Wales has a school standards crisis. Will plans to fix it actually work?
Wales is facing a significant education crisis as the nation continues to rank poorly in global PISA tests compared to its UK neighbors. Despite investments in new school infrastructure, the government is under pressure to improve academic standards.
Why it matters
The persistent underperformance of the Welsh education system raises questions about the effectiveness of devolved governance and long-term educational policy.
Wales has a school standards crisis. Will plans to fix it actually work?
By Bethan Lewis Wales family and education correspondent As you dip into the valley on the way into Merthyr Tydfil, a new earthy-toned building dominates the view.
It's the new site of Saint Carlo Acutis Catholic School. With its rooftop science garden, solar panels and floor-to-ceiling windows, it's an impressive sight.
Excited staff and 940 pupils moved into the £50m complex at the start of September. But they did so just as the Welsh education system was being painted in a less positive light, with Wales once again ranking the worst of UK nations in global tests.
"It casts doubt over a system we're proud of and children that we're proud of," says Sarah Hopkins, who's been a headteacher here for eight years. She says it doesn't tell the full story but admits "it is disappointing".
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