FRIENDS of Ysgol Maesydre will take time out of their busy schedules this weekend to ensure the school is a welcoming place for pupils come the new term.
The Welshpool-based junior school fell into special measures in May 2010 when Estyn inspectors found many pupils failed to reach the expected levels of national curriculum attainment in core subjects and standards were unsatisfactory in Welsh second language teaching.
The report also said the school’s leadership and management were “ineffective in halting the decline in standards” and that poor behaviour of a minority of pupils was having a detrimental effect on teaching and learning, it said.
But following the appointment of a new headteacher and a number of new governors, the school has already taken huge strides towards getting out of special measures and plans are now in place to “spruce the place up” ahead of the new school year in September.
The event, which takes place on Sunday, August 19, from 9.30am, will be known as “Love Your School Day” and is sponsored by Derwas of Welshpool and Castle Fine Arts Foundry.
Terrance Ingram, governor, said: “Parents, grandparents, governors and teachers are getting together on Sunday to spruce the school up. We will be painting the windows, doors and the weatherboards, as well as putting up new artwork in the corridors and tidying the school’s playing fields.
“The school has gone through a pretty rough time in recent years but we now have a new headteacher in Russell Cadwallader and a new senior management team. Everyone is pulling together to make sure Ysgol Maesydre is a happy place for both pupils starting their junior school life and for returning children.
“Since being place in special measures a lot has changed and we have already satisfied inspectors on more than half of the points that put us in special measures in the first place.
“This is an exciting time for everyone at the school. It is almost as though we are re-launching the place.”
Anyone wanting to help on Sunday, from 9.30am, is more than welcome.
“If you have a paintbrush then bring it along, if not then we will find a job for you – the more hands the better,” said Mr Ingram.
For further information about “Love Your School Day” contact Mr Ingram on 07779 879367.