THE new headteacher of a Newport school has spoken about the challenges involved with taking up the role during the coronavirus lockdown.

Gill Lee started as the new headteacher at Newport High School on Monday, April 20 - but has so far had to work from home in her own kitchen rather than her office.

The school has been closed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and Welsh Government are yet to announce when it can re-open.

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Gill Lee

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Mrs Lee said: “It’s not what anyone would want.

“I have had a huge amount of support from everyone since starting and the students themselves have been phenomenal.”

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Mrs Lee admitted that it was odd having her first day working from home in her own kitchen but insisted that “everyone is working very flexibly” to support the students.

Newport High has been in special measures since 2017 after an Estyn report called for “urgent improvements”.

The previous headteacher Karyn Keane resigned in May 2019 after nine years in the role to “pursue other career opportunities” and the school has been looking for a replacement to help get the school out of special measures.

Unsurprisingly, Mrs Lee said that this was her top priority.

“I want the school to become an excellent school," she said. “I will lead Newport High School out of special measures by improving the quality of teaching and learning and ensuring that standards are raised in all areas of the school.

“I want to provide a supportive, nurturing and dynamic environment for both students and staff, where hard work, ambition and achievement are valued.

“I believe that this will provide our students with the best possible opportunity to succeed and for Newport High to become an excellent school.”

Although this will be impacted in the short-term by the need to support students and teachers through the current coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Lee, who was formerly deputy head at Cardiff West Community High School, said she will host her first virtual staff briefing on Monday.

“I have been able to communicate with all the staff and I have been able to set up meetings,” she said. “I have phoned every member of staff but there are about 20 that I haven’t been able to get hold of.

“It’s hard to get to know people through technology and really hard for me to get to know the students.”

The whole process has been made easier, however, by the community in Newport, Mrs Lee said.

“We have a close group of headteachers in Newport," she said. “They have been very supporting and welcoming.

“It is likely we will have to work differently for quite some time so it’s important to make the school as safe as possible.

“Although it’s a dreadful situation there will be some positives that come out.”