One in four parents are not satisfied with their children’s secondary school, a Welsh Government survey suggests.
The National Survey for Wales suggests parents’ satisfaction with primary and secondary schools has fallen.
Parent satisfaction with secondary schools fell from 85% to 75% in a year, while the figure for primary schools dropped from 90% to 88%.
The public services and lifestyle survey spoke to 11,381 randomly-selected people aged 16-plus.
They were interviewed face-to-face and not every participant answered every question.
The survey also found 86% were satisfied with their GP, down from 90%.
On GPs, 42% found it difficult to make a convenient appointment at their surgery in 2017-18.
This proportion has increased over time from 33% in 2012-13. Last year, 2016-17, it was 38%.
The survey also found:
- 68% said they can keep up with all their bills and commitments without difficulty
- 86% believe the Welsh language is something to be proud of
- 77% are satisfied with their ability to get to services in their local area
- 85% of people use the internet
The National Survey for Wales is carried out by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Welsh Government.
It conducted face-to-face interviews with 11,381 randomly-selected adults aged 16 and over were carried out between 1st April 2017 and 31 March 2018.
‘Wake-up call’
Opposition parties were critical of the survey’s findings on education.
Welsh Conservative spokesman Darren Millar described the survey as a “wake-up call” for ministers, saying: “The public are losing faith in the Welsh Government’s ability to deliver improvements to education outcomes in Wales.
“Children and young people only get one shot at their education and we must not let them down.”
For Plaid Cymru, education spokesman Llyr Gruffydd said the figures were “shocking”, adding: “The Labour Welsh Government must get to grips with the challenges facing our education sector as a matter of urgency.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said it had “embarked on a national mission to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system which is a source of national pride and confidence”.
“We can’t ignore the strain the UK government’s continued austerity agenda is putting on our public services, but as a government, we will continue to prioritise school funding by ensuring resources go straight to the front line to support schools.”
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