Wrexham Headteacher To Lead New School Improvements Service

Education standards in schools across north Wales are to come under the microscope in a newly formed service aimed at improving standards.

The GwE (the North Wales Regional School Effectiveness and Improvement Service) will work in partnership with schools and local authorities to ensure standards of education are improved and become consistent across the region. The new service is just one example of the formally derived collaboration from the North Wales Education Consortium.

Headteacher of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Huw Foster Evans, has just been announced as Chief Officer of the new service, and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Mr Evans was born and bred in Tywyn, Meirionnydd, attending Ysgol Penybryn before progressing to Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn and finally graduating in Mathematics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He then went on to teach at a number of secondary schools across North Wales. For the past 13 years, he has held the post of headteacher at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham.

Mr Evans is also Chair of the Welsh Education Forum 14-19 in North Wales; National Vice-Chair of Cymdethas Ysgolion dros Addysg Gymraeg (CYDAG) and Chair of the North Wales assessment panel for the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Mr Evans is due to begin his new role later this year.

Mr Evans said: “I am very much looking forward to beginning my new role and would like to give my sincere thanks to those who have contacted me to wish me well.

“I look forward to the opportunity of being able to work with schools while developing a service which is unique to North Wales, and will support our schools and local authorities in our continued efforts to ensure the best for our children and young people.”

GwE aims to provide North Wales with an efficient service in order to raise standards and make a difference for children and young people. It aims to:
– maintain firm new systems for performance in order to measure efficiency;
– raise standards – improve literacy and numeracy;
– promote well-being; raise aspirations, improve pupils’ resilience as learners;
– improving outcomes and reduce variation between and within schools.

The intention is to ensure the moral purpose of education, supporting educational improvement in schools and supporting the development of leadership within schools and governing bodies.

It will ensure schools across the six counties are regularly challenged and supported, which will lead to ensuring our children and young people fulfil their potential.

Denbighshire Councillor Eryl Williams, GwE’s Chair, said: “It is a pleasure to announce that Huw Foster Evans has been appointed as Chief Officer of GwE.

“GwE will be central in improving schools in North Wales and will act as a powerhouse in motivating good practice across the region.

“Huw will be responsible for leading and inspiring a wide range of stakeholders in order to develop and increase academic excellence and bilingual/Welsh medium education in communities across North Wales.

“His experience as one of our region’s head teachers will ensure this new service is aware of the context of the area as the agenda to improve standards is extended in our schools.

“I would like to congratulate Huw on his new role and I look forward to working with him and with our partners across the North Wales area.”

The announcement comes in the wake of the news that one Wrexham school, Ysgol Clywedog, has been put under special measures following a recent inspection.