Troubled school's head resigns

Dr Glyn Hughes went on sick leave after a damning report by Estyn

The headmaster of a troubled mid-Wales school has resigned six months after he went on sick leave following a highly critical inspectors' report.

Dr Glyn Hughes went on leave in April after the report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, Estyn, into Newtown High School in Powys.

According to the report the school had poor teaching standards, leadership and pupil behaviour.

A spokesman for Powys County Council said Dr Hughes had resigned from his post with effect from the end of this month.

He said interim arrangements were being made and that the headteacher's post had been advertised.

Mr Hughes has said that the duties involved in his post had become increasingly onerous. Powys County Council statement

When Dr Hughes went on leave, Brecon High School head teacher Colin Eves was brought in by the local education authority as a trouble-shooter to turn things around.

Mr Eves was in charge of both schools but the day-to-day running at Brecon had been in the hands of its deputy heads.

But in July the "superhead" took up a new post with the authority's advisory team, which meant he would stay at Newtown to oversee an action plan to try and sort out the school's problems.

Mr Eves has since been appointed head teacher at Ilfracombe College in North Devon and is due to take up his new post in January.

Estyn's report pinpointed poor discipline amongst "a significant number" of the 900 pupils.

This led to the National Union of Teachers blaming the school leadership, including Dr Hughes, because members of the 75-strong staff felt unsafe.

A council statement said: "Mr Hughes has said that the duties involved in his post had become increasingly onerous.

"He had been considering a change in his career path for some time and, following a significant period of illness, has decided that this was the appropriate time for him to take action to implement this.

"The governing body understands and is sympathetic to Mr Hughes' wishes and has therefore accepted his resignation."