SHIRENEWTON Primary School is one of just three schools in Monmouthshire that has been grouped into the top "green" band in a new grading structure.

Schools in Wales have now been assessed according to their performance data – stretching back three years – and organised by colour to show how they are performing. This system replaces the controversial previous system, that focused mainly on socio-economic

circumstances.

This system also includes primaries as well as secondaries for the first time.

Split into green, yellow, amber and red – with green being the best and red the worst – the colour structure defines the effectiveness of each school and identifies key aspects of performance.

The criteria also reveals a greater emphasis on the achievement of pupils eligible for free school meals than previously – a measure of poverty and one of the Welsh Government's education priorities.

Acting headteacher at Shirenewton Primary School, Mrs Jill Mitchell, said of the new categorisation: "We are really pleased that all the hard work of the staff, pupils and governors has been recognised in the school being placed in the top category.

"As a self improving school, we are constantly challenging ourselves to be the best we can be."

Of the 1,332 Welsh primary schools assessed, 206 have been put in the green support category and 58 have been put in the red support

category.

Of Wales' 211 secondary schools, 30 have been put in the green support category and 23 are in the red band.

In Monmouthshire, only three schools were identified as sustaining a high level of achievement: Shirenewton Primary School, Gilwern County Primary School, and Goytre Fawr Primary School.

Most of the secondaries, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth, fall in the yellow band of effective outcomes with self-improving aspects of performance and good levels of achievement.

Primaries in this band include Cross Ash, Osbaston, Raglan, Trellech, Usk, Deri View, The Dell and Rogiet, and can take comfort in the fact they have been identified as securing good levels of outcomes in key indicators.

Those that fall into the amber category are Kymin View, Llandogo, Overmonnow, St Mary's RC, Thornwell, Dewstow, Castle Park and Archbishop Rowan Williams CIW School. These schools are in need of improvement and have been judged to not be improving quickly enough.

They will receive a tailored time-limited challenge and intervention and short term support.

Only Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ffin primary, the Welsh medium school in Sandy Lane in Caldicot falls into the red band as needing the greatest improvement, will receive intensive support and may be subject to intervention by the local education authority.

Education Minister Huw Lewis said: "These categorisation results provide us with some incredibly useful information about how schools across Wales are performing.

"They will also enable us, in partnership with local authorities and consortia, to focus support and resources on those schools that need it most.

"My focus on driving up performance for pupils from deprived backgrounds is at the heart of categorisation, which is why no secondary school can achieve the highest green category unless they are also delivering for those pupils eligible for free school meals.

"Ultimately this is about driving up standards and performance in all Welsh schools and for all Welsh pupils."

The Welsh Government has promised a bespoke programme of support, challenge and intervention for schools across Wales based on their given category.