THE SPOTLIGHT will be on the Senedd election in May and the development ofa new Apprenticeship Programme for Wales, starting in August 2027, when work-based learning practitioners gather for their annual conference in March.

‘Shaping Skills for a New Era’ is the theme of the conference organised by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW), which represents work-based learning providers across the country, at Cardiff City Stadium on March 10.

Bookings are now open for the conference which marks a pivotal moment for the future of apprenticeships, with the Senedd election and the next phase of the new apprenticeship programme on the horizon.

“The strength of our sector lies in collaboration,” said Lisa Mytton, NTFW strategic director. “By bringing providers, employers and stakeholders together, we can design a future-ready apprenticeship programme that responds to industry needs, supports learners from every background, and builds a resilient workforce for a changing world.”

There will be speakers from Medr, the tertiary education regulator in Wales, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Cavendish Cymru, Agored Cymru – conference headline sponsor, and City & Guilds.

Cavendish Cymru will preview how the Senedd will change following the May 7 election, review recent polling and speculate about the likely composition of the new Welsh Government.

“Agored Cymru is delighted to continue its headline sponsorship of the NTFW Conference,” said Darren Howells, Agored Cymru chief executive. “By creating world class bilingual vocational qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks, it is our aim to drive economic growth and ensure the future skills needs in Wales are met through engagement, foresight and innovation.

“We are proud to work with such committed and passionate providers to ensure individuals, whatever their background or circumstances, have the knowledge and skills to achieve their career aspirations and to contribute to a prosperous and thriving economy.”

Delegates will also be able to participate in a series of eight workshops, including the future Apprenticeship Programme for Wales, which will be run by Medr. They will hear about key projects that are shaping the programme to be more responsive when addressing skills priorities for a changing economy.

In their workshop, Qualifications Wales will explore how to build meaningful, sustained relationships with employers, so that post-16 vocational regulated qualifications are matched to the evolving skills needed.

Resilient Futures Coach will lead an interactive workshop, giving practitioners a set of resilience-boosting tools they can use for themselves and with their learners, while Careers Wales will explore how impartial careers guidance empowers young people to make informed decisions about their future.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes skills across Wales, apprenticeships are on the frontline. Jisc’s workshop theme is ‘AI and skills for the future Welsh workforce’.

The Education Workforce Council will explore the role of professional registration and regulation in work-based learning, Estyn will explore literacy and numeracy skills support for apprentices and Regional Skills Partnership chairs will share the latest regional intelligence, emerging skills priorities and future plans.

ATTENDANCE was formally identified as one of the key weaknesses at Milford Haven School after inspectors placed the school into special measures — an issue that has also been raised at the Senedd as part of growing concern about school attendance across Wales.

In its November 2025 inspection report, Estyn made six recommendations for improvement at Milford Haven School, including a specific call to improve attendance, listed as Recommendation R5. Inspectors concluded that special measures were required and said progress would be monitored regularly.

The focus on attendance locally mirrors a broader national debate, after figures discussed in the Senedd showed that attendance levels across Wales remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels, particularly among vulnerable pupils.

During Spokesperson’s Questions to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Welsh Conservatives highlighted that more than half of the most vulnerable pupils in Wales were persistently absent during 2024/25, compared with 30.4 per cent in 2018/19. Persistent absence is defined as missing at least ten per cent of school sessions in a year.

The figures also showed that Year 11 pupils recorded the lowest attendance, averaging 86.8 per cent in 2024/25 — 6.4 percentage points lower than before the pandemic.

Political reaction

Following the exchange, Natasha Asghar MS, the Welsh Conservatives’ shadow cabinet secretary for education, said the Welsh Government was failing to meet its own targets on attendance.

She said the government had promised to restore attendance to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the current Senedd term, but warned that with only a few months remaining, that commitment looked unlikely to be met.

She said vulnerable pupils were being disproportionately affected, adding that behind the figures were children missing out on learning, with potential long-term consequences for their education and future prospects.

The Welsh Conservatives also criticised the recent Labour–Plaid Cymru budget agreement, arguing that it would not deliver the changes needed to improve attendance or educational outcomes.

Local and national pressure

Estyn’s recommendation to improve attendance at Milford Haven School comes alongside other concerns highlighted in the inspection, including teaching quality, leadership and management, facilities, and financial oversight.

The inspection found that attendance at the school was below that of similar schools and well below pre-pandemic levels — a pattern reflected across much of Wales, according to national data.

Education professionals and children’s organisations have repeatedly warned that attendance challenges are closely linked to wider issues, including mental health, additional learning needs, family pressures and disengagement following the pandemic.

What happens next

Under the special measures process, Milford Haven School is required to produce a detailed action plan setting out how it will address Estyn’s recommendations, including attendance. Inspectors are expected to return every four to six months to monitor progress.

Pembrokeshire County Council has previously said it is working closely with the school and Estyn to support improvements, while the Welsh Government has said it continues to work with local authorities to improve attendance and re-engage pupils.

As scrutiny of school standards intensifies both locally and nationally, attendance is likely to remain a central issue — for Milford Haven School and for education policy across Wales.

Mother raises concerns over delay in being informed following cannabis incident

A MILFORD HAVEN parent has raised serious safeguarding concerns after her 13-year-old son—who has ADHD and autism—was questioned by police at Milford Haven School in connection with suspected cannabis, without her being informed for several hours.

The police confirmed this, saying “We were called to a report that a small amount of cannabis had been found.”

Jenn Reynolds said the incident occurred at around 12:00pm, but she was not contacted until 5:00pm, when deputy head Mr Thomas phoned her. She alleges another pupil brought suspected cannabis into school and handed it to her son, Rhys, who she says was “forced” into looking after it. Rhys was searched and questioned by attending officers, and did not disclose the matter to his mother beforehand.

“My kid is vulnerable—he would agree to anything,” Ms Reynolds said. “He has additional needs, and I should have been notified immediately so I could be present during any search or questioning.”

She added that her son now faces disciplinary action, including possible expulsion or placement in the school’s “REMOVE” provision, an internal withdrawal or isolation room. Ms Reynolds also referenced a prior Year 7 incident in which her son was assaulted and footage circulated on Snapchat; she claims she was initially told the perpetrator was expelled but later learned it was only temporary, and her expressions of concern at that time led to a temporary ban from the school premises.

The matter is now being discussed in local parent group chats, with some encouraging escalation.

Council and school response

Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed its education and safeguarding teams are involved and that “appropriate communication was held with key agencies.”

On the delay in parental notification, a spokesperson said: “The parent should be advised of any safeguarding concerns as soon as possible—this may mean a delay as the school looks into the concerns and liaises with agencies such as police.”

The council emphasised support for vulnerable learners, adding: “Support is provided to any young person with an appropriate adult present and the process explained to them in a way which they would understand.”

In a further clarification, the authority confirmed that an appropriate adult was present during police interaction with the pupil. The council said the school would continue to maintain support and communication with the family.

Recent Estyn inspection and special measures

The incident comes against the backdrop of Milford Haven School being placed into special measures, Estyn’s most serious category of follow-up, following a core inspection, with the report published on Wednesday last week (Jan 22). Both the school and Pembrokeshire County Council have accepted the findings in full and committed to rapid improvements.

Estyn identified a number of areas requiring urgent action, including weaknesses in teaching quality and consistency, low pupil attendance—below that of similar schools and well below pre-pandemic levels—with particular concerns around pupils eligible for free school meals, shortcomings in self-evaluation and improvement planning, a need to strengthen leadership challenge, inadequate toilet provision for pupils, and the requirement for more robust financial management.

Despite these concerns, inspectors also highlighted several strengths, describing the school as a “caring and inclusive community” where pupils feel safe. Estyn praised the school’s work to promote positive behaviour, its use of restorative approaches to tackle bullying, the range of curriculum and digital skills opportunities on offer, and its commitment to supporting disadvantaged learners.

Pembrokeshire County Council said it is working closely with Estyn and the school on a detailed post-inspection action plan. Regular updates, engagement events, and communication with parents, carers, and the wider community are expected as improvements are implemented. Estyn monitoring visits are anticipated every four to six months until sufficient progress allows the school to be removed from special measures. Further details of the approved action plan are expected to be published on the Milford Haven School website.

The incident has prompted renewed local discussion about how schools—particularly those under heightened scrutiny—handle safeguarding, drug-related incidents, vulnerability among neurodivergent pupils, and timely parental involvement.

The Herald will continue to follow developments, including progress on the school’s improvement plan.