News
Minister welcomes progress in closing attainment gap
NEW figures out today show the Welsh Government is making good progress in closing the attainment gap between those pupils eligible for free school meals and those not.
Education Minister, Huw Lewis has thanked Regional Consortia, local authorities and schools for their ongoing efforts to break the link between poverty and educational attainment but has said there is still more work to be done.
The latest statistics show pupils eligible for Free School Meals are performing at historically high levels and that there was an overall 2 percentage point rise in their performance between 2013 and 2014.
The more detailed figures show the gap in attainment between pupils eligible for free school meals and their counterpart has reduced at Foundation Phase level, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.
Indeed at Foundation Phase level the Welsh Government has already met and exceeded its target to reduce the attainment gap by 10% against 2012 levels by 2017, and had secured a 11.6% reduction by the end of 2014.
Welcoming the figures, Education Minister Huw Lewis said: “These statistics show that we are starting to see real progress in breaking the link between deprivation and educational attainment, particularly at the Foundation Phase level. I am very encouraged by this and would like to thank Regional Consortia, local authorities and schools across Wales for their ongoing hard work. Despite this progress, there is no doubt that we still have a long way to go. I am continuing to introduce policies aimed at ensuring that children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds do as well as their peers. Indeed we will soon be publishing the results of our new Categorisation system which has been designed specifically to ensure that schools can only achieve the highest green category if a percentage of their pupils eligible for free school meals are performing at the highest levels. It is this sort of approach that will ensure that all learners in Wales, whatever their background and given every opportunity to succeed.”
Last year the Education Minister launched ‘ Rewriting the Future’: Raising ambition and attainment in Welsh schools’ which sets out the Welsh Government’s commitment to tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment and what it expects Regional Consortia, local authorities and schools to do to support learners from more deprived backgrounds.
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
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
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.
Crime
Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm
THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.
Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.
The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.
“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.
“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.
“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”
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