Paul Howell, local Member of Parliament for Sedgefield, visited Wellfield School in Wingate on Friday 29th April and spoke with staff and pupils about the challenges they had faced during the global Coronavirus pandemic as well as their plans and ambitions for the future.
Wellfield School, which has a pupil roll of just over 850 pupils, aged 11-16, is currently undergoing a period of transition, with a new headteacher expected to take office later in the year. Paul met with Linda Rodham, who served as head for a decade until the end of the 2020/21 school year, after which she took on the role of CEO of the New College Durham Academies Trust, as well as the current Deputy Head Mr Deon Krishnan.
Paul said: “I was always incredibly impressed by my interactions with Mrs Rodham and her outstanding team at Wellfield School. Wellfield made so much progress in the 10 years in which Mrs Rodham led it and it is fantastic to see that she is continuing to play a vital role as a Governor whilst the school is carving out a positive new path for the future with new leadership.
“It was particularly exciting to speak with the school council – which includes teenagers from years 7 to 11 – who reflected the enthusiasm and intelligence of the school body.
Miss Sarah Armstrong, who acts as Head of Transition at the School, facilitated the discussion and said: “The School Council were thrilled to meet their local MP. They discussed how school life had changed during Covid and asked questions about issues they are interested in. Our pupils are very proud of Wellfield School and always welcome the opportunity to meet visitors and talk about their school.”
