Infants school head dismissed

14 July 2011 Last updated at 18:56 GMT The head teacher of a Powys infants school has been dismissed following a suspension.

Powys council said Erios Hall was suspended from her post at Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School in Welshpool in March last year.

The council would not to reveal details of what Mrs Hall was accused of, but it said she had the right to appeal.

Mrs Hall's union, the NAHT, said it would be reviewing the decision "and an appeal will be made."

Council cabinet member for education, Councillor Stephen Hayes, said: "I can confirm that the disciplinary committee of the governing body at Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School, Welshpool, has recommended that Mrs Erios Hall should be dismissed from her post as head teacher at the school.

"Mrs Hall has a right of appeal and should she exercise her right of appeal, she will remain in post but on suspension until after her appeal."

He said parents have been informed and no further comment would be made until the conclusion of all proceedings.

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No 'shaming' in new school bands

14 July 2011 Last updated at 11:30 GMT School league tables were scrapped in Wales in 2001 Comprehensive schools in Wales will be placed into performance bands from this autumn.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the grouping of schools is not about "naming and shaming or creating a divisive league table".

It will help ensure resources are directed to schools who need them most, he said.

Unions are opposed to school league tables being reintroduced in Wales, but have welcomed the banding alternative.

Unlike league tables ranking the best school down to the worst, banding is expected to group schools into just four or five bands, measured on the level of support needed.

Mr Andrews said the bands will be a tool for driving improvement.

"The national school banding system is a tool to help us be effective in driving improvement across the board," he said.

Promise

Continue reading the main story

The proof of the pudding will be in the extra support that schools will receive to improve their performance”

End Quote Philip Dixon Association of Teachers and Lecturers Cymru "The most important aspect of banding will be the support, challenge and sharing of best practice that follow."

"It is about grouping our schools according to a range of factors to establish priorities for differentiated support and identifying those from whom the sector can learn."

Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Headteachers Cymru, said: "We welcome the fact that the minister is making clear that the purpose of the banding system is to identify the level of support and challenge required by individual schools to help them achieve what we all want.

"There is now a climate of expectation out there in our schools that this process will provide level of expert, accessible and specialist support for schools that many find hard to find now, and that this will be available consistently and to an equally high standard across the country.

"We very much hope that this promise can be realised."

Dr Philip Dixon, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers Cymru, said they were prepared to give a cautious welcome to the banding proposals and to accept the minister's assurances.

"However, the proof of the pudding will be in the extra support that schools will receive to improve their performance," he said.

"The success or otherwise of the school banding proposals will be judged on that."

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Teenager quizzed on school 'hack'

13 July 2011 Last updated at 10:58 GMT An investigation to the alleged hacking at Eirian High School was launched in March A teenager is being questioned over allegations school computers were hacked, say North Wales Police.

An investigation was launched at Eirias High School in Colwyn Bay in March into whether computer records of pupils had been stolen.

It followed claims posted on the internet by someone claiming to be a pupil and having accessed the records.

Police would not confirm if the teenager was a pupil at the school, while the school would not comment.

"A young man is currently helping police with their inquiries in relation to a complaint by Eirias High School regarding the alleged misuse of the school computer system," said a police spokesman.

The school's head teacher Phil McTague said he had "nothing to add to what's already in the public domain".

In internet postings to two so-called computer hacking message boards, the individual claimed to have "successfully hacked my school".

The postings also have an image of alleged records that have been downloaded.

The school had earlier been reported to the information commissioner over a complaint that personal information on a pupil was made public through a YouTube video.

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High school teachers hold strike

13 July 2011 Last updated at 10:49 GMT The UCAC union said about 30 teachers protestied outside the school on Wednesday An Anglesey high school has closed as teachers hold a one-day strike in a row over a cut in staff hours and an increase in class sizes.

Wednesday's action is being taken at Ysgol Gyfun, Llangefni.

Members of two unions, the NASUWT and UCAC, said there were also concerns about possible pay cuts.

Anglesey council said both the school and the education authority had been trying to find a resolution to avoid the industrial action.

In a joint statement, the unions said: "Staff have been targeted as a result of the manipulation of the curriculum, cuts to lesson allocation, increases in group sizes, the employment of temporary staff and constraints on option choices. Such treatment is unacceptable."

The council spokesperson said: "Every effort has been made to safeguard full-time posts.

"It is disappointing, therefore, to learn that the unions are frustrated by a perceived lack of co-operation from the school and local education authority."

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Vandals wreck school garden again

13 July 2011 Last updated at 14:17 GMT An award-winning garden at a Denbighshire primary school has been wrecked in a new attack by vandals.

All the flowers were stolen from the garden at Ysgol Mair Catholic school, Rhyl, in the latest attack.

On previous occasions, containers and tyres have been thrown into the pond and bird tables have been smashed.

The garden has won awards at the Wales in Bloom and Rhyl in Bloom competitions.

"The children have worked so hard on this garden," said Gail Lavery, chair of the school PTA, which has provided much of the material used in the garden.

"It's hard to believe that someone can do this to a children's garden.

"I'm just hoping that someone will come forward and say we know who's doing this."

The theft of the plants means the garden can no longer be entered in the Rhyl in Bloom competition.

It is now planned to hold a number of gardening days during the school holidays so that some of the children from the school, which has about290 pupils, can help to restore the site.

The school has also had offers of help from local people and Ms Lavery has vowed to keep the garden going.

"If we stop, they will have won," she added.

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Help for 'unsatisfactory' school

12 July 2011 Last updated at 14:35 GMT Estyn inspectors found standards at Ysgol Maesydre in Welshpool were 'unsatisfactory' A team of senior education officers has been set up to strengthen a Powys school placed in special measures.

An inspection report in May revealed unsatisfactory performance at Ysgol Maesydre junior school in Welshpool.

Action plans will now be produced by both the school and the council, detailing steps to be taken to address the shortcomings.

Education body Estyn will now monitor the school on a termly basis.

There are 191 pupils between seven and 11 at Ysgol Maesydre which teaches in both English and Welsh.

Although the inspection report highlighted some good features, a significant number were found to be only adequate or unsatisfactory.

Poor behaviour

Inspectors said the special measures were required in relation because of "poor standards overall".

They found many pupils failed to reach the expected levels of national curriculum attainment in core subjects and standards were unsatisfactory in Welsh second language teaching.

The report also said the school's leadership and management were "ineffective in halting the decline in standards".

The poor behaviour of a minority of pupils was having a detrimental effect on teaching and learning, it said.

Inspectors concluded the school's performance and its capacity to improve were both unsatisfactory.

A project team of senior officers from Powys and neighbouring authorities will be set up.

Coun Stephen Hayes, cabinet member for learning and leisure, said: "We will be working with the school's governing body to identify the reason for the inspection outcome and to ensure we achieve rapid improvements at the school.

"Providing quality education for all of our youngsters is absolutely vital and we are confident that with hard work and the co-operation of the school, staff and governing body we can deliver the improvements demanded by Estyn."

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