One year ago, we looked at the categorisation of schools. Then, there wasn't much good news. Now, there is. But it could be better.
A year ago, Ysgol Brynhyfryd slipped from Amber to Red. Now, under its new management, it's climbed two categories, leapfrogging Amber to Yellow.
Remember, the category in which a school sits corresponds to the support it needs given the expected attainment and the school's socio-economic background. So, Brynhyfrud still does well (though it could do better) and, with free school meals representing a slightly diminished 6.7 per cent, the catchment remains one of the best. Only two out of 31 schools better Brynhyfryd in terms of free meals.
It's the only school to have shifted up by two categories. Has it reached its peak or will it go further? Had there been a categorisation system 15, even 10 years ago, Brynhyfryd would have easily been Green. Will it ever reach those heights again? I must say we're sceptical.
The number of schools in the former Clwyd LEA categorised as Red has remained at seven, or 22 per cent. Brynhyfruyd & Rhosnesni leave red while St David's & St Richard Gwyn join the ignominy. Greens increase from four to seven.
Denbighshire gets its first Green but this isn't Brynhyfryd but Dinas Brân, Llangollen. Denbigh High, steady at Yellow over the past two assessments, falls to Amber, which is where this blog would assess the school's likely performance. Rhyl High climbs out of Amber to Yellow, quite an achievement alongside Brynhyfryd, especially given the state of free school meals (31.2 per cent at Rhyl, 24.4 per cent higher than Brynhyfryd). Otherwise, it's business as usual at the other Clwyd schools. This includes rival Ysgol Glan Clwyd, which remains steady at Yellow.
Finally, we've discovered that the Brigidine Coinvent School (St Brigid's) near Denbigh, though not mentioned in the list of Denbighshire's secondaries (it's a middle school) has come out as Yellow (free school meals are 6.5 per cent). The Brigidine isn't that hot a school, to be honest, and it further strengthens the fact that Brynhyfryd should aspire to jump it.
Primary Schools
It seems to be business as usual, too, for Rhguthun/Ruthin's three primaries. Ysgol Borthyn is a creditable Yellow (free school meals = 22.6 per cent).
Ysgolion Rhos Street a Phenbarras both come in as Green, as before. This needs to be translated into the secondary sector.
A year ago, Ysgol Brynhyfryd slipped from Amber to Red. Now, under its new management, it's climbed two categories, leapfrogging Amber to Yellow.
It's the only school to have shifted up by two categories. Has it reached its peak or will it go further? Had there been a categorisation system 15, even 10 years ago, Brynhyfryd would have easily been Green. Will it ever reach those heights again? I must say we're sceptical.
The number of schools in the former Clwyd LEA categorised as Red has remained at seven, or 22 per cent. Brynhyfruyd & Rhosnesni leave red while St David's & St Richard Gwyn join the ignominy. Greens increase from four to seven.
Denbighshire gets its first Green but this isn't Brynhyfryd but Dinas Brân, Llangollen. Denbigh High, steady at Yellow over the past two assessments, falls to Amber, which is where this blog would assess the school's likely performance. Rhyl High climbs out of Amber to Yellow, quite an achievement alongside Brynhyfryd, especially given the state of free school meals (31.2 per cent at Rhyl, 24.4 per cent higher than Brynhyfryd). Otherwise, it's business as usual at the other Clwyd schools. This includes rival Ysgol Glan Clwyd, which remains steady at Yellow.
Finally, we've discovered that the Brigidine Coinvent School (St Brigid's) near Denbigh, though not mentioned in the list of Denbighshire's secondaries (it's a middle school) has come out as Yellow (free school meals are 6.5 per cent). The Brigidine isn't that hot a school, to be honest, and it further strengthens the fact that Brynhyfryd should aspire to jump it.
Primary Schools
It seems to be business as usual, too, for Rhguthun/Ruthin's three primaries. Ysgol Borthyn is a creditable Yellow (free school meals = 22.6 per cent).
Ysgolion Rhos Street a Phenbarras both come in as Green, as before. This needs to be translated into the secondary sector.