Powys County Council has pledged to strengthen its education services after a damning Estyn inspection found it was failing to provide sufficient support for schools and learners.

The education watchdog said the authority was "causing significant concern" and issued a series of recommendations to secure improvements, including tackling urgent school site security issues, strengthening leadership, and improving support for schools and pupils with additional learning needs (ALN).

Estyn said the council’s leadership at all levels had been “too variable” and criticised its school improvement teams for focusing too heavily on paperwork rather than working directly with headteachers to raise standards. It also highlighted concerns over post-16 education in the county, which it said was financially unsustainable and failed to ensure equal access for all learners.

The report is the latest in a series of critical assessments of education in Powys, following poor inspection results for several primary and secondary schools in recent years. Estyn said primary schools had generally performed better but noted that an above-average number still required follow-up action. It also warned that repeated changes in leadership had weakened the council’s ability to plan effectively, particularly in ALN services.

Council leader, Liberal Democrat Cllr James Gibson-Watt, said the authority accepted the findings and would develop an action plan to address them.

“We are committed to delivering exceptional education services that support our schools so that they can give our young people the best foundation for their future,” he said.

“Despite the need for improvement, Estyn has recognised a number of positive areas, such as our work to strengthen relationships and trust with our schools and our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

“By working with our schools and their governing bodies, I’m confident that we will deliver the necessary improvements.”

Estyn will monitor the council’s progress through a series of follow-up visits.

James Evans, Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, said the report was a damning verdict on the Liberal Democrat-Labour administration running the council and called for resignations.

“The blame for these failures, along with the growing school budget deficits, lies firmly with the Lib Dem/Labour-run administration,” he said.

“Governors, heads and teaching staff are not getting the support and strategic direction needed from the cabinet. Site safety is a mess, and their ‘greener, fairer Powys’ does not include education.

“Cllr Pete Roberts and Cllr James Gibson-Watt should accept responsibility for the failures in education across Powys and resign immediately.”

Powys County Council’s Conservative group leader, Cllr Aled Davies, said it was “deeply sad and frustrating” to read the report.

“It doesn’t make good reading,” he said.

“Though it contains no surprises for close observers.

“It has been clear that the Liberal Democrat/Labour-run council has not prioritised education.

“Leadership in our schools is overly focused on trying to balance the inadequate budget through staff redundancies and restructures, when their focus should be on standards.”

He added he has called for an urgent council meeting to “get a grip and delivery the improvements that are required.”

Calls have since been made for the sacking of Liberal Democrat cabinet member for education, Cllr Pete Roberts, by opposition councillors.

At a council meeting on March 25, councillors agreed to escalate education onto the authority’s strategic risk register, ensuring senior officials closely monitor improvement efforts.

Cllr David Thomas, the cabinet member for finance, told the meeting: “If standards in school leadership and teaching and learning decline in Powys schools, and learners underperform compared to learners in similar schools in Wales, then educational outcomes in Powys will be below local and national expected standards, leading to reduced opportunities for our learners, decreased parent/carer and stakeholder satisfaction, and potential reputational damage.”

One of Estyn’s key concerns was school site security, with an above-average number of schools identified as having safety issues. While the council had acknowledged the risks, the report found that action to address them was often delayed until formally raised by inspectors.

The watchdog also warned that while the council understood school finances well and had taken steps to reduce in-year deficits, it had not yet made sufficient progress in securing long-term financial sustainability for schools.

Despite the criticisms, Estyn acknowledged some strengths, including the council’s early years provision, its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, and improvements in relationships with schools.

The council is now expected to present an action plan outlining how it will address the key areas for improvement in the coming months.