Union demands answers over fate of Welsh Government funding

SCHOOL leaders from Wales will this week call on their colleagues across the UK to support efforts to prevent children in Welsh schools from being ‘short-changed’.

At NAHT’s annual conference in Harrogate, leaders will raise concerns that additional funding received by the Welsh Government for education may not be reaching schools – or even being spent on education at all.

The funding in question, known as ‘consequential’ money, is triggered by additional education spending by the UK Government under the Barnett Formula, such as the commitments announced in last autumn’s budget.

However, NAHT Cymru says it has been unable to confirm whether any of the extra funding received by the Welsh Government has reached schools, despite lodging Freedom of Information requests with officials in both Wales and England.

At the same time, many headteachers in Wales are struggling to set budgets without making painful cuts, including to staffing. A recent NAHT Cymru survey found more than half (53%) of schools predicted they would be in deficit this academic year.

Dean Taylor, headteacher at Pentrepoeth Primary School in Bassaleg near Newport, will urge delegates at the conference to back a motion calling for education funding in Wales to be ring-fenced.

The motion states that “education consequential funding should be ring-fenced for spending on education at Welsh Government and local authority levels, ensuring that children and young people in Wales are not short-changed.”

It calls on NAHT’s national executive to use its bargaining and lobbying strength to demand that all education consequentials received by the Welsh Government are spent transparently and equitably across Wales.

The motion is seconded by Rebecca Penn, headteacher at Charles Williams Church in Wales Primary School in Caerleon.

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru’s national secretary, said: “At a time when schools are contemplating deficit budgets, cutting pupil spending, and making staff redundant, they deserve answers from the Welsh Government about the destination of this extra funding.

“Without transparency, there will inevitably be suspicions that this money is not reaching schools. If that is the case, it will be even harder for schools to provide the education children deserve.”

Another motion, proposed by Kerina Hanson, NAHT Cymru’s vice president and headteacher at Pennard Primary School near Swansea, calls for the union to campaign for the reintroduction of the Small and Rural Schools Grant.

The motion states: “Small and rural schools are an integral part of the education system in Wales. For many communities across the nation, the school is the heart of that town or village.

“The Welsh Government’s Community Schools Initiative sits at odds with the reality that small and rural schools are not fairly funded or valued.”

It argues that restoring the grant would help ensure small schools are properly supported during discussions about school reorganisation, prioritising the educational experience of learners.

A third motion, proposed by NAHT Cymru president Dafydd Jones, headteacher at Ysgol Melyd in Prestatyn, urges the union’s executive to lobby the Welsh Government to fully implement the 26 recommendations made by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body last year.

So far, only seven recommendations have been actioned, with key measures – including protected leave for school leaders and better pay and non-contact time for additional learning needs coordinators (ALNCOs) – still outstanding.

The motion also calls for a fit-for-purpose school improvement service, maximising frontline funding and learner impact, following the Welsh Government’s commitment to review the middle tier consortia, which it describes as “overly bureaucratic.”

NAHT’s conference will take place on Friday 2 May and Saturday 3 May.

SIX volunteers at Angle RNLI Lifeboat Station have successfully completed key assessments, marking an important milestone in their ongoing training with the charity.

Earlier on Tuesday (Apr 29), crew members Nathen Houston, Anthony Thomas, Marc Blockwell, Bobby Davies and Neil Coles were all signed off on their Tier 2 competencies. The assessment, carried out during live exercise launches, tested their ability to carry out a variety of operational tasks safely and efficiently aboard the station’s lifeboat.

Tiered assessments are a core part of the RNLI’s structured training programme, designed to ensure volunteers are fully prepared to respond to emergencies at sea. Volunteers progress through the tiers as they demonstrate competence in areas such as navigation, boat handling, safety procedures, and teamwork under pressure.

Later the same day, Rhiannon Creese was successfully assessed as a Launch Authority. In this vital role, she will be responsible for authorising the launch of the lifeboat when required — a decision made in close coordination with HM Coastguard and other emergency services.

A spokesperson for Angle RNLI said: “These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. The training is thorough and challenging, and passing these assessments means they are ready to take on more responsibility during lifeboat operations.”

The RNLI relies on volunteers for the majority of its lifesaving work, with crew and shore-based personnel undergoing extensive training to ensure they are ready for the demands of maritime rescue.

Angle Lifeboat has seen an increase in volunteers since their rescue vessel has been spending time moored in Milford Haven at the Port Authority Jetty.

A WOMAN has been banned from keeping animals for seven years and handed a suspended prison sentence after pouring boiling water and bleach on a group of wild mice trapped in a wheelie bin.

Carys Ann Roberts, aged 28, of Cross Hands Road, Llanelli, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

Llanelli Magistrates’ Court heard that on 20 August 2024, at Maesawel, Black Lion Road, Cross Hands, Roberts caused unnecessary suffering to several small rodents — believed to be seven wild mice — by pouring bleach and boiling water over them, leading to burns and death.

Roberts had sent messages to a WhatsApp group of work colleagues, informing them of her intentions. Despite their pleas for her not to proceed, she carried out the act. The court heard she poured around half a bottle of bleach into the bin before adding boiling water from a kettle. After about five minutes, she placed the dead mice into a bin bag and left it out for collection the following day.

The matter was reported to police, who referred it to the RSPCA.

During sentencing on 17 April, the court was told that Roberts had apologised and claimed it was an error of judgement.

She was sentenced to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Roberts was also banned from keeping animals for seven years.

In sentencing remarks, the District Judge said: “This was a serious offence. Animals feel pain just as we do and are protected by law.”

An independent expert veterinary report presented to the court stated that the boiling water would have caused “severe burns” and “serious pain.” It added: “If the burns are extensive and involve most of the skin surface, they are liable to be fatal. Equally, depending on the quantity of water poured into the bin, the rodents may potentially have drowned, causing further pain, distress, and suffering.”

The report also confirmed that bleach would have caused “chemical burns.”

The court heard that Roberts had access to humane alternatives, including the offer of help from a pest control company or the option to release the mice away from the property.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said: “All animals — big and small — deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. These mice suffered greatly and died as a result of intentional actions. She had been offered an alternative and advised against what she did, but sadly the mice suffered unnecessarily.”

For those concerned about mice or other rodents, the RSPCA advises simple and humane deterrent methods.

Rebecca Machin, RSPCA Scientific and Policy Officer, said: “There are several kinds of mouse in the UK, and they are an important part of our wildlife. To deter mice around the home, the key is to remove sources of food that attract them. Food should be stored in airtight containers, and crumbs should be cleaned up.

“Cotton wool balls soaked in peppermint, eucalyptus, or spearmint oil may help deter rodents, and holes should be blocked with ‘mouse mesh’, a type of wire wool rodents cannot nibble through. In gardens, planting daffodils, wood hyacinth and alliums can also help, as rodents dislike them. Keeping gardens tidy and moving furniture can also deter them, as rodents dislike sudden changes.

“If deterrents do not work, a professional pest controller can remove rodents humanely. However, long-term success depends on removing whatever attracted them in the first place.”