THE headteacher of a Powys secondary school has spoken out after announcing he is to leave his post for one of the top paying jobs at Powys County Council.

Dr Richard Jones has been headteacher at Ysgol Calon Cymru – which has campuses in Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells – since 2019, but will soon take on the role of director of education at Powys County Council (PCC). 

Dr Jones said he has experienced the “strong sense of community” that exists across Powys during his four years at the helm, and that while he admits his exit will bring “uncertainty” he is confident the school will “improve and grow”.

“As headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru over the past four years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the impressive talents of the young people in our school, seeing the dedication of our staff and experiencing first-hand the strong sense of community that exists across Powys,” said Dr Jones.

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“I will certainly miss being headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me and the school over the last four years.

“As with any role in education, there are times when things are very challenging.

“For me, it is in those challenging moments, that keeping your focus on doing the right thing for learners, really counts.”

There is no date set yet for when Dr Jones will officially leave his post, with the school’s governing body and PCC currently in discussions about this.

His exact leaving date will depend on the decisions that are made about the future of the immediate leadership of the school.

“Currently, our governing body is discussing the future leadership of our school, and very shortly will be sharing their plans,” added Dr Jones.

“The governing body are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the next headteacher and will be looking at all options.

“Any leadership change comes with a degree of uncertainty, but I am confident that the whole school community will work together to ensure Ysgol Calon Cymru continues to improve and grow.”

County Times: Headteacher Richard Jones pictured with chair of governors Sharon Hammond. Headteacher Richard Jones pictured with chair of governors Sharon Hammond.

Dr Jones, who has been headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru since 2019, started his career in 2004 as an English teacher. He has held a wide range of leadership positions across three contrasting secondary schools in South Wales.

Before his current role, Dr Jones undertook a secondment as a senior education adviser to the Welsh Government. In that role, he worked with a range of partners across education and other sectors, leading and contributing to a number of national work streams.

Dr Jones is one of five new appointments to the PCC corporate leadership team, with his appointment announced by the local authority earlier this week.

The other appointments are Matt Perry as chief officer – place; Jane Thomas as director of corporate services; Diane Reynolds as director of economic development and growth; and Nina Davies as director of social services and wellbeing.