LAMPHEY PRIMARY SCHOOL is celebrating a positive inspection report from Estyn, the body responsible for inspecting education and training providers in Wales.

The school, inspected earlier this academic year, received high praise as a ‘highly inclusive school’ which ‘supported pupils’ well-being exceptionally well.’

Inspectors commended Lamphey Primary for its ‘nurturing and harmonious’ atmosphere, noting that pupil behaviour across the school was ‘exemplary’.

The report highlighted that nearly all pupils made ‘exceptionally effective progress’ in developing their speaking and listening skills.

Additionally, the school was commended for prioritising reading development, ensuring that nearly all pupils cultivate a love for books and stories by the time they leave making excellent progress.

Headteacher Mr Thomas expressed his delight at the recognition from Estyn, stating: “We are thrilled that Estyn has acknowledged some excellent practices at our school, as well as the hard work and collaboration of our entire school community.

“This report highlights how we have created a caring and inclusive learning environment that allows pupils to thrive both academically and socially. I am incredibly proud of our whole school community.”

The positive feedback from Estyn reflects the dedication and commitment of Lamphey Primary School to providing high-quality education and fostering a nurturing environment for all its children.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham said: “To see a second fantastic report in as many weeks is a real boost for our education community and testament to the hard work educators are putting into their schools and learners.

“Congratulations to Lamphey School and all those that are dedicated to the children there for this excellent Estyn report.”

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced plans to end business rates relief for certain fee-charging schools, reallocating the funding to bolster local public services.

Currently, all charities in Wales benefit from at least 80% relief on their non-domestic rates bills, a policy that includes some fee-charging schools. The proposed change will align independent schools with charitable status to the same tax treatment as non-charitable independent schools regarding non-domestic rates.

Similar measures have already been enacted in Scotland, and the UK Government is planning comparable reforms in England.

Following a public consultation last year, the Welsh Government made adjustments to ensure that relief will continue to apply to independent special schools where the majority of learners are placed by local authorities as part of their additional learning provision.

If approved by the Senedd, the changes will take effect on 1 April 2025.

Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, said: “We believe independent schools with charitable status in Wales should be treated in the same way as those which are not charities.

“By removing this tax break, we can free up as much as £1.3m every year to support local public services.”

LAMPETER is to cease to have any university education with its humanities courses transferred to Carmarthen, ending undergraduate teaching at Wales’ oldest university, following a decision by University of Wales Trinity St David this week.

Lampeter University students learned of the decision  just days after more than 100 students and alumni took their battle to save the university to the Senedd.

Former students, including Escape to the Country TV presenter Jules Hudson, travelled to Cardiff from all over the UK to take part in a four-hour protest outside the Senedd on Tuesday, January 21.

They were joined by Lampeter residents and councillors, along with current students, who came down by coach from the former St David’s University College.

The students face having to move in September to a different campus in Carmarthen under controversial plans by the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) to relocate all humanities courses away from Lampeter.

This would end undergraduate education after almost 200 years in the town.

Protesters held banners declaring “St David V Goliath” and “Achub campws Llambed” (Save the Lampeter campus).

Speeches of support were given by several members of the Senedd, including Cefin Campbell and Adam Price, town councillor and former student Rhys Bebb Jones, and TV presenter and ex-archaeology student Jules Hudson.

MS Elin Jones called for a more appropriate time frame for the decision and for current students to be able to complete their courses in Lampeter, and for the Welsh Government to intervene.

The protest was organised by Esther Weller of the Lampeter Society, a group of thousands of Lampeter alumni, and was staged a month after around 100 campaigners marched through Lampeter and held a demonstration outside the university.

A petition to save the university has come close to collecting 6,000 signatures online and on paper.

Since then, a letter from University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Chief Operating Officer Peter Mannion has been received today, January 23, and shared by students.

It says: “On November 11, 2024 the University informed students and staff at the Lampeter campus of a proposal to move its current and future Humanities teaching and learning to the UWTSD campus in Carmarthen from September 2025.

“Since then, the University has engaged in regular conversations with students and staff to listen to their responses to the proposal and undertaken a formal consultation with trades unions and affected staff. Discussions have also been held with external stakeholders representing local, regional and national interests.

“The University has now concluded its decision-making process and approved the proposal to relocate its Humanities provision from Lampeter to Carmarthen.

“The preparation and practical considerations for this forthcoming change will be communicated with you over the next few weeks.

“We are very grateful for the engagement from students and staff which has made an essential contribution to challenging and helping to further develop the original proposal.

“As you know, the Lampeter campus is of great importance to the University. We will shortly be establishing a mechanism by which we can involve stakeholders in proposing a range of economically viable, education-related activities that would bring a new, sustainable lease of life to the campus.”

The University of Wales Trinity St David has published an identical statement.