Pencoedtre High crucial meeting with teachers and parents

Parents were left in shock when, in February, an Estyn inspection placed one of Barry’s biggest schools, Pencoedtre High, in special measures after damning analysis of the leadership team.

Things have swiftly changed, with the old headteacher gone and new interim head Debra Thomas now running the school, bringing in a raft of changes which she explained to parents at a meeting on campus on Tuesday, April 25.

During the meeting Ms Thomas laid it on the line, saying the school had to change and she was not there to gloss over the issues it faced.

Ms Thomas made some stark admissions about the £22 million facility, which has more than 1,000 pupils on its roll.

She revealed morale among both teachers and pupils had hit rock bottom when the Estyn report was released, and told parents the school needed to strip it back to basics.

She revealed nearly a third of the children at the school need additional learning support.

Ms Debra Thomas is the interhim head tasked with taking the school out of special measures

A rough year for Pencoedtre High

The Estyn report said pupils produced relatively little written work, and bad behaviour had affected pupil progress.

One parent said her son counted 15 fights in one lunchtime at the school.

The Barry and District News previously reported the heart-breaking account of Evelyn Cook, 13, whose academic ability and confidence were described as “diminished” after the treatment she had received at Pencoedtre High.

Some parents at the meeting complained their children didn’t get any homework, weren’t allowed to bring textbooks home and, in one shocking allegation, that children were left in classes on their own.

Vale of Glamorgan Council said the school takes cases of bullying very seriously and Estyn inspectors acknowledged there was a ‘positive culture of supporting pupils’ well-being at the school.

Now the school is hitting back, saying they’re making changes, including completely restructuring the leadership team, bringing in experienced heads from other schools in the county, recruiting pastoral assistants for each year group and introducing a host of teacher training.

The new leadership team sat in on the meeting

Pencoedtre High was placed under special measures in February this year

What the school has done so far

Pencoedtre High is fighting back, publishing a post-inspection action plan that has been sent to all staff.

Pastoral assistants for each year group have been advertised.

In a new structure, assistant head teachers have each been given a year group, tasked with getting to know pupils and parents better.

So far the school has increased leadership capacity and is introducing teacher training in de-escalation and restorative approach crisis management methods.

The £22 million school was said to have a lack of leadership

‘Honestly, would you send your child to Pencoedtre High?’

The evening’s watermark came when a parent turned the question on Ms Thomas asking the interim head, “honest answer, would you send your children to Pencoedtre High?”

Ms Thomas - who spent 11 years turning round Cowbridge Comprehensive and seven years as assistant headteacher in Llantiw Major - admitted the workload of running two schools is a lot, but asked whether she would send her own children to Pencoedtre, the interim head gave a measured response.

“When I came to this school at Christmas I spoke to kids and there are some lovely pupils here,” said Ms Thomas. “I believe every single child in this school needs to be supported to improve.

“When I walk round Penceodtre High it is warm and orderly most of the time. I feel the staff are highly passionate about making changes here.

“I really like this school. If I was younger I would definitely contemplate becoming a head teacher here.”

Parents, what did you make of the meeting? Has Pencoedtre High improved since the damning Estyn report? Let us know at harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.