To: Powys County Council

Save John Beddoes School

Powys County Council says there are 2 options: complete closure or John Beddoes being taken over by Newtown High School.

But there is a third option. Newtown’s generous contribution will help turn the school round but then John Beddoes must be allowed to stand on its own, with its own head and its own governing body.

Why is this important?

What the Friends of John Beddoes stand for:
Supporting and promoting John Beddoes School – including the excellent work of the Newtown High School team
Growing a new leadership at John Beddoes – under the advice and direction of the Newtown High School (NHS) team for the next 18 months
Allowing the school to retain its governing body
Provided the necessary progress is being made, appointing a new head as soon as practicable, who will work under the advice and direction of NHS
Supporting and promoting John Beddoes School – including the excellent work of the Newtown High School team:

We are delighted with the rapid improvement in John Beddoes and profoundly grateful to the Newtown leadership team who have brought it about. We would like them to continue their work for the 18 month period of the Lead and Emerging Practitioner Scheme. We want to do everything we can to promote the school and encourage prospective parents to send their children there and are happy to offer our time and differing strengths and local knowledge to the NHS team to help bring that about.

Growing a new leadership at John Beddoes – under the advice and direction of the NHS team for the next 18 months:

We know that there are many very good teachers at John Beddoes. From this pool, it would be possible to develop a fine new middle and senior management structure under the advice and guidance of NHS and using the systems that they are putting in place, to help the school to develop and grow. While recognising the legitimate rights of all current staff to protection, the present management structure does not reflect the size of the school and rectifying this will put the school on a sounder financial footing. As the school grows, so more staff can be appointed into middle management roles.

Allowing the school to retain its governing body for the next 18 months:

If the school loses its governing body, it will have lost control of the school budget as well as the responsibility for the buildings and grounds. Even if we manage to get representatives on the NHS governors, they will always be in a small minority. The school will be run from Montgomeryshire. Therefore it is vital for East Radnorshire that we retain control of the school, unless of course at the end of the 18 months, the necessary progress had not been made.

Provided the necessary progress is being made, appointing a new head as soon as practicable, who will work under the advice and direction of Newtown High School:

As soon as it becomes clear that the green shoots, which we are seeing now, have the potential to grow into healthy plants, a new head should be appointed – either from the NHS leadership team or elsewhere. All schools need a headteacher who will provide consistent leadership and will be the leading representative of the school in the community. The new head should continue to work under the advice and guidance of the NHS management team as he or she develops into the role. Keeping NHS as a critical friend will be extremely important for the school once the 18 month period has passed.

Presteigne, United Kingdom

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