I write to raise attention toward the successes present in and around Brecon High School.

Last week’s disappointing Esytn report has the potential to miss the bigger picture of a school that’s going places, albeit perhaps more slowly than desired/expected, under an increasingly successful and committed leadership and teaching team who, evidentially (thank you Estyn), are moving the education of our young people in the right direction.

Hidden behind the headline is a report which, whilst identifying areas for development (we all have those!), shows what the school has accomplished since the rather damning report of January 2019, despite the astonishing amount of leadership and management time and energy devoted to navigating the school through the COVID-19 pandemic.

I was one of a (disappointingly) small number of parents who attended Monday’s meeting at the school, led by the Chair of Governors, the Headteacher and their senior staff and the Powys Secondary School Improvement Team.

Whilst challenging themes and questions were considered, I was left in no doubt as to the vision and strategy for improvement at BHS and retain every faith in the school to educate my children.

Whilst there are undoubtedly significant and reasonable frustrations surrounding our high school and its troubles that extend over a long period, I call for this community to get behind its school, supporting them in delivering their vision for our children.

Letter from Michelle Thompson