Our next individual to feature in our Meet the Staff segment leading up to Open Afternoon is Executive Principal John Waszek, who is a well-respected figure that has already made a lasting impression on all areas of life here at Rydal Penrhos.
Mr Waszek is a highly experienced Principal, having led St Edward’s College, Liverpool for 24 years from 1992 to 2016 during which time the school secured several “outstanding” inspections and was subsequently designated as “exempt” from inspection by the Department for Education.
He was previously a Head of Department and Boarding Housemaster at Rugby School.
Since leaving St Edward’s, Mr Waszek has been a School Effectiveness Adviser, working in a wide variety of settings with School Governors and Leadership teams on school improvement.
He is the Chair of Governors at St Aidan’s Primary School in Knowsley and has served as a Governor of Rydal Penrhos School since 2013 – a post he has now relinquished to enable him to take up the role of Executive Principal.
In addition to his various roles within education, Mr Waszek served as a Non-executive Director of the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital (Alder Hey) for several years at a very challenging time for the Hospital following the publication of the Redfern Report into organ retention.
He is currently advising the new medical school at Edge Hill University on student admissions’ criteria.
Speaking about Rydal Penrhos, Mr Wazsek said: “Every member of the Rydal Penrhos staff has a deep commitment to our pupils, and this ethos contributes to high academic attainment and enhanced progress which result in excellent examination results, as well as to their progression to universities which include Oxbridge and institutions within the Russell Group.
“Rydal Penrhos has remarkable facilities which enable us to make exceptional all-round provision for our pupils, and these are complemented by our location close by Snowdonia National Park, a focal point for outdoor education. We also enjoy the benefits of Colwyn Bay beach on the North Wales coastline, which provides both a stunning vista and ready opportunities for watersports.
“The range of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils is extensive and of high quality: it includes Music, Performing Arts, a thriving Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, a Sailing Centre accredited by the Royal Yachting Association, and one of the finest Golf Academy initiatives in the country. To this is added a rich and proud history of sporting success.
“The school can best be judged by meeting our pupils, who are invariably well-mannered, kind, respectful, well-educated, hardworking, excellent company and good fun.”
Our Pre-School, Pre and Senior School Open Afternoon will take place on Friday 4 October (2.30-5.30pm), and you can book your place here: https://rydal.wpengine.com/open-days-visits
