Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education
On 11 December 2025, I announced the appointment of Professor Dylan E. Jones as Chair of Dysgu, effective from 5 January 2026, for a four‑year term. I am now pleased to confirm that four directors have also been appointed to the Board of Dysgu for four-year terms from 1 April 2026, following a rigorous and competitive public appointments process conducted in full accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
The newly appointed directors bring a breadth of expertise and a deep commitment to strengthening education in Wales:
- Jayne Woods is a chartered accountant and Welsh speaker who brings extensive experience in financial management, risk, and governance across the public sector to the Board.
- Trefor Jones is the respected headteacher of Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin. He has substantial leadership experience within the school system, including leading strategic improvement with a focus on professional learning and leadership.
- Claire Williams is an experienced headteacher with over 25 years’ experience in education and is currently the Head of ALN, Inclusion and Wellbeing in Torfaen Local Authority, where she leads the development of inclusive practice across education settings.
- Paul Jones is an experienced executive headteacher who brings significant expertise in post‑16 education. He has worked in Further Education as Director of Finance and Resources and as an Academic Registrar.
I welcome the wealth of knowledge and experience they bring from across the education sector. Their combined skills will strengthen Dysgu’s capacity to drive progress on my key priorities of improving literacy, numeracy, wellbeing, and inclusion for learners across Wales.
I am confident that the Board is now well-positioned to support Dysgu in delivering high‑quality, nationally consistent professional learning and leadership support, ensuring that practitioners at every stage of their careers receive the support they need to excel.