THE education service in Monmouth­shire has been slated in an official report despite having some of the best-performing schools in Wales.

Both the current performance and the prospects for improvement of the local education authority are rated "unsatisfactory" by the Welsh independent inspection service Estyn.

Inspectors found weaknesses in key areas and have placed the education authority in "special measures." The council has 50 days to say how it is going to turn things around.

•Read the full story in this week's Chepstow & Caldicot News.