Top marks for education in Ceredigion, says Estyn

The standard of schools in Ceredigion has been classed as excellent by inspectors, the only council in Wales to receive the highest rating.

Assessors highlighted attendance rates, leadership and a pupil tracker system which checks student progress.

Attendance rates in both primary and secondary education were the best in Wales.

But while Ceredigion was praised, six local education authorities remain in special measures due to poor standards.

Ceredigion was the last council in Wales to be examined by inspection body Estyn in the latest round of assessments.

Estyn said the authority's good practice placed it within the top five in Wales in all the key areas that were considered.

All pupils who left school in the past three years achieved at least one recognised qualification.

Inspectors also praised the county's electronic pupil tracking system - a database of all students which monitors performance and allows teachers to pick up and act on problem areas.

Estyn said the authority successfully met the requirements of pupils with additional needs and was excellent at promoting social inclusion and pupil wellbeing.

Its prospects for improvement were also excellent, inspectors said, because it had strong leadership.

Hag Harries, Ceredigion's cabinet member for learning services, said he felt a great sense of pride at the achievement.

"Councillors and staff of Ceredigion have worked tirelessly for several years to achieve this high standard of service," he said.

"A particularly pleasing factor for me is that we are able to demonstrate high levels of performance in all phases of education."

But while Ceredigion stands out as the only local education authority to hold an excellent rating, six of Wales' other authorities remain in special measures due to poor standards.

Pembrokeshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Anglesey, Monmouthshire and Merthyr Tydfil were all rated unsatisfactory following their latest inspections.

They are all being regularly monitored by Estyn after inspectors found they needed significant improvement.