Abersychan Comprehensive and West Monmouth School remain in the amber category, meaning they require up to 15 days support, while Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw - which is in special measures - has slipped in to the red category.

Croesyceiliog School is also in the red category.

Cwmbran High School, also in special measures, remains in the red banding, meaning it is “in need of greatest improvement” and requires up to 25 days support.

Cllr Yeowell said: "We support categorisation to help improve school performance and pupil attainment.

"Categorisation tells a pleasing and familiar story in our primary schools, but we are disappointed that three secondary schools are now categorised as red and requiring the highest level of support.

"Categorisation helps the Education Achievement Service (EAS) focus their support and it will also help the council decide where resources are needed most in a timely, targeted way.

"Working with the EAS, we have started addressing the support for the schools that need it most and these schools will be monitored closely to secure the improvement we expect."

Things look more positive in the primary sector, with 13 primary schools in Torfaen in the green category, and another 11 in yellow.

Of these, Ponthir Church in Wales school climbed from the red banding last year up to yellow in this year’s categorisation, and Greenmeadow Primary School in Cwmbran has risen from amber to yellow.

Ysgol Bryn Onnen in Garndiffaith is again ranked in the amber category, while Ysgol Panteg has fallen from the yellow banding down to red.

Here are the bandings for Torfaen schools in full:

Green:

Primary Schools: Llanyrafon Primary School, Maendy Junior and Infants, Pontnewydd Primary and Nursery, George Street Primary School, Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran Primary, Garnteg Primary, Woodlands Community Primary School, New Inn Primary School, Penygarn Community Primary School, Coed Eva Primary School, Croesyceiliog Primary School, Cwmbran R.C. Jnr. and Infts, and St. Davids Cwmbran R.C. School.

Secondary School: St Albans RC High School.

Special School: Crownbridge Special School.

Yellow:

Primary Schools: Llantarnam Community Primary School, Greenmeadow Primary, Cwmffrwdoer Primary, Griffithstown Primary School, Blenheim Road Community Primary School, Nant Celyn Primary School, Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School, Henllys Church in Wales, Padre Pio RC Primary School, and Ponthir Church in Wales School.

Amber:

Primary School: Ysgol Bryn Onnen.

Secondary Schools: Abersychan Comprehensive and West Monmouth School.

Red:

Primary School: Ysgol Panteg.

Secondary Schools: Croesyceiliog School, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, and Cwmbran High School.