**Rural Carmarthenshire School Placed in Special Measures Following Estyn Inspection**
A small rural school in Carmarthenshire, which currently has only around 20 pupils on its roll, has been designated for special measures by education inspectors. The Welsh Government’s education body, Estyn, visited Ysgol y Fro in Llangyndeyrn, uncovering a number of areas requiring substantial improvement, despite also recognising some strengths in the school’s environment and ethos.
The inspection identified a safeguarding concern and pointed to weaknesses in the governing body’s performance, areas upon which the school and Carmarthenshire Council have both agreed urgent action is needed. The Estyn report outlined five key recommendations to remedy the school’s shortcomings and concluded that the involvement of Her Majesty’s chief inspector was necessary to ensure meaningful progress.
Ysgol y Fro is a Welsh-medium school located in Llangyndeyrn, southeast of Carmarthen. According to Estyn’s findings, it currently has 21 pupils, with 15 of those of statutory school age. Inspectors noted that school leadership has suffered from instability for quite some time, although they credited the acting headteacher — appointed last September — with fostering a welcoming and distinctive Welsh ethos. Pupils were seen to play and learn contentedly together in an inclusive environment.
Nevertheless, the inspectors observed that while the majority of children were making steady headway, teachers’ expectations of the pupils’ achievements have not been set high enough overall. In particular, the report drew attention to the lack of sufficient challenge offered to pupils, as well as to lesson activities sometimes failing to match pupils’ ages and developmental stages.
The report also highlighted a positive side, stating that teaching staff have maintained consistent standards concerning pupil behaviour, and that many pupils display constructive attitudes towards learning. A new curriculum is currently being developed in the school, Estyn stated, intended to better support pupil progression with engaging activities. However, inspectors observed that, across the board, learners were not developing their writing skills as well as they should be.
The school’s governing body, while praised for supporting the acting head, was nevertheless criticised for not taking a purposeful enough approach to their governance duties. In particular, the report noted insufficient collaboration with school leaders to oversee and evaluate teaching and learning standards. Additionally, governors came under scrutiny for failing to manage the school’s finances appropriately. A separate council report noted that Ysgol y Fro could be running with a forecast deficit of around £100,000. It is worth noting that this financial picture is not unique; a number of other small schools in Carmarthenshire are facing significant budgetary pressures, with several also lacking permanent headteachers.
To address the issues raised, Estyn recommended that the school and council should focus on: resolving the identified safeguarding issue, ensuring consistent and lasting leadership, improving self-evaluation and forward planning practices, better tailoring educational activities to support a wider range of learning, and fostering higher expectations among teachers to help pupils reach their full potential.
A spokesperson for Carmarthenshire Council commented on the situation, stating, “The local authority accepts the findings of the inspection and is supporting the school with its post-inspection action plan.” Estyn will be closely monitoring Ysgol y Fro’s progress in addressing these recommendations, with follow-up visits planned every four to six months.
This development shines a spotlight on the particular challenges faced by small, rural schools throughout Wales, including difficulties with staff recruitment and retention, as well as financial sustainability. Although Ysgol y Fro’s situation is concerning, both the education authority and school leaders appear determined to work collaboratively to deliver the necessary improvements, aiming to secure a brighter, more stable future for the pupils of this close-knit school.
As always, the progress of these changes will be closely observed by the local community, with hopes that robust support and clear action will help Ysgol y Fro restore confidence in its leadership and educational standards.