Wye School Opens for First Day of Term
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School opens on time, on schedule and with a full cohort of students and staff.
Today Wye School opened its doors for its very first day. The school welcomed its full cohort of Year 7 students who arrived full of excitement for a three day induction programme.
The school, which is temporarily located in the Kempe Centre, will grow one year at a time and will eventually cater for 600 students aged 11-18. It is part of United Learning, the same group as nearby Ashford School, and the two schools will work closely together over the coming years.
Welcoming students on their first day, Principal Ms Janet Naylor said:
‘As our first cohort of Year 7 students enter the school, it is an historic moment. These children will be the face of Wye School and help to shape its future.
‘For all the team, this has been a very busy summer but it has all been about one thing: creating an outstanding school environment in which all children can thrive, whatever their ability, whatever their background.’
Wye School has been opened in response to parental demand for high-quality secondary school places in Wye and the surrounding villages. In response to this demand, Margaret Williams and members of the local community set up the Wye Free School Local Group to investigate the possibility of opening a free school in the village.
Margaret Williams, Chair of the school’s Local Governing Body, said:
‘I am absolutely thrilled that the school has opened today. It has been a very long road to get to this point but it is wonderful that we are welcoming our first students today.
‘We wanted to create a school that is at the heart of the community it serves and so I would like to thank all those local people who have helped make the school a reality. I have every confidence that under Jan Naylor’s leadership, Wye School will deliver an outstanding education to local children for generations to come.’
As part of United Learning – a group of over 30 academies and independent schools – Wye School will be able to share best practice with schools across the country and staff will benefit from the Group’s wide range of high-quality professional development opportunities.
Jon Coles, Group Chief Executive of United Learning, said:
‘The opening of a new school is always a huge feat and I would like to congratulate Janet Naylor, Margaret Williams and all of the school’s staff on ensuring that Wye School opened on time and ready to deliver a full and exciting curriculum from the very first day.
‘We look forward to supporting the school as it establishes itself and are excited about the opportunities a brand new school can offer our Group.’
The school is holding an open evening for children and their families interested in applying for Year 7 places for entry in September 2014. This will take place on 16 October between 6pm and 8.30pm in the Kempe Centre on Olantigh Road.