a day ago
Caerleon Comprehensive School praised in Estyn inspection
Caerleon Comprehensive School, located on Cold Bath Road, was given the positive feedback following the inspection in February 2025.
The secondary school has 1,468 pupils on roll, including 256 in the sixth form.
Inspectors found that "most pupils make at least suitable progress" and "some achieve strong progress due to high challenge and skilled teaching."
(Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School) The school was also praised for its "supportive, respectful, and well-managed" classrooms, and the "strong progress" made by pupils with additional learning needs.
The inspection report highlighted the wide range of academic and vocational subjects offered by the school, particularly in Key Stage 4 and the sixth form.
(Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School)
The school was commended for its collaboration with other schools to broaden sixth form provision, and for promoting diversity and Welsh culture through initiatives such as Cynefin days and Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen.
The report also praised the school's "strong safeguarding culture" and "effective pastoral care," as well as the "high engagement and maturity" shown by sixth formers, as well as spotlighting the contribution made by the school governors.
(Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School)
The headteacher, appointed in November 2022, was described as "strategic, compassionate, and impactful," with inspectors noting that her leadership has boosted staff morale and improved teaching quality.
However, the report did identify some areas for improvement, such as persistent absenteeism, limited numeracy development, and a lack in the use of Welsh outside lessons.
(Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School)
There was also calls for improvement on the quality of feedback and number of pupils making writing errors due to lack of "expectation to self-correct" and "inconsistencies in marking".
The school has been asked to improve the attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals, refine self-evaluation and improvement planning, and expand opportunities to develop numeracy and Welsh language skills across the curriculum.
(Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School)
Headteacher Lucy Purcell said: "I am very proud of all the students and staff at our school in relation to our very positive Estyn inspection report.
"I am particularly proud of the lessons the Estyn team watched where they observed students making 'strong and brisk progress' and of the 'strong culture of safeguarding' they recognised at our school." (Image: Caerleon Comprehensive School)
She continued: "Our dedicated and skilled governing body are also recognised through a 'spotlight' in the report and I am very grateful to those volunteers for all their hard work in supporting our school.
"We know there is still more work to be done on our priorities to ensure we are the very best we can be and we will continue to work towards these priorities in order to maximise the potential of all young people in our care."
