MORE schools than ever in Wales rank in the top level green and yellow categories in the Welsh Government’s annual colour-coded ratings which have been published today.

Nationwide a total of 85.3 per cent of primary schools and 68.3 per cent of secondary schools are now in the green and yellow categories.

There has been a small rise in the proportion of red schools – those identified as needing most support – by 0.4 percentage points in the primary sector and 2.9 percentage points in the secondary sector.

Introduced in 2014, the National School Categorisation System places schools into one of four colour-coded support categories to demonstrate the level of support they need - green, yellow, amber and red.

Schools are classed as ‘green’ (highly effective) ‘yellow’ (effective) ‘amber’ (in need of improvement) and ‘red’ category, needing the most improvement.

There are now more schools in the green and yellow categories compared to last year. Green schools require just four days of support and yellow schools receive up to 10 days of support.

This year sees a small change to the factors that decide a school’s category. Instead of just looking at areas such as performance, including GCSE results, there is now a much broader assessment that considers areas such as teacher assessments from other subjects, wellbeing and the quality of teaching and learning.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams said, “I’m pleased to see that more schools are now in the green and yellow categories, which continues with the upward trend we have seen over the past few years.

“These schools have a key role to play in supporting other schools to improve by sharing their expertise, skills and good practice.

“Last September, I announced that to further raise schools standards we would make changes to the school categorisation system following advice from the OECD.

“As well as taking into account a much broader range of factors about a school’s ability to improve, categorisation now places more of an emphasis on discussions about how the school could improve – leading to a tailored programme of support, challenge and intervention.

“I’m confident that the changes we have made to the categorisation process are in the best interests of pupils and will help ensure schools are given the right support at the right time.”

The Welsh Government believes the colour coding helps identify the schools that need the most help, support and guidance to improve.

In the Abergavenny area seven schools now rank in the top rated green band, with Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni and Llanfoist Fawr moving up from the yellow band in which they appeared last year where they join Gilwern Primary School, Goytre Fawr Primary, Llanvihangel Crucorney Primary School, Cantref Primary and Usk Primary School

In neighbouring Powys both Llanbedr and Llangattock Primary Schools rank in the top rated band with Llangynidr and Crickhowell CP School both in the yellow band.

Two Abergavenny schools now appear in the yellow band - Cross Ash County Primary School and Deri View Primary School, which dropped from the green band position it reached last year after a remarkable three year rise from amber.

Raglan Primary maintains its position in the amber band where it joins Our Lady and St Michael’s School, while Llantilio Pertholey drops a further band from amber to red. Last year Monmouthshire had no schools in the lowest red bracket.

Schools in the red band are deemed as being in need of greatest support.

They will get an immediate, tailored package of intervention.

In total, they receive 25 days of support a year.

Three of Monmouthshire’s secondary schools, King Henry VIII Comprehensive, Monmouth Comprehensive School and Caldicott appear in the yellow band, with Chepstow in amber. Meanwhile in neighbouring Blaenau Gwent Brynmawr Foundation School appears in the red band while Crickhowell remains firmly in the green band