The Community Focused Schools (CFS) strategy aims to strengthen the role of schools as hubs for families and communities, as part of a wider long-term goal to reduce educational inequality in Wales.

The strategy brings together family engagement, community partnerships, and multi-agency collaboration, with a focus on improving outcomes, particularly for pupils from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Alma Economics, in partnership with IAITH, was commissioned by the Welsh Government to evaluate the implementation of the CFS strategy. The evaluation combined large-scale surveys of schools, Local Authorities, Community Focused School Managers (CFSMs), and Family Engagement Officers (FEOs) across Wales with follow-up interviews and qualitative case studies in diverse settings, alongside a parent and carer survey. 

The evaluation found early indications of positive impact, including improved relationships between schools and families, greater parental engagement, and increased learner confidence in some settings. Findings also highlighted significant variation in funding approaches and implementation across Local Authorities, with short-term funding, reliance on a small number of committed staff, and structural barriers identified as challenges to sustainable delivery.  

The report concludes with ten actionable recommendations to strengthen implementation and help the strategy achieve its long-term ambitions for learners and communities across Wales.

Visit the following links to read the executive summary and full report.