I am honoured to be the first ever Headteacher of Ysgol Llanfyllin: an all age school providing bilingual education for pupils aged 4 – 18. We have an outstanding team of teachers and support staff who deliver a rich and exciting curriculum to all learners – from our youngest in the Foundation Phase to our oldest in the 6th form.
When I first entered the profession as a young teacher in Manchester, I was committed to offering all children, regardless of background or upbringing, the best possible educational start in life. My experiences teaching and leading in both Manchester and Mid Wales have only helped to cement this commitment as I have seen first-hand how schools have remarkable power to transform lives and unlock huge reserves of potential within our young people – whatever their circumstances. In order to harness this power, schools require resilient, passionate, innovative and forward thinking teachers and leaders who can inspire all pupils to reach their full potential.
We are also grateful for the ongoing support of the people who live and work in this wonderful area, and strive to engage and empower this wider community to foster an atmosphere of mutual trust and co-operation, for the benefit of all.
Our core value of ‘Teulu’ (Welsh for family) is one which we cherish. Under my leadership our new school will have the ethos of ‘Teulu’ at its heart. This ethos will be one of care, nurture, stability and ambition. Our school family will value and encourage collective responsibility, tolerance and an open-minded approach towards each other and our learning. All families face difficult times and it is sometimes necessary to make difficult decisions. Schools are no different and in challenging times strong, resilient leadership is required to carry the school forward.
As a fluent Welsh speaker, I have the privilege of engaging with many staff, students and parents through the medium of Welsh. Having been raised as part of the Welsh speaking community in Welshpool and experienced my infant and primary education through the medium of Welsh, I feel passionately that students should have the opportunity to be educated through the language of their choice, within their own community.
Dewi Owen, Headteacher