Headteacher is celebrating OBE (From Barry And District News)

Headteacher is celebrating OBE

A BARRY headteacher acclaimed for boosting the reputation of his school has been awarded an OBE.

David Swallow has been head of Barry Comprehensive since 1998. In early May, he was shocked when he received a letter stating he had been nominated for the order, and asking if he would he accept it.

He told the News: "I have absolutely no idea who put my name forward. Sometimes, you have a good hunch, but in this instance, I really have no clue.

"It came as a complete surprise to me. I didn't tell my three sons ( Guy, 16, Ben, 14, and Elliot, 12) until it was confirmed. Then my wife, Claire, and I took them out for a meal last weekend to celebrate."

A teacher of 29 years, this is Mr Swallow's fifth professional post. He said: "We've made such progress and the staff are all working well to keep standards rising. It is the team effort that won us praise so far. But we still have a lot of work to do and I have no intention of moving from here."

A mathematics teacher by trade, Mr Swallow was inspired to enter the profession by his own maths tutor, Ed Lewis.

He said: "It was the love and enthusiasm he had for his work that caught my attention, added to the way that he treated his students, the respect he had for them -and they had for him. So it was from the time of my A-levels I decided to become a teacher myself."

The governors of Barry Comprehensive were delighted with the accolade.

Kath Beaudette said: "Mr Swallow has provided outstanding leadership, at the head of great team. He leads from the front and by example. He never asks any member of staff to do anything he is not prepared to do himself."

She also praised his team and the students for their efforts.