LOCAL secondary schools have had mixed fortunes in the Welsh Assembly school banding results

Schools are placed into one of five bands according to a range of factors from GCSE results and school attendance to free school meal entitlement.

Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron has achieved the best locally rising from band four last year to band one this year. Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi has also improved its rankings rising from band three to band two as has Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn and Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi both rising from band four to band two.

Ysgol y Preseli has slipped a band, falling from two to three while Ysgol Bro Gwaun has remained the same at band four.

Education and Skills Minister Huw Lewis said: “Banding data is crucial in helping us see how our schools are doing, allowing us to direct support to those schools which need the most help to improve.

“If we’re to improve the performance of schools across the board in Wales we need to both challenge and support them. Challenge if they’re underperforming or coasting, but offer the support they need, financially and through sharing best practice, to deliver the best results for our young people.

“It’s encouraging that since Banding has been in place absenteeism has fallen and we’re seeing improvement in our exam performance."

Banding has been criticised by teaching unions as 'at worst an irritant and at best an amusement'.