Flintshire's entire education authority has been placed into the highest level of Estyn monitoring after inspectors raised significant concerns about safeguarding, leadership and school finances.
Since the last inspection in 2022, the majority of secondary schools in Flintshire have been placed in Estyn follow-up, and almost half of the authority's schools are in deficit or close to deficit, the watchdog said.
Inspectors detail safeguarding and leadership failings
Inspectors detailed failings in safeguarding and leadership. School deficits are now so bad that the situation threatens the authority's financial sustainability as a whole, inspectors warned.
The authority's approach to this "has had limited impact in preventing schools from moving into deficit or supporting them to recover," the report warns. On top of this, over the last four years, 10 of Flintshire's 11 secondary schools have been inspected, with two being put into special measures, two judged to need significant improvement, and two needing Estyn reviews.
Leadership and self-evaluation are also not working as well as they should, Estyn added, as it labelled Flintshire LEA as "causing significant concern." There are only two outcomes for a local education authority Estyn inspection - not in follow-up, or causing significant concern, the watchdog confirmed.
Financial sustainability at risk
On deficits, the report does not give a figure but warns: "The authority views the financial viability of schools as its highest corporate risk. With almost half of schools in deficit and many others close to that position, this issue has the potential to affect the authority's overall financial sustainability."
"Although addressing this is a priority, the authority's approach has had limited impact in preventing schools from moving into deficit or supporting them to recover. This heightens the significance of this issue."
Nigel Williams MS, Reform Party member of the Senedd for Fflint Wrecsam, demanded "urgent action." He said that "complete transparency, and root-and-branch accountability" was needed following Estyn's "damning assessment" of Flintshire's education services.
Mr Williams, who grew up locally and is a former pupil of Flint High School, which was recently placed into special measures, said: "This is not just an administrative failure; it is a systemic betrayal of pupils, parents, and hardworking teachers across Flintshire."
"As someone who grew up in Flintshire and went to Flint High School, seeing our schools in this state is deeply personal.
"This is not an isolated problem. When six out of 10 inspected secondary schools require formal follow-up, the rot runs straight to the core of the local authority. For years, councils and the Welsh Government have hidden behind glossy self-evaluations and endless committees while standards fell, school deficits mounted, and neurodiverse children were left without timely support.
"Reform's stance is straightforward: public services must deliver real results, not warm words and bureaucratic excuses. Parents deserve to know their children are safe, teachers deserve the leadership and backing to maintain discipline, and pupils deserve a quality education. We will not let this report be swept under the carpet."
Mr Williams said he will be raising the findings in the Senedd. He has also written to Flintshire's Chief Executive Neal Cockerton demanding a timetable for action to improve education in the county and for Flintshire High specifically.
Strengths acknowledged
On a more positive note, Estyn's report also says: "Flintshire's education services are led by committed senior officers who have maintained a strong focus on supporting schools and vulnerable learners during a period of considerable financial and organisational pressure."
"Schools and partners value officers' accessibility, professionalism and willingness to work constructively with them." The authority has also made "purposeful changes" to strengthen its work in recent years, including establishing its own school improvement service, expanding specialist provision, and developing wider approaches to inclusion and belonging.
"These developments are beginning to improve aspects of provision and support. The new school improvement service is strengthening relationships with schools and provides regular advice and challenge," the report adds.
Inspectors detail how the authority also has a strong commitment to inclusion. Specialist and outreach services provide valued support for pupils with additional learning needs, including many neurodivergent learners, although provision for neurodivergent Welsh-speaking pupils needs improvement.
There is also a broad range of work to support learners affected by poverty, including early years, youth, family engagement, and community-based provision, but measures to support attainment of less well-off children need strengthening.
Council responds
Responding to the inspection report, Flintshire County Council Chief Executive Neal Cockerton said: "The Estyn report on the council's education service specifically makes five recommendations, acknowledges the pressurised environment the service is working in and the steps being taken to continue to deliver high quality education services to our schools.
"The five recommendations set out in the report by Estyn have already started to be built upon and the areas strengthened. I, and officers in the service, take seriously the matters raised in the report and are fully committed to taking action to address them as we work closely with Estyn.
"Staff within both services have and continue to work incredibly hard and this has been noted within both reports. I take this opportunity to thank them for the work they continue to carry out with our children and young people."
Councillor Dave Hughes, Council Leader, said: "While the report identifies areas where we need to improve, it also recognises the many strengths within the service which give us a solid foundation on which to build.
"We are committed to learning from these findings and driving forward the changes needed."
The council said it will draw up an action plan setting out how it will address inspectors' recommendations. Estyn will monitor progress during regular follow-up visits.
The five recommendations Estyn makes are:
- Address the safeguarding concerns identified during the inspection at both corporate and service level
- Strengthen strategic planning to address risks posed by school deficits and improve the financial sustainability of schools
- Improve effectiveness of scrutiny so that elected members focus consistently on strategic risks, learner outcomes and the long-term improvement of education services
- Strengthen strategic leadership and improve the quality and consistency of self-evaluation and improvement planning
- Strengthen collaborative working across portfolio and service areas to ensure more effective support and challenge for schools
