The school has to submit an action plan by 23 May

A union has criticised the decision to let a trouble-shooter take temporary charge of a school whose head teacher took sick leave after a critical inspectors' report.

The Secondary Heads Association of Wales (SHAW) has accused Powys County Council of acting too hastily in "parachuting" in a new head teacher to take charge of Newtown High School.

From Monday, the school is being led by Brecon High School's head teacher, Colin Eves.

He takes over from Dr Glyn Hughes, who went on sick leave earlier this month after a Estyn schools inspector report highlighted poor teaching standards, leadership and pupil behaviour at Newtown.

In parachuting in a fellow head teacher to act as Associate Head the local education authority seems to be acting too hastily," said Mr Rowlands Brian Rowlands, SHAW

But SHAW secretary, Brian Rowlands said the local authority could have handled the issue more sensitively.

"In parachuting in a fellow head teacher to act as Associate Head the local education authority seems to be acting too hastily," said Mr Rowlands.

Lambasted

The school has until 23 May to hand Estyn an action plan to try and sort out the school's problems.

"It was hoped that Glyn Hughes would return as soon as possible to instigate the action plan on which he had been working with the authority," added Mr Rowlands.

"It seems this decision has been taken without even discussing the eventuality with Mr Hughes, a further blow to professional morale."

Earlier this month the National Union of Teachers' secretary, Gethin Lewis lambasted the school's leadership, stating that "the crew had lost its faith in its captain."

The NUT welcomes Mr Eves appointment

Mr Rowlands said that Mr Hughes had been pilloried by the NUT in a public and professional assassination.

"This was a very public and undeserved humiliation of a conscientious professional," he added.

"Colin Eves is a highly effective head teacher so there are no qualms on that score.

"But this move needed to be handled more sensitively so that staff at the school were informed before hearing it from the media."

But Mr Lewis welcomed the appointment of Mr Eves, who will be in charge at Newtown until the end of August.

"The inspectors' report specifically pointed to problems at senior management level at the school," said Mr Lewis.

"We want to see the school succeed and wish Colin Eves every success in the task that lies ahead of him."

Mr Eves will continue as Brecon's head teacher, albeit in a supervisory role, with other staff taking charge of the day to day running of the school.