Christ the Word School, Rhyl

Christ the Word School is an English-medium school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

It had 809 pupils in the 2025/26 school census.

37% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (three-year average).

Of its pupils, 5% have additional learning needs (27% in 2020/21); 24% are learning English as an additional language; and 36% are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Year groups range from 33 pupils (Reception) to 100 (Year 10).

Estyn's report on its May 2022 inspection summarises Christ the Word School like this:

"Staff at Christ the Word Catholic School are committed to creating a caring environment underpinned by its Catholic values. They have worked hard to help pupils settle back into school life following periods of lockdown. Despite this commitment, leaders are not proactive enough in addressing issues related to the well-being and safeguarding of pupils and arrangements to keep pupils safe need to be strengthened. Many pupils are happy to be at school and move between lessons calmly, they are polite and courteous to visitors and are keen to share their views. They begin to explore their spiritual beliefs and develop empathy, respect and compassion for others."

"Leaders have not done enough to ensure that high quality teaching and learning are at the heart of the school’s work, and they do not have a strategic overview and vision that focuses sufficiently on pupils' learning and progress. Across the school, teaching is not effective enough in challenging pupils to do their best and develop as enthusiastic, inquisitive learners. As a result, many pupils across the age range do not make sufficient progress in developing their knowledge, skills and understanding. Teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve are too low and they often plan tasks that keep pupils busy but do not support their learning. The evaluation of classroom provision has not been effective."

"Leaders do not focus closely enough on the impact of provision on pupils’ learning and as a result they have an overly positive view of the school’s work. Overall, leaders have not been effective enough in improving important aspects of the school’s work, such as the quality of classroom provision and its impact on pupil progress. Leaders do not have a strategic approach to curriculum design and delivery and therefore pupils are not provided with a suitable depth and breadth of learning experiences. Furthermore, the planning for the progressive development of pupils’ skills is not cohesive or effective enough. As a result, pupils do not get sufficient opportunities to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills throughout the school."

Estyn made 5 recommendations: (1) Strengthen safeguarding arrangements and address the concerns identified during the inspection; (2) Improve leadership at all levels, including leaders’ ability to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning; (3) Improve the quality of teaching so that pupils of all ages and abilities make strong progress; (4) Ensure that the curriculum provides pupils of all ages with broad, balanced and relevant learning experiences; (5) Strengthen the provision for the progressive development of pupils’ skills.

Estyn follow-up status: Special Measures.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Christ the Word School are Rhyl High School (0.4 miles), Prestatyn High School (3 miles), Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd (4.4 miles) and Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (4.6 miles).

The nearest railway station is Rhyl Rail Station (Main Entrance), about 860 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pendyffryn Road (after), 190 metres away.