TALENTED Pembrokeshire College learners proved once again that they are among some of the best young trainees in the UK bringing home seven medals and two highly commended awards in the WorldSkills UK Finals held in Manchester during November.

A total of 12 Pembrokeshire College learners secured places in the UK Finals after scoring highly in the national qualifiers. They joined over 400 competitors from across the UK competing for medals in over 40 different skills at this prestigious competition.

Their medal haul included a Gold medal for Ross Muller in the Inclusive Skills Horticulture competition, as well as Gold medals for the Inclusive Skills Enterprise team; Ryan Lambert, Denver Picton and Kirsty Jones. Meanwhile Erin Owens secured Silver in Beauty Therapy while Dylan Jenkins and Mason Briskham picked up Bronze in Inclusive Skills Media. Highly Commended awards went to Luke Roberts in Welding and Kaya Mujica in Beauty Therapy.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith commented: “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s magnificent competition. Each of you has showcased the exceptional talent and promise of our future workforce.

“Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth.

“Huge thank you to the judges, mentors, and organisers whose hard work and dedication make these events possible. Your efforts are helping to inspire and empower the next generation to succeed.”

Taking part in skills competitions is an important part of many courses at the College and allows learners to test their skills against the best of the best, learning how to work under pressure and giving them a real point of difference as they progress to employment or further study.

Dr Barry Walters, Principal at Pembrokeshire College commented: “We are incredibly proud of all the learners who made it through to the UK Finals.

“Competing at this level is proven to enhance a young person’s skills as well as helping them to develop key interpersonal and employability skills.

“As a College we are committed to equipping our learners with the skills to proactively contribute to the local, national and global economy and taking part in skills competitions forms a key part of this.”

To find out more about the range of courses available at the College go to the Pembrokeshire College website.

A PEMBROKESHIRE farm barn attraction, which gained a 3,500-strong petition of support to keep it running after previously being refused by planning officers, is now recommended to be turned down by councillors next week.

Late last year, Stuart Williams of Home Farm, Leweston, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers to retain the Willhome Farm Barn farm park – and ancillary buildings – built in June 2022.

The site – whose facilities were used by the council’s own educational providers and parents of children with learning difficulties – is home to rabbits, llamas, donkeys, poultry, owls, goats, ponies and pigs, along with a café building, public conveniences, a children’s play area, and parking.

It was refused due to highway safety concerns and fears it would generate additional foul water flows which are likely to result in an increase in phosphate levels in the Cleddau River.

Since the refusal by planners, a change.org petition, Grant Planning Permission for Willhome Farm Barn in Pembrokeshire, was set up by Hook-based Jessica Austin, which has attracted more than 3,500 signatures to date.

Jessica’s petition said: “This decision not only affects this resilient family but also impacts schools attended with over 6,000 pupils, by adults from local wellbeing centres and families with children who have autism or learning difficulties like mine.

“It’s important to note that there are no apparent issues with existing amenities. Roads or waterways. The refusal of planning permission seems unjustified and is causing unnecessary distress within our community.”

Earlier this year, the applicant submitted a fresh call – supported by local community council Camrose – for permission to be granted, which was again due to be decided by planning officers.

At the request of local county councillor, and former council leader, Cllr Jamie Adams, a special meeting was held in July to discuss whether a decision could be made by councillors rather than officers, which was unanimously supported.

The application was due to be heard at the October meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, with a recommendation of refusal, reasons including those given for the previous application.

At the start of the October meeting, members heard the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn to allow the applicant’s agent more time to address concerns, with the plans now returning to the December 3 planning committee.

The application is recommended to be refused on the basis officers say it is in an unsustainable location and would have a negative environmental impact through additional traffic movements, highways issues, and “it has not been established that the proposed development would not generate additional foul water flows which would result in an increase in phosphate levels in the Cleddau River catchment adversely affecting the Cleddau Rivers Special Area of Conservation”.

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be further discussed by councillors.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 considered a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs through Cariad Pet Therapy – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission read: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cited examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission added: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

At the November 28 meeting, Mr Thomas said both the Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club were against full-time school dogs due to welfare concerns, adding, in Pembrokeshire’s case, there had been animal and pupil welfare issues.

Calling for either a halt to school dogs, or the creation of a special welfare officer post, he said there was a “real concern the dog is there for the school and not the school there for the dog,” adding: “Animal welfare is not just about basic need but about emotional needs too.”

Members were told by officers that all such dogs in Pembrokeshire’s case were “safe and well,” and decisions on having school dogs came under the schools, and was “not the case the local authority has encouraged them to get dogs,” but “lessons had been learned” about a possible “too hard and too fast” move to having them in schools.

Following a proposal by Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall members agreed to hold a special seminar to look at the issue in more depth before any recommendation was made.