Council says action plan is underway, with strengths identified alongside areas for improvement

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL will work with Pembrokeshire County Council to address recommendations made in a recent Estyn inspection, the authority has said.

The council said it accepted the report in full and is committed to driving improvements “at pace” to ensure better outcomes for pupils.

Council officers have welcomed visits from Estyn to support work on a draft post-inspection action plan, with work on that plan “well underway,” according to the statement. The authority said its teams are working with the school to ensure the necessary support is in place.

The council added it was confident improvements can be delivered effectively and said it looks forward to demonstrating progress during Estyn monitoring visits.

It said the work will include providing both support and appropriate challenge to the school’s leadership team and governing body, to ensure they have the right capacity and backing in place, while keeping a clear focus on sustained improvement in pupils’ outcomes.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “Our priority is ensuring that all learners at the school have access to high quality teaching and learning and maintaining the wellbeing of every learner.”

Despite the challenges highlighted in the inspection, the council said Estyn also recognised strengths at Milford Haven School, including its caring and inclusive community, a broad and balanced curriculum, digital and wider skills opportunities across the curriculum, and the promotion of positive behaviour by school leaders.

The council said these strengths provide a platform for improvement and reflect the commitment of both the school and the local authority to support learners’ future success.

Parents, carers and the wider community will be kept informed through regular updates and engagement events, the council said.

Further details of the post-inspection action plan will be published on the Milford Haven School website once it has been approved by Estyn.

POST-16 sector invited to respond to evidence paper as rising costs, skills needs and participation gaps come under scrutiny

UNIVERSITIES, colleges, schools, learners and businesses across Wales are being urged to share their views on the future of post-16 education and research.

The call was issued by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells, following the publication of a Welsh Government evidence paper titled The Future of Tertiary Education in Wales.

The document sets out a range of challenges facing further and higher education and seeks responses to help build an evidence base that will inform future policy.

Among the issues highlighted are participation gaps, rising costs for both learners and institutions, demographic change, competition between education providers, and the need to better align skills provision and research with the needs of the Welsh economy.

Announcing the call for evidence, Vikki Howells said the system faced pressures that could not be tackled by government alone.

“The challenges facing our post-16 education system are too complex for us to solve alone,” she said. “Universities, colleges, schools, employers and learners hold vital insights about what is working, what is not, and what is possible.”

She said reforms had already been delivered, including the establishment of Medr and the maintenance of the Welsh Government’s approach to student support, but warned there were further challenges that needed to be addressed.

“This call for evidence is our opportunity to build on our progress, and your expertise will shape Wales’s future,” she said. “This is your opportunity to influence the future direction for your institution, your staff, your learners and your communities.”

The minister said she would be visiting Bangor University and Coleg Meirion Dwyfor this week to meet staff and students and hear their views on the pressures facing the sector.

“These conversations will build on my ongoing dialogue with the sector, and will be an essential part of this work,” she said.

The call for evidence is open from January to March 2026.

A GROUP of residents marked the New Year in traditional style this week by taking Calennig singing to the parish streets — and using the evening to raise awareness of the proposed closure of Ysgol Clydau.

Organisers said the walk blended a long-standing local custom with a serious message, as campaigners continue to encourage families and residents to respond to Pembrokeshire County Council’s consultation on the school’s future.

Although numbers were small, those who took part described the evening as upbeat and positive. The weather remained dry, the sky stayed clear, and the group stopped to speak to people along the route, handing out leaflets and discussing what the school means to the area.

Supporters said the event underlined the strength of community spirit in the Clydau area — something they believe is closely tied to the presence of the rural school, not only as a place of learning but as a focal point for local life.

Sarah Farnden, a parent at Ysgol Clydau, said: “Ysgol Clydau is at the heart of our community. It’s where our children learn, but also where friendships are formed and traditions are passed on. Nights like the Calennig remind us how important the school is in bringing people together. Losing it would mean losing a vital part of who we are.”

Consultation open until January 23

Pembrokeshire County Council launched a public consultation on the proposal in December, with responses invited until Friday, January 23.

The council says the proposal follows a review of education provision, taking into account pupil numbers and the use of school places across the wider area.

The issue has already prompted a strong public response, with a petition opposing closure gaining significant support and triggering further discussion among councillors.

Campaigners have also questioned the timing of the consultation over the Christmas period, arguing that families and residents should be given every reasonable opportunity to consider the proposals and respond.

Supporters of Ysgol Clydau say closure would have consequences beyond education, warning it could weaken the fabric of the rural community and reduce opportunities for children to learn and socialise close to home.

Organisers of the Calennig walk said the evening showed how local traditions still bring people together — and can also be used to highlight modern-day challenges facing the community.

They are urging anyone with a stake in the school’s future — parents, former pupils, residents and local organisations — to make sure their views are submitted before the consultation deadline.