Christ College at forefront of new inspections

Christ College Brecon has become the first independent school in Wales to be inspected under new rules by Estyn - the independent inspectorate for education and training in Wales. The inspection held in November has resulted in a very positive report which has been welcomed by the school’s headmaster, Phillip Jones.

The school - voted by The Times as one of the best value for money independent schools in the UK – volunteered to be the first to be inspected in Wales under the new rules.

Christ College has worked alongside Estyn, the Wales office of the government’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training, in developing the new-style inspections for independent schools.

While independent schools have been inspected by Estyn in the past, the new inspections go much further, covering the same areas as inspections in state schools, but also looking at specialist curriculum areas, as well as standards of accommodation and care in schools which offer boarding. The reports which result will also be made public for the first time.

"We are very pleased to be at the forefront of the development of inspections for independent schools," said Phillip Jones, Headmaster at Christ College. "This is an important step for schools such as ours to take to show that we are open and accountable, and to be able to demonstrate the quality of the results we obtain in a way that can be compared with all other schools.

“As expected we learned a lot from the 18 inspectors who visited the school and we are pleased at the high grades awarded us. I am sure that the inspectors, many of whom visited an independent school for the first time, will also have learned much of the high quality of education in independent schools in Wales.”

Estyn’s role in Wales is to raise the standards and quality of education and training through inspection and advice, and to give independent advice to inform the Welsh Assembly Government's formulation and evaluation of education and training policy. The full report is accessible at: www.estyn.gov.uk