Pupils at Stanwell School, Penarth, celebrate their NACE Cymru Challenge Award
A SCHOOL in Penarth has been given the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) Cymru Challenge Award for outstanding performances from both its pupils and staff.
Stanwell School, a comprehensive with 1,800 pupils aged between 11 and 18, has achieved exceptional ratings in the most recent Estyn reports. It has been judged ‘excellent’ for both its current performance and potential for improvement due to its ‘clear vision’ and ‘resolute focus on excellence’.
The award honours schools that challenge students to perform to the best of their ability. The school has had great success with exam results of late, particularly at A Level, with students achieving especially high grades in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and French. Stanwell also had six students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge in 2015.
NACE Chief Executive Hilary Lowe said: ‘Stanwell School has worked hard to win the NACE Cymru Challenge Award status. It has shown itself to be committed to developing a school and providing an education where all pupils are challenged to be the best they can be.’
The award is given to recognise the longstanding work of the school in supporting its More Able and Talented (MAT) students. NACE Cymru works closely with the Welsh government in order to identify and provide for MAT students, who have historically been underserved by the education system.
Ms Lowe says that additionally, there is evidence that catering to the needs of the most able pupils benefits the entire student body through the creation of a culture of ‘challenge for all’.
Stanwell is the 42nd school in Wales to be granted the prestigious award.
