Headteacher Announced For New West-Cardiff Secondary School

Preparations for next year’s creation of the new secondary school in the west have taken a significant step forward with the announcement of Martin Hulland as its new headteacher. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Hulland, currently head of Ysgol Clywedog in Wrexham, will take up his new position from this September, ahead of the new school officially coming into existence from September 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Hulland said: “I am extremely proud to be named head of the new school and I am looking forward to getting started in September. One of my first priorities will be meeting as many people in Caerau and Ely as possible, listening to ideas and talking about the innovative plans for secondary education in the west of the city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new school will initially open on the existing Michaelston Community College site, ahead of a planned move in September 2018 to brand new facilities built on land formerly used for Glyn Derw High School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Keith Brooks, chair of the school’s temporary governing body, was pleased to announce Mr Hulland’s appointment following an extensive recruitment and selection process. “Mr Hulland was appointed from an extremely strong field of candidates and will bring to the role a strong track record of leadership and school improvement in schools in both Wales and England” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The brand-new secondary for the west is earmarked to become a ‘pathfinder school’, promoting links forged under a ‘Creative Education Partnership’ – a ground-breaking plan that will see some of the biggest names in Cardiff joining forces with the local authority to promote creativity at the heart of learning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The partnership will offer the school’s children and young people exciting work experience opportunities and careers advice on how to make the most of opportunities in the creative and cultural sector – this could include film, television, digital design, theatre and more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welcoming the plans, Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “Around a quarter of all Welsh creative industry jobs are based in Cardiff, with over 7,500 jobs in the capital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We want the city’s young people to be in the strongest possible position to benefit from Cardiff’s growing economy: no one should be left behind and a child’s background should not be the deciding factor in determining whether or not they can build a successful career. Every young person should have the chance to be able to play a part as the city grows and prospers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The eight ‘Founding Partners’ are Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales; BBC Wales; Cardiff Council; Cardiff and Vale College; Creative & Cultural Skills; University of South Wales; Wales Millennium Centre; Welsh National Opera. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Merry added: “I want to thank the Founding Partners for having the vision and ambition to bring these plans forward. This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen education through putting creativity at the heart of learning and unlocking opportunities in Cardiff’s successful creative economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Hulland and his colleagues, along with the City of Cardiff Council and its founding partners, will be working closely with the local community to make sure everyone has the opportunity to be involved in making plans for the new pathfinder school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​