News

Teacher training system is ‘in chaos’

Published

10 years ago

December 3, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Huw Lewis: Teacher training is chaotic

WELSH Government Labour Minister for Education, Huw Lewis has labelled the teacher training system in Wales as both chaotic and lacking order. Speaking on the BBC programme, ‘Sunday Politics Wales’, he stated that teachers needed to step up to the challenge of continual changes to their training and professional development. He also re-iterated his belief that the new Wales-only GCSE’s, due out next year, would be both robust and tough. He also spoke about schools’ legal duty to explain how they meet staff professional development needs, which is part of a ‘new deal’ on teacher training that the Welsh government launched earlier this year.

The Minister said: “It’s quite often diffi cult for a teacher in a very busy school environment to be able to steer themselves in terms of career development through what is a maze of multiple courses on offer. It’s very diffi cult to know where to turn to next if you’re aiming for that promotion to be head of department, for instance. I want to bring order to that chaos and work alongside the professionals to make sure that we do have a career path that a teacher fi rst of all understands, that is available to every teacher and that they can navigate.”

He also commented on the changes to the GCSE programme saying that employers and universities must be ‘active partners’ in drawing up the new qualifi cations. He said that, ‘the Welsh Government had the evidence to be confi dent about saying that our new qualifi cations are robust, they will be portable, and they will be of the very highest level of excellence’. “They are tough qualifi cations – but that means they are worth having,” Mr Lewis added. Shadow Education Minister for Plaid Cymru Simon Thomas said: “This is an astonishing admission of failure by the Labour Minister. This Government has had four years to sort out teacher training and make sure it meets their aspiration for higher standards.

I have questioned the Minister on training and continuous professional development and he has refused my attempt to amend the law to get greater clarity. Now he admits our children are being taught by poorly trained teachers. Pembrokeshire schools are underfunded. We want to put that right. When we secure the money Wales is owed, we will invest in our schools so they can improve standards. Good teaching and strong leadership are the most important factors in raising standards in the classroom. Currently teaching standards in Wales are inconsistent within as well as between schools, according to education watchdog Estyn.

Under this current Welsh Government teachers and headteachers have to deal with too much bureaucracy and this prevents them from innovating in the classroom and leading on standards in schools. As an Education Minister I would invest in comprehensive training for the existing and future education workforce on literacy, numeracy, breaking the link between economic disadvantage and poor educational attainment, attendance and behaviour. We would develop a national tracking system to monitor pupils’ attainment to enable teachers to intervene early and offer tailored support when a pupil falls behind.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

26 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.