Teaching unions have branded Wales' school banding system a 'failure', arguing it relies on 'arbitrary and misleading' figures. The system, introduced by the Welsh government, places secondary schools into five bands based on factors including GCSE performance.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews defended the system, stating it provides 'robust data' that gives parents and the government a 'clear picture' of school performance. However, unions and opposition parties have criticised the approach, pointing to schools like Ysgol Tryfan in Bangor, which dropped from Band 1 to Band 4 in a year.
NUT Cymru secretary David Evans said the union had warned the system would be 'divisive' and 'give a misleading picture of performance to parents'. He added: 'We know this system has failed students and teachers in Wales over the past 12 months.' An UCAC spokesperson called for the system to be reconsidered entirely.
Conservative shadow minister Angela Burns AM described the bands as 'vague, confusing and unhelpful', while Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas AM said the system was 'not credible'. Welsh Liberal Democrat Aled Roberts expressed concern that parents are confused by changes that do not reflect actual results.
Despite the criticism, some local councils welcomed the latest banding data. In Neath Port Talbot, six out of 11 secondary schools were placed in Band 1, with none in the lowest bands. Council leader Ali Thomas attributed this to 'outstanding leadership and dedication of staff'.
