Colin Eves is at the school until August

The newly appointed head teacher at a troubled mid Wales school has brought a chip shop on site as part of his master plan to improve discipline.

Colin Eves has been seconded for four months from Brecon High School to take charge of Newtown High School, where inspectors found serious disciplinary problems during a recent review.

Mr Eves was brought in to improve the performance of the school, which inspectors said had serious problems with pupil behaviour, management and teaching standards.

But he has already cracked down on discipline by insisting on full school uniform being worn by pupils, banning them from leaving the school, and only allowing students to wear limited jewellery.

We have now set up a serving area for the Spar, Post Office and chip shop in the school at lunch times because we wanted to enable these shops to carry on with their business. Colin Eves, head teacher

And in an innovative move, the trouble-shooter is liaising with local shopkeepers, who are now bringing their products into the school, now that pupils cannot leave the school grounds during the day.

"A large number of pupils were congregating outside shops opposite the school throughout the day and coming into contact with members of the public. That has been stopped," said Mr Eves.

Disciplinary problems

"We have now set up a serving area for the Spar, Post Office and chip shop in the school at lunch times because we wanted to enable these shops to carry on with their business."

Mr Eves has also instigated changes to improve pupil behaviour in classrooms.

"The arrangements for withdrawing pupils from class have been changed and additional classroom support has been provided," he said.

Mr Eves was brought in by the local education authority to solve the school's problems after its head, Dr Glyn Hughes, went on leave before the Easter break.

A "significant" number of pupils had poor discipline

Apart from addressing disciplinary problems, Mr Eves will also take charge of the school's action plan, which it has to submit to inspection body, Estyn, by 24 May.

"The pupils need to believe that the school is now different and I am more than satisfied this has happened to good effect so far," said Mr Eves.

"It is also important to point out that the staff and governors at Brecon have made a significant contribution by agreeing to let me be seconded until the end of August," he added.

Newtown High School's chairman of governors, Brian Harris, said the changes made at the school had already had an effect and the governing body were pleased with the progress made so far.

Mr Eves was appointed in response to the damning school report by inspectors which pinpointed poor discipline amongst "a significant number" of the 900 pupils.

This led to the National Union of Teachers blaming the school leadership, including Dr Hughes, because members of the 75-strong staff felt unsafe.