Artist Ged leaves his mark as 5,000 flock to another successful Dewsbury Canal Festival...
Council Leader's pay hits £68,000...
Do you recognise this car thief...
Earlsheaton students forge close links with young Pakistanis...
Ex-Batley RL historian jailed after attack...
Paul's football career could be ready to lift off...
Plan to sell Knowl House is shelved...
Police 'parade' drug gang's 4x4...
Susi's riding on after horror injury...
IT’S the school holidays... “Where ...
Read More...
Search Engine Optimisation
Read More...
Read More...
Bringing you closer to the TV stars
Read More...
Read More...
Have your say on this! -- Have a Story? Contact the Editor
'Happiest day of my career' says the Head...
DELIGHTED staff at reprieved Castle Hall School are now planning for the future with confidence.
Headteacher Andy Pugh steered the school through the toughest of times with the threat of closure hanging over him since September 2008.
When Mr Pugh and chairman of governors Brian Nicholson broke the news to staff on Tuesday afternoon the place erupted in a mixture of delight and sheer relief.
Mr Pugh was bombarded with messages of congratulation throughout Tuesday night and hasn’t stopped smiling since.
“Tuesday was the happiest day of my 22-year teaching career,” he said.
Once the celebrations are out of the way, Mr Pugh must build new relations with Kirklees Council.
Looking back, Mr Pugh said the support of the parents’ group REACH had been key.
“Of course all this has had an impact on the school but not as much as we feared,” he said.
“The staff really appreciated the support of REACH and this could have been a really tough place to run for the next five years but the loyalty of parents shone through.
“You would have expected a lot of staff to leave but we have literally lost a couple through natural progression. Now staff here can see a future and won’t have to leave to seek promotion.
“Over the last 16 months I have become an amateur personnel manager. I have had to give a lot of reassurance to a lot of people from teaching staff to the parents of primary age children who wondered if Castle Hall would still be here. The staff stuck with us and I am very grateful.”
Mr Pugh said even if the decision had gone against Castle Hall he still planned to praise schools adjudicator Canon Richard Lindley for his thoroughness.
As it turns out in Canon Lindley’s report he goes further than the school could have hoped backing its bid for a new sports hall and the stopping-up of a public footpath through the grounds.
“Canon Lindley sees a good future for the school,” said Mr Pugh.
“In fairness we have always had a positive relationship with the authority but we want to strengthen it still further.”
Have your say on this! -- Have a Story? Contact the Editor
'Happiest day of my career' says the Head...
DELIGHTED staff at reprieved Castle Hall School are now planning for the future with confidence.
Headteacher Andy Pugh steered the school through the toughest of times with the threat of closure hanging over him since September 2008.
When Mr Pugh and chairman of governors Brian Nicholson broke the news to staff on Tuesday afternoon the place erupted in a mixture of delight and sheer relief.
Mr Pugh was bombarded with messages of congratulation throughout Tuesday night and hasn’t stopped smiling since.
“Tuesday was the happiest day of my 22-year teaching career,” he said.
Once the celebrations are out of the way, Mr Pugh must build new relations with Kirklees Council.
Looking back, Mr Pugh said the support of the parents’ group REACH had been key.
“Of course all this has had an impact on the school but not as much as we feared,” he said.
“The staff really appreciated the support of REACH and this could have been a really tough place to run for the next five years but the loyalty of parents shone through.
“You would have expected a lot of staff to leave but we have literally lost a couple through natural progression. Now staff here can see a future and won’t have to leave to seek promotion.
“Over the last 16 months I have become an amateur personnel manager. I have had to give a lot of reassurance to a lot of people from teaching staff to the parents of primary age children who wondered if Castle Hall would still be here. The staff stuck with us and I am very grateful.”
Mr Pugh said even if the decision had gone against Castle Hall he still planned to praise schools adjudicator Canon Richard Lindley for his thoroughness.
As it turns out in Canon Lindley’s report he goes further than the school could have hoped backing its bid for a new sports hall and the stopping-up of a public footpath through the grounds.
“Canon Lindley sees a good future for the school,” said Mr Pugh.
“In fairness we have always had a positive relationship with the authority but we want to strengthen it still further.”
Have your say on this! -- Have a Story? Contact the Editor
