Ho! Ho! Ho! The Fans of the Old Ruthin Blog are only a little exercised by the threat that Ysgol Brynhyfryd will force male pupils to wear old-fashioned shorts & knee socks this summer. This myth resulted from a classroom teacher who started a rumour to deflect keyboard warriors from the real news—that today's Stars in Their Eyes is cancelled. Imagine the uproar on Facebook were parents to realise the reason why this longstanding Christmas tradition has folded: it's through a lack of staff interest. A number of acts have pulled out. How dare they!
The $64,000 question, though, is why have they dropped out. There are two schools—ouch—of thought. One reason could be a fall in teacher morale at the school, following the new head getting a grip. Another was that, actually, the new head stopped it.
In the first four weeks of Geraint Parry's headship—his first day was November 8th—he is reported to have excluded nine pupils. This includes a mini-crime wave in Year 9. His actions are a measure of his asserting authority. Parry makes no secret of the fact that the worst behaving pupils respect neither society nor police. But they do find structure to their lives and friendship at school. Exclude them and, Parry contends, their very shape and meaning is gone. That, actually, is an interesting assumption and, if true, exclusions will act as a strong deterrent.
Parents should welcome this. They should also welcome the way in which the head is tackling teachers. Like any employer of its size, there will be the good and the bad, the radical, the maverick and the ordinary teacher who performs well. Teachers can be a radical bunch. They're certainly well educated and won't take issues flat on their backs. They're no pushover. The head therefore has to assert his authority among his staff, too. The senior leadership team is now randomly inspecting pupils' homework to ensure marking is consistent and undertaken swiftly. Better to start hard and slacken than the other way round.
In the new year, the head will shortly reconfigure his senior leadership team. That's currently two deputies and three assistants. All their roles of the remaining four will change. Such a change is a predictable mark of a new manager.
A number of staff are currently having formal meetings with the head over issues related to parental complaints but this is viewed as a means of seeking an interview. It would appear that it's the mavericks that are in the cross hairs. This, in the short term, will take its toll on morale. But Parry has come from turning around a hard school, one in a rough area of Penbedw/Birkenhead. Brynhyfryd's catchment is different but it also needs tough love. Imagine what he could do in Rhuthun/Ruthin.
Finally, from January onwards, the head has introduced registration zones and, for each pupil, a learning programme that will demonstrate to Estyn that there's a structured approach to teaching and especially homework.
One interesting facet is the reported return to the former and longstanding slogan of "Nid Dysg heb Foes" as opposed to the newer "Excellent Outcomes for All".
Today, the last day of his first term, a letter goes home to parents to inform them of new morning registration arrangements and of new learning outcomes. In truth, it didn't feel that much llike Christmas at school, so it was reported.
There's a lot resting upon his headship. Measures available to him include the uniform policy, the subject of some ridicule by parents in the recent past. But, the good news is, shorts & knee high socks aren’t part of the plan.
In the first four weeks of Geraint Parry's headship—his first day was November 8th—he is reported to have excluded nine pupils. This includes a mini-crime wave in Year 9. His actions are a measure of his asserting authority. Parry makes no secret of the fact that the worst behaving pupils respect neither society nor police. But they do find structure to their lives and friendship at school. Exclude them and, Parry contends, their very shape and meaning is gone. That, actually, is an interesting assumption and, if true, exclusions will act as a strong deterrent.
Parents should welcome this. They should also welcome the way in which the head is tackling teachers. Like any employer of its size, there will be the good and the bad, the radical, the maverick and the ordinary teacher who performs well. Teachers can be a radical bunch. They're certainly well educated and won't take issues flat on their backs. They're no pushover. The head therefore has to assert his authority among his staff, too. The senior leadership team is now randomly inspecting pupils' homework to ensure marking is consistent and undertaken swiftly. Better to start hard and slacken than the other way round.
In the new year, the head will shortly reconfigure his senior leadership team. That's currently two deputies and three assistants. All their roles of the remaining four will change. Such a change is a predictable mark of a new manager.
A number of staff are currently having formal meetings with the head over issues related to parental complaints but this is viewed as a means of seeking an interview. It would appear that it's the mavericks that are in the cross hairs. This, in the short term, will take its toll on morale. But Parry has come from turning around a hard school, one in a rough area of Penbedw/Birkenhead. Brynhyfryd's catchment is different but it also needs tough love. Imagine what he could do in Rhuthun/Ruthin.
Finally, from January onwards, the head has introduced registration zones and, for each pupil, a learning programme that will demonstrate to Estyn that there's a structured approach to teaching and especially homework.
One interesting facet is the reported return to the former and longstanding slogan of "Nid Dysg heb Foes" as opposed to the newer "Excellent Outcomes for All".
Today, the last day of his first term, a letter goes home to parents to inform them of new morning registration arrangements and of new learning outcomes. In truth, it didn't feel that much llike Christmas at school, so it was reported.
There's a lot resting upon his headship. Measures available to him include the uniform policy, the subject of some ridicule by parents in the recent past. But, the good news is, shorts & knee high socks aren’t part of the plan.