Governors Being Sought For New Barry Schools

Following the formal agreement of plans to invest £44m in secondary schooling for Barry through the creation of two new mixed sex comprehensive schools, the Vale of Glamorgan Council is now looking to appoint governing bodies for the new schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposal to establish two new schools on the current sites of Barry Comprehensive and Bryn Hafren Comprehensive schools and a joint sixth form across both was approved on 6 March 2017. The current single sex schools will formally close at the end of August 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The decision was taken following a lengthy programme of engagement with parents, pupils, staff, governors and other professionals and the Council is committed to continuing to involve as wide a range of people as possible. Two new governing bodies are being created to help achieve this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “The Council’s plans for the future of secondary education in Barry are bold. For them to succeed we have to continue to work with all of those who share our passion for improving the prospects of children and young people in the Vale. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Governors work closely with the headteacher and other staff and play an important part in managing any school. We are looking for expressions of interest from anyone who feels they can bring new skills and experience to this project and from people who feel they can reflect the views and needs of their community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The temporary governing bodies will oversee the transition from current arrangements to the new schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new governors will be supported in their work by a dedicated member of staff in the Council’s learning and skills department. This same person will also be working with headteachers to ensure the move from the current arrangements to the new schools is as smooth as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone interested in joining the temporary governing bodies for either of the new schools should complete the online application form below. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The closing date for expressions of interest is Tuesday 28 March at 12 noon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​