PLAID CYMRU has raised concerns over what it describes as a “recruitment crisis” in Welsh secondary schools, after new figures showed the Welsh Government fell significantly short of its Initial Teacher Education (ITE) target for 2024/25.

Only 335 trainee teachers successfully completed their qualification last year, against a target of 1,056, according to data highlighted during a Senedd scrutiny session on Wednesday (Nov 12).

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson, Cefin Campbell, challenged Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle on the figures, arguing that the current incentive system for new teachers is “fragmented” and failing to attract enough candidates to key subjects.

He said the Welsh Government currently offers up to £25,000 through three separate incentive schemes – covering priority subjects, Welsh-medium teaching, and support for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) candidates – but noted that no trainee last year qualified for all three combined schemes, suggesting the support system is too complex.

Mr Campbell said that, given persistently low recruitment numbers in subjects such as maths, sciences and Welsh, ministers should consider simplifying the system and increasing financial support for trainee teachers. Plaid Cymru has proposed a single combined incentive of up to £30,000 for priority subjects.

However, the Welsh Government defended its approach, stressing that a range of reforms are already under way. A spokesperson said ministers are working with universities and schools to strengthen teacher training pathways, increase support for Welsh-medium recruitment, and improve public awareness of teaching as a career.

The Welsh Government also pointed to wider UK-wide challenges in teacher recruitment and retention, with shortages affecting subjects such as physics, chemistry and design technology across England and Scotland as well as Wales.

Officials said the new ITE partnership model and additional investment in mentoring and school-based training will help increase numbers in the coming years.

Further updates are expected as the Education Department continues its long-term workforce planning review.

FOUR children were taken to hospital after smoke began filling a school bus outside Ysgol Bro Gwaun in Fishguard on Tuesday afternoon (Nov 4).

The incident occurred on the 503 school route operated by Richards Bros, when a fault in the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system caused a foul-smelling smoke to pour from the vents.

Witnesses said the bus was stationary outside the school when pupils first noticed the problem. Some attempted to leave via the emergency exit but were reportedly told to remain on board. The driver then moved the bus a short distance to the school’s astro-turf area, where the pupils were briefly allowed off.

Parents later reported that some children developed headaches, sore throats and nausea after inhaling the fumes. Four pupils were later taken to hospital as a precaution after contacting NHS 111 for advice. All were discharged the same evening.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson confirmed that the issue was caused by a melted electrical component within the heating system, which had produced the smoke.

They said the bus was immediately stopped, the fault isolated, and the vehicle removed from service for inspection. A full safety check has since been completed, and the problem has been rectified.

The council added that pupil safety “remains the highest priority” and that it continues to work closely with the transport provider to ensure all school buses meet required safety standards.

The Herald understands that the driver acted promptly once alerted to the problem and that the bus was around 15 minutes late leaving the school site as a result of the incident.

A PUBLIC consultation on the potential closure of a Pembrokeshire school, severely damaged in a fire just over three years ago, has now been launched.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but earlier this year members of Pembrokeshire County Council backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which, amongst other recommendations, included a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,200 people to date signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

At the July meeting, St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) said it had always required that the school be reinstated and was against the proposal to discontinue Manorbier, asking: “Would a consultation on the closure of Manorbier VC School have been proposed had it not been ravaged by fire?”

Earlier this year councillors heard Manorbier has seen “a 59.8 per cent decline in the school’s pupil population during the period 2015-2025, with no indication that this will be significantly reversed during the next 5-6 years,” a report for members said, adding: “This decline cannot be attributed wholly to the fire which occurred in October 2022, with a 30.7 per cent decline from 2015 to 2022.”

It added: “The school’s capacity is 86 but there has been an increasing level of surplus places at the school, reaching 74.4 per cent in 2025. The school has been in a position of having significant surplus places (>25 per cent) for at least seven years.”

It said that most children living in the Manorbier school catchment attend other schools in the area, in 2024 only 15 children (18.5 per cent) living in the school’s catchment attended Manorbier school.

The capital cost of rebuilding Manorbier VC School, at the time of that meeting, was estimated to be £2.6 million.

At the July meeting, local member Cllr Phil Kidney said the diocese’s response “shows the council in a very bad light, steamrolling the closure no matter what”.

He added: “Of course we should rebuild this school,” adding: “We have an obligation to rebuild this school, it’s time to make the right decisions.”

Cabinet member for education Cllr Guy Woodham responded, saying a consultation was not a done deal: “We’re not at a situation yet where any decision has been taken; I can’t agree we’re ‘steamrolling’ it through.”

The formal consultation for the discontinuation of Manorbier Church in Wales voluntary controlled school opened on November 5 and runs until December 19.

The report is available on the council’s website, and hard copies are obtainable on request at [email protected] or by calling 01437 775164.

At the end of the consultation the feedback will be presented to a future meeting of the county council, members then considering whether to proceed with the proposal or not.

Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald