PARENTS had their first chance to meet the recently-appointed headteacher of Haverfordwest's new school.

Mrs Jane Harries - who returning to her home town for the role - was appointed headteacher of the new 11-19 English-medium school, Haverfordwest High VC School, by the Temporary Governing Body towards the end of last year.

She will be taking up her role in mid-February.

Haverfordwest High VC School is set to open in September on both of the sites currently occupied by Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools.

Work is underway to evaluate the two sites, with a view to full Council choosing a permanent site later this year for a brand new school building accommodating all pupils.

Mrs Harries – currently head of Llanidloes High School in Powys – held meetings with staff, parents from Tasker Milward and Sir Thomas Picton, and prospective parents yesterday (Thursday) to introduce herself and talk about her vision for the new school.

She said her primary aim was to provide an outstanding education for students in Haverfordwest in an innovative and inclusive learning environment.

“My mission is to enable everyone to fulfil their potential, foster a love of lifelong learning, and encourage all to live by the motto ‘if you believe it, you can achieve it,” she said.

Mrs Harries also informed staff and parents which year groups would occupy which school site in September this year.

Years 8, 9, 11 and 13 will be taught on the same school site as present. Year 7 pupils will be taught at Tasker Milward and Years 10 and 12 will be taught at Sir Thomas Picton.

The decisions were made by the temporary governing body in consultation with Mrs Harries and officers in the Local Authority.

Mrs Harries’ appointment at Haverfordwest High VC School represents a return to her home town, having attended Mary Immaculate Primary School and Taskers School for Girls before completing her degree at the University of Wales, Swansea.

Her teaching career started at Pembroke School before she moved into further education for a number of years. She then moved back into secondary education working at Ysgol Tregib and Ysgol Pantycelyn in Carmarthenshire. Here, she had first-hand leadership experience of the closure of the two schools when they became Ysgol Bro Dinefwr which moved into a new build in 2016.

She has been headteacher at Llanidloes High School for two years. Upon her appointment it was rated Amber and is now a Green school, having achieved ‘Good’ for both standards and prospects for improvement in its Estyn inspection in April 2016.

A Welsh learner, Mrs Harries is supported in her new role by her husband and family.