Local councillors have praised efforts to pull Monmouthshire’s education system out of ‘special measures’, following recognition of significant progress by national education watchdog Estyn.

The authority was placed in special measures in November 2012, along with six other Welsh councils, meaning nearly half of local authorities in Wales were deemed to be performing below expectations.

After four years of intense scrutiny from the regulator, improving schools in the area have been lauded for making ‘significant’ progress across two key indicators. Four other targets met ‘satisfactory’ standards.

Estyn’s original report, released in February 2013, made six recommendations to improve outcomes.

During the final inspection in November last year, the watchdog praised strong progress in safeguarding policies and child protection procedures, alongside improving data usage to understand the risks to young people.

The report said improved leadership and management networks lifted the progress of under-performing schools, adding involvement from the Educational Achievement Service was fundamental to the outcome.

Inspectors also heaped praise on improvements which met all key indicators, at all stages, since 2012. Progress made on attainment for pupils entitled to Free School Meals, which exceeded the national average, received particular plaudits.

Councillor Liz Hacket-Pain, cabinet member for children and young people, said, “Clearly the removal from special measures is an important step for education within Monmouthshire.

“I take great pleasure in acknowledging that we know our schools well, we intervene to support them appropriately, and that this has driven a continued improvement in standards across all of the key stages.”

Councillor Hacket-Pain also recognised “there is further work to be done” to further raise standards, in particular that of the area’s “most able students.”

Leader of the Council, Peter Fox, said, “I am very pleased to receive this letter from Estyn today marking our removal from special measures. I am grateful for the work of everybody who has contributed to this positive outcome.

The focus on improving outcomes for young people has been, and will continue to be, our absolute priority.”

Councillor Fox added leadership foundations were in place to make continued improvements.

But the Council’s Labour group leader, Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, who was “delighted” with the news, took aim at what he said was “years of mis-management” by the council’s Conservative administration.

He added, “It is a shame, with such good news, that the Conservative-controlled council seek to undermine this by cutting the budgets of Monmouthshire’s schools by around £1.5m.”