YSGOL Dyffryn Taf in Whitland went into partial lockdown on Wednesday (Sept 11) after two pupils received a threatening message on social media.

In response to the threat, the school implemented safety measures, locking all external doors during lesson times. Staff were positioned to supervise corridors, and pupils were instructed to remain in their classrooms. The lockdown was lifted later in the afternoon, and the school resumed normal operations today.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed: “Concerns were raised following a threatening message made on social media against two pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Taf. The school took appropriate safeguarding action, which concluded swiftly. To provide reassurance, officers from the local neighbourhood policing team were present at the end of the school day. Police enquiries are ongoing.”

Parents and carers were promptly informed of the situation once the school became aware of the threats. In a statement posted on Facebook, Alun Owen, headteacher of Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, explained: “I am writing to inform you that I had to take the decision to place the school into a state of partial lockdown this afternoon. This precautionary measure was in response to information we received earlier today.

“We locked all external doors during lessons. Teaching and learning continued as normal, but pupils remained in class at all times. Staff supervised corridors and the site perimeter.”

Mr Owen confirmed that the partial lockdown has since been lifted, stating: “The risk associated with this incident has now passed.”

Police continue their investigation into the origins of the social media threats.

Parents and pupils have been reassured that appropriate actions were taken to safeguard the school community.

FOLLOWING the successful completion and handover of the new-build school, Ysgol Bro Penfro opened its doors to pupils for the first time on Thursday 5^th September. The school represents an exciting new chapter for Welsh medium education in Pembrokeshire and will serve as a Welsh medium primary school for the whole of the south west of Pembrokeshire.

The Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro building project has been funded by the Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, and Pembrokeshire County Council, and provides full day-care for up to 36 children aged 0-11 years, a 30 place nursery, and capacity for up to 210 pupils (Reception to Year 6).

The school represents a landmark project, not only for its status as a Welsh medium school, but also due to it being the first school in Pembrokeshire to be delivered to meet stringent Net Zero Carbon requirements.

The school was built by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd with approximately 21% of all sub contracts being awarded to Pembrokeshire companies.

Cllr. Guy Woodham Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said:

“I am delighted to see Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro open its doors to pupils for the first time. This new school is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality Welsh medium education and creating sustainable, state-of-the-art learning environments.

“The investment in this project not only supports the educational needs of our children but also reinforces our dedication to environmental responsibility. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this school will have on our community and the future generations of Pembrokeshire.”

The school’s Executive Headteacher, Dafydd Hughes, said that he was delighted to be in a position to welcome pupils to the new school.

“It is pleasing that nearly 140 children have come through the doors of this fantastic new facility and I am certain that we can ensure that we develop a successful educational setting which will provide pupils with the opportunity to thrive and flourish in a fully Welsh medium setting.  The focus will be on innovation and excellence in all aspects of the school’s daily work whether supporting pupils from an academic perspective or from a well-being perspective.  I want them to be proud of their language, their community and their school.”

The Council’s two Welsh Language Champions, Cllr Delme Harries and Cllr Aled Thomas added: “We are delighted that Ysgol Bro Penfro has opened and that the Council has invested in a new Welsh medium school to serve the wider Pembroke area. This investment, and Cabinet’s decision to widen the school’s catchment area, will further enable the expansion, and access to Welsh medium education in the county.”

A NEW report by Estyn has highlighted the ongoing negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pupils’ Welsh reading skills, emphasising the importance of promoting reading across the curriculum. The report, published today, explores how Welsh and bilingual schools are developing these crucial skills, revealing significant variations in reading standards among pupils aged 10 to 14.

The report, titled Developing Pupils’ Welsh Reading Skills from 10-14 Years of Age, outlines how the pandemic has affected pupils’ confidence and ability to read and communicate in Welsh. The findings indicate that, despite efforts by schools, many pupils continue to struggle with Welsh reading, and wide disparities remain between primary, secondary, and all-age schools.

Owen Evans, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, said: “It is unsurprising that we are still seeing the negative impact of the pandemic on pupils’ Welsh reading skills. However, our new report highlights good practice from schools and offers practical toolkits to help teachers develop pupils’ Welsh reading skills.”

The report identifies Welsh lessons and language sessions, as well as humanities subjects, as key areas where the most effective opportunities to develop reading skills occur. While many primary schools, and a few secondary schools, have successfully promoted reading for pleasure, the overall experiences designed to foster reading outside the classroom have decreased significantly, particularly in secondary schools, since the pandemic.

One of the challenges highlighted in the report is the difficulty of co-ordinating the development of reading skills consistently across different subjects and teachers, especially in secondary schools. This contrasts with primary schools, where a more unified approach is typically easier to implement.

Estyn has called for schools to strengthen opportunities for pupils to develop a broad range of reading skills across the curriculum. The inspectorate recommends that local authorities and the Welsh Government support schools in this endeavour. The report also presents a number of practical recommendations for school leaders, including a suite of toolkits designed to help teaching staff promote and enhance pupils’ reading abilities.

Evans added: “There are clear opportunities to improve how clusters of schools can work together to develop pupils’ reading skills and create more purposeful opportunities to nurture Welsh reading across the curriculum. Improving reading standards is a national priority, and we hope this report will help schools plan strategically to boost pupils’ interest, resilience, and confidence when reading in Welsh.”

Estyn’s report serves as a crucial reminder of the long-lasting effects of the pandemic on education, with a focus on how Welsh reading skills can be improved through a more integrated approach across all subjects. The inspectorate hopes that the report’s findings will spur school leaders, teachers, and policymakers to continue efforts in raising the standard of Welsh reading for pupils across Wales.