Three local schools - King Henry VIII comprehensive and Llanfair Kilgeddin and Llanvihangel primary schools - are among six in Monmouthshire named in a report as being of 'particular concern' or 'critical concern' to the Education Achievement Service (EAS).

The report 'Education in Monmouthshire 2013 and Beyond' was presented to members of Monmouthshire County Council by Chief Officer for Children and Young People Sarah McGuinness.

With the task of improving standards of education across South-East Wales, the EAS is working with literacy, numeracy and Foundation Phase services to help schools address under-performance in identified areas.

The service monitors all schools in Gwent and places them into categories, similar to the Welsh Government's banding scheme.

These start with routine support and monitoring; 'specific intervention' for minor issues and 'sustained intervention' for significant issues.

In the two most serious categories schools are placed under 'intensive intervention' for particular concerns or 'critical intervention' for critical concern.

Currently almost half Monmouthshire schools are judged to need routine support or specific intervention to address minor issues and twelve to need sustained intervention.

The six requiring intensive or critical intervention - King Henry VIII, Chepstow Comprehensive, Castle Park, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Llanvihangel and Mounton House - have an intervention plan drawn up by the school, EAS, LA officers and agreed with the Chief Officer for Education.

The intervention model is similar, but separate, to one that the inspectorate Estyn follows.

Schools are accessed on leadership, academic performance, safeguarding, attendance and inspection outcomes. Secondary schools have an additional category determined by Welsh Government school banding.

According to the report, when it comes to 'leadership', while the majority of schools are judged to be good or better, one primary school is receiving 'critical' support, five 'intensive' support and ten 'sustained' support to address significant issues.

In academic performance the EAS considers standards in over half the schools to be good or better - with no schools needing 'critical' support.

Under 'safeguarding' all schools except one have been identified as only requiring routine support.

And, on 'attendance' Monmouthshire is ranked second in Wales, with 21 schools good or better and only two requiring intervention to address 'significant issues'.

Mrs McGuinness' report said a 'transparent process' was being developed to share information across all schools, governing bodies and the council, identifying schools by name and cluster.

If targets are met, no school will need intensive or critical support by September 2015.

"The Education Achievement Service is Monmouthshire's chosen School Improvement partner," she said.

"As part of their work the EAS supports schools across all aspects of school improvement. Where schools have a headteacher new to the school and the Authority, they can benefit from specific professional support known as an Intervention Plan.

"Any intervention or support is the result of a partnership process between the school, the local authority and the EAS.

"This is a positive, timely, stepped and strategic process that targets aspects of school development such as attendance, leadership and data analysis amongst other things.

"The depth of our knowledge about all our schools now ensures that when it comes to school improvement, the local authority and the EAS can support schools in a bespoke fashion. Any school across the South East Wales Consortium is able to benefit from an Intervention Plan or tailored support specific to their development at any time.

"No schools in Monmouthshire have urgent intervention plans.

"Intervention Plans are supportive, strategic and respond to school specific requirements. Such support is therefore far from urgent. It is tailored and developed in collaboration with schools, the local authority and the EAS."