A FATHER of pupils at a Rhyl school whose head and deputy remain absent has accused it of showing “disrespect” for playground equipment which he donated hundreds of pounds towards.

The dad, who asked not to be named, said he provided Christ the Word Catholic School, on Cefndy Road, with more than £400 in 2021 towards equipment such as bats, balls and football goals.

But having considered making another donation, he said he has decided against it after being informed that much of it has since been “lost or broken”.

Christ the Word Catholic School, on Cefndy Road, was put into special measures following an Estyn report published in July, after an inspection took place in May.

Its headteacher and deputy have been absent since November, with Bernadette Thomas since appointed as acting head.

The school’s website lists its headteacher as Amanda Preston and deputy head as Joe White.

The dad said: “I told Mrs Preston: ‘I’ve got this money. If I don’t do this, I’m only going to waste it on buying the kids Happy Meals,’ and asked what the school needed.

“The staff made a list of things they would like, I went in and had a sit-down with her, transferred her the money, and they bought the equipment.

“I was considering donating again in the near future but as of now, I am holding off. There are a few reasons why.

“Mrs Preston told me she'd never had a parent donate funds to a school like this and it was my pleasure to have done.

“But since then, my children have informed me that quite a bit is either lost or broken.

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“I’m gutted, because it was bought in the name of my mum, who was a teacher herself.

“Secondly, Mrs Preston was available for a chat some mornings outside of the school front doors. I didn’t talk to her much, but when I did, it was always positive and informative.

“I still have no idea who the new head (Bernadette Thomas) is, or what she looks like. A lot of parents are finding it difficult to communicate with the school as a whole.”

The £23million school opened in September 2019 and caters for children aged between three and 16, having replaced secondary school, Blessed Edward Jones Catholic School, and primary school, Ysgol Mair.

The father added that he is under the impression that the head and deputy remain absent due to “safeguarding issues”, and urged the re-establishment of a parent-teacher association.

He also expressed his disappointment at hearing from his children that the acting headteacher has taken away “golden time” – a section of the day dedicated to allowing primary school pupils to be creative.

If you are a parent of a pupil at Christ the Word Catholic School and would like to talk the Journal, feel free to email matthew.chandler@newsquest.co.uk.

The father said: “My child enjoyed golden time because he gets to build things.

“All of his teachers have said he’s really good at building things, and are trying to push him along the idea of becoming an engineer.

“No more golden time means no more building things, which means (he’s) less likely to be pushed into an engineering career.

“It’s no longer about the child; it’s about the test results, so the school can get, or don’t miss out on, more funding.

“My children love the school, but I’d like the school to find a nice middle ground, with a head who can take control of the school without taking creativity away.”

Both Denbighshire County Council and Christ the Word declined to comment when approached.