Barry Island headteacher’s leadership is recognised with a top national award

Friday, 13 March 2009

THE headteacher of Barry Island Primary School has won the prestigious ‘Leading Wales Award’ for the public sector.
It is the first time someone in primary education has been recognised with the award. In the past, it has been predominantly won by the chief executives of large public bodies.
Janet Hayward, aged 40, was honoured at a ceremony held in the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff on February 26.
She told The GEM: “This would not have happened if it had not been for the hard work and pride of the staff, pupils and parents.
“The school’s vision is: ‘Together learning and being our best’.
“We are a community school and believe that everyone should be valued and is capable of achieving their very best.”
Janet arrived at the school in September, 2000 and a glowing citation from the Leading Wales Awards read: “When Janet joined the school, she faced a challenge in turning the school around.
“She restructured the school management team, bringing in new teachers and focusing their work on driving up standards.
“Barry Island is a relatively small school (190 pupils) and in many ways fairly unexceptional.
“ However, it has created a buzz in the community and among educational professionals. A stream of visitors from schools across south Wales now come to see at first hand the teaching practice initiated by Janet.”
The citation adds: “The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Jane Hutt AM, has identified the school as being ‘at the forefront of excellence in teaching and learning in Wales’ and it achieved seven of the highest possible Grade 1 standards in a recent Estyn inspection.
“The inspectors confirmed that the school’s vision ‘Together, learning and being our best’ was realised.”
The Leading Wales Awards seek to identify people whose leadership is making a real difference.
The selection panel is made up of a wide consortium of private and public organisations.
Barbara Chidgey, a spokesperson for Leading Wales Awards, said: “Janet is a tremendous example of the impact of great leadership on an organisation.”
Jane Hutt said, “Mrs Haywood is the inspiring headteacher at Barry Island Primary School who has won the much prized “Public Sector Leader” Award.
“We are all very proud of her achievements, but the greatest winners are the pupils of Barry Island Primary School.”

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