School Removed from Needs Improvement List After Progress
Caldicot School in Monmouthshire, which previously faced significant challenges including teacher strikes over classroom violence, has been removed from the list of schools requiring substantial improvement. This change follows leadership under a head teacher once described as a "head from hell."
The school had been struggling with poor behaviour and was instructed to implement changes after an Estyn inspection in 2024. The most recent monitoring visit by Estyn confirmed the school had made "sufficient progress" regarding the recommendations provided.
Head teacher Alun Ebenezer expressed relief at the development, emphasizing that the progress was the result of a collective effort involving staff, pupils, parents, and the local authority.
Background of Challenges and Leadership Changes
In 2023, Caldicot School experienced strike action by teachers who alleged that the previous leadership failed to address verbal abuse and physical violence directed at staff and pupils. The Estyn inspection in October 2024 occurred shortly after Alun Ebenezer was appointed acting head. Ebenezer had previously been labeled the "head from hell" by the Daily Star newspaper.
The inspection identified issues related to safeguarding, attendance, support for pupils with weaker skills, strategic leadership, and provision for additional learning needs. Estyn issued five recommendations and added the school, which serves approximately 1,300 pupils, to the list of establishments requiring improvement.
Leadership Response and Measures Implemented
In response to the inspection, Ebenezer implemented strict measures including a crackdown on uniform standards, which involved sending girls home if their skirts were deemed "too short." He also introduced Saturday morning detentions and began contacting parents of pupils who misbehaved to involve them in addressing issues.
Ebenezer clarified that his intention was not to exert control but to ensure adherence to rules and the welfare of all students and staff.
"Strict isn't nasty, right? Strict is just putting in place boundaries and high expectations," he said.
"Whilst it seems strict and, I guess, severe to begin with - actually it is to make everyone feel safe and happy," he added.
He reported that standards have improved, pupils now take "more pride in the school," and the environment has become "happier."
Ebenezer aims to build on these improvements to secure a position among the top 20 schools in the country. He also plans to maintain standards while expanding the co-curricular offerings, including clubs, societies, trips, and other opportunities, alongside ongoing enhancements in teaching and learning.
"I believe so passionately in what we've done and what we're doing," he stated.
Inspection Findings and Ongoing Improvements
Estyn's report noted that a safeguarding concern identified during the previous inspection had been "fully addressed." Meanwhile, Monmouthshire County Council is managing a health and safety issue at the school.
Inspectors observed that teachers have received support to improve student progress, and initiatives to enhance pupils' skills have commenced. Improvements were noted in reading, writing, and numeracy; however, some "shortcomings in teaching" led to limited progress for pupils in a minority of cases.
Overall attendance showed a slight improvement in the 2024-2025 academic year compared to the previous year, although the rate of improvement was below that of similar schools. The report highlighted a decline in attendance among pupils eligible for free school meals over the past three years, but unverified school data suggested an opposite trend for the current academic year.
The school's specialist resource base, which supports pupils with additional learning needs, has been reorganised to better serve those with more complex and physical needs.
Senior staff, including the head teacher, regularly check pupils' uniforms upon arrival to ensure compliance with the new standards.
