OVERALL education standards in Powys are good and some areas are the best in Wales according to an Estyn inspection of the authority.
Powys is one of the first rural Welsh local education authorities to be inspected under Estyn’s new framework after Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff.
Inspectors said in 2010 the county’s outcomes for national curriculum assessments were similar to the Wales average in key stages 1 and 2 with performance at key stage 3 the best in Wales and many of the main indicators at key stage 4 among the best.
The report, which also looked at youth provision, said standards of wellbeing were generally good and that the authority had a wide range of initiatives and strategies to promote participation in and enjoyment of learning.
Overall, the standards of engagement by young people in education were good and the take up youth service was a healthy 25 per cent of the youth population.
The report on the quality of the authority’s support for children and young people in Powys found the council’s overall performance was ‘adequate’.
Cabinet member for schools, Councillor Stephen Hayes welcomed the report and said it highlighted the authority’s many strengths as well as identifying areas for future improvement.
“The county is committed to providing the best possible education outcomes for our young learners and the Estyn report will help us shape future service delivery to achieve our ambitions,” he said.
“We welcome the report and accept its recommendations and will be working with Estyn and our partners to develop an action plan to address areas identified for improvement.
“Like many school reports it says we could do better and we will. Work is already underway to strengthen key areas.
"Targets to address school deficits, surplus places and provide fit for purpose schools have already been agreed as part of the council's Powys Change Plan 2011-2014.
“We will be looking at ways to strengthen the challenge to schools particularly in evaluating leadership and management so that standards can improve quickly.
"We will also be looking at more effective action to reduce school deficits and maintaining the momentum of our school modernisation initiative.”
Following the inspection the local authority is required to produce an action plan to address the recommendations which Estyn will monitor in 12 months time.
The full report can be accessed on the Estyn website at www.estyn.gov.uk