Situated in Heather Road, Newport, St Julian’s School has enjoyed a number of exciting changes recently, as KATH SKELLON reports.

DENISE Richards is relishing her post at the helm of a busy Newport school.

Now in her second year in charge at St Julian’s, she has overseen many exciting changes from a new modern cafeteria to a futuristic learning centre.

“Since I arrived 18 months ago, it has been extremely hectic as we look to build on the excellent foundations that have been laid.”

“It is a brilliant school and a pleasure to be a part of. The days just whizz by.”

Mrs Richards, who joined the school from one of the UK’s most improved schools, has an infectious enthusiasm for learning and providing opportunities in all corners of the school for her pupils.

“Learners are at the centre of all we do, and the life chances of young people are what matters most.”

One of her main aims is to ensure school-leavers are prepared to do well in a society despite the high rate of unemployment, as well as ensuring less able pupils can celebrate success alongside high achievers.

She said: “Our school is based around such values as courage, determination, respect and equality, and we live these values out daily.

“We are a genuine community school and see our role as being right at the heart of the community.”

At 101 years of age, St Julian’s is a school rich in history with a tremendous community past and present.

Mrs Richards said: “We are looking to combine both this great tradition while also having the vision to embrace the accelerating age of technology in a fast-changing world.

“It was thrilling this month to see that our head of modern foreign languages, Beverley Robertson won a prestigious teaching award, and our school is full of such inspirational teachers and staff.

“So much has been achieved in the last 18 months. We have managed to bring in a new modern restaurant facility, as well as a futuristic learning centre to replace the library.”

The Aspire Café was a previously tired social area and boys’ toilet block that was transformed and kitted out with grab-and-go chiller cabinets, breakfast bars, sofa seating and a 42-inch plasma screen. The learning resource centre has replaced the old library. While still stocking books, it was redesigned to become a technology hub.

Here, pupils have the most up-to-date technology at their fingertips from using wireless headphones to watch DVDs, to 3D plasma screens, iPads, interactive boards and a multitouch computer.

Learning manager Hilary Collins said the whole school has access and offers a place for study, revision and also the breakfast club.

She said: “It really is the hub of learning and provides a vibrant learning environment.

“We are constantly updating and bringing in the latest technology,”

Mrs Richards added: “Both have gone down extremely well with students.

“We want them to have the very best. We increasingly use technology such as iPads across our lessons and encourage creativity in learning.”

In another part of the school, year eight design and technology students are in the workshop area creating motorised buggies from scratch, out of wood.

Their skills and concentration are second-to-none as they use various tools to bring their designs to life.

In a year seven classroom, pupils are reading The Witches as part of their English studies in a room decorated with past projects from Shakespeare to Dracula. In the school grounds, year eight pupils are working through different sports, from shot putt to javelin as part of a PE module.

They spend two weeks on every event to get a taster as part of the curriculum.

The school also has a 70- place learning support department on site where staff support a range of abilities. The centre admits children from across Newport and offers high levels of support within a mainstream setting.

“The school has always had a well-earned reputation for its outstanding care and community for every single student,”

said Mrs Richards.

“In everything we put the students first. We are also aiming to see our students stretched to aim to achieve in their chosen fields whether academic, theatre, music or sport. We encourage students to go for their dreams and to aim for excellence.

“Our teachers work hard to ensure there are positive relationships with students, and this enables motivation to stay high right throughout the school years and especially at exam time.

“We always have big ambitions for every student and encourage their aspirations.

“It is also vital to ensure that every child is a happy child.

This is a brilliant school and we aim to get ever better.”

Factfile ● St Julian’s School, Heather Road, Newport,NP16 7JZ ● Head teacher: Denise Richards, pictured ● Deputy head teachers: Graham Barker and Rhys Evans.

● Chairman of governors: Dave Barry ● Pupils on roll: 1620 ● Ages: 11 to 19 AT the school’s last inspection, carried out in 2009 by Julia Helen Cantle Longville, St Julian’s was found to be an outstanding school where all are valued for the work that they do to promote excellence. Ms Cantle Longville said through inspirational leadership an ethos of respect, care and equality permeates the school.

It provides outstanding care and support and an inclusive education for all learners regardless of their ability and was awarded seven grade ones.