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Education

News from schools across the county

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THE JUNIOR and secondary schools in Pembrokeshire have been talking to us at The Herald about what has been happening and what will be happening at urdd-eisteddfod-logoschools this term.

Wolfscastle Community Primary School have been preparing for the Urdd Eisteddfod with stage performances and craft projects. Their willow maze is still looking as wonderful as ever and the Young Farmers of Fishguard will be coming in to re-weave it during half term. The Welsh Club have been thinking of topics that they can bring home and discuss with their family and neighbours in Welsh. They then talk about this in their assemblies. They have also taken part in National Story Telling Week, where the children have been reading to parents and each other.

Neyland Community School have just finished Science Week, but are currently learning about penguins and the Antarctic. They even have igloos in their classrooms. The eco committee in their school are working on a project to help protect the bees called ‘Natural Buzz’. Victoria Bookshop have provided chessboards so that the children can learn how to play chess in their morning library sessions. ‘Crw Cymraeg’ are working to promote the Welsh language in the school and they have ‘Family Learning’ to help parents and children with Welsh on Thursday afternoons. The Sleep Service will run again on February 9 to help parents and children who are experience sleep problems. They also have a book fair coming up, and the year six pupils will be going on their annual trip to the Llangrannog Urdd Centre to new skills and improve their Welsh later this month.

Broad Haven Primary School are in the middle of a new refurbishment. A total of £2.2m will go towards the schools extension, which will allow them to change their pupil age range from 4-11 to ages 3-11. They will also be refurbishing their outside areas and I.T infrastructure. They will have this ready for September when the children return from their summer holidays.

Mary Immaculate School have been excelling in regards to sport. Their netball team have made it through to the regional finals after becoming local winners. They hope to follow in the footsteps of last year’s netball team, who became runners up in the Welsh Championships. The girls football team were runners up in the Pembrokeshire tournament. Through their ‘Ddraig Goch’ scheme, they have been giving out weekly prizes encouraging the use of Welsh in school. Year 6 will be leading a parish mass at St. David’s and St. Patrick’s church. This is a huge thing for them. Year 3 are taking part in a concert next Wednesday (Feb 11) called ‘The Goblin Next Door’ while Year 6 go on a three day trip to Cardiff Urdd.

Puncheston Community School have set their weekly theme to ‘Come with me to the Land of Legends’, where all of the classes will be studying local and Welsh legends and myths. The school were recently visited by Silent World Aquarium, where the children were able to handle a number of animals native to the Pembrokeshire coast. The older pupils will be going to the River Gwaun for their Geography trip. Everyone will be preparing for both on and off stage events at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

So as you can see it’s a busy, but clearly very fun, term for many of Pembrokeshire’s schools!

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Education

Last chance to apply for fully funded green skills apprenticeship

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Coleg Sir Gâr offers businesses the tools to meet sustainability targets

WELSH employers are being urged to act quickly to secure a place on a fully funded apprenticeship scheme designed to equip staff with the green skills needed to cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, and meet net zero targets.

Coleg Sir Gâr has issued a final call for applications to its Level 3 Energy and Carbon Management Apprenticeship, part of its Green Skills Academy. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, 20 June, with limited places available due to high demand from businesses across the region.

The 18-month, part-time course is suitable for new recruits and current staff, offering a mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on learning. Apprentices attend in-person training just two days per month, making it easy to fit around regular duties.

Open to anyone over 18 living in Wales who is employed and not enrolled in another funded full-time course, the programme is fully funded for eligible applicants.

Jemma Parsons, Head of the Green Skills Academy, said: “The level of interest we’ve seen shows that Welsh employers understand the need to upskill their teams in energy and carbon management. This apprenticeship provides a vital opportunity to future-proof organisations, reduce costs, and build meaningful sustainability credentials.”

Organisations already signed up include Carmarthenshire County Council, Axium Process Ltd, LBS Builders Merchants, and Barcud.

Rhodri Griffiths, Head of Place and Sustainability at Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “We’re committed to tackling the climate emergency. This apprenticeship equips our employees with practical skills to reduce energy use and support our wider sustainability goals. It’s a key part of our response to climate change and helps us build a greener future for the county.”

The course strengthens participants’ ability to demonstrate environmental compliance, boost in-house expertise, and improve standing in procurement and supply chains. It forms part of Wales’ broader strategy to become a leader in energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

To register your interest or learn more, contact the Green Skills Academy at [email protected] or visit csgcc.ac.uk.

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Education

New Carmarthenshire special school finally approved after fierce backlash

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A LONG-DELAYED plan to build a new special school in Carmarthenshire has been approved, following a year of protests, public pressure, and political U-turns.

Ysgol Heol Goffa in Llanelli, which serves children with additional learning needs, has long outgrown its current site. A new building was first promised in 2017 at the former Draka copperworks site. However, last year, Carmarthenshire County Council said rising construction costs meant it could no longer afford the project—sparking fury from parents and carers.

In September 2024, around 300 people gathered on the steps of County Hall in Carmarthen in protest, accusing the council of breaking its word. Campaigners said children in need were being let down and demanded that the local authority keep its promise.

This week, councillors voted unanimously to approve revised plans that would see a new special school built after all—though the exact design and size remain undecided.

Chair of governors Owen Jenkins, speaking after the decision, said: “It’s a relief after a year of torment. We’re grateful to the community for their support, and we’ll be keeping the pressure on to make sure the new school is delivered.”

The council had previously pulled out of the original scheme in May 2024 due to financial pressures. An independent review of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision across Carmarthenshire was then launched and reported back in February, setting out six possible options.

Two were formally presented on Monday by Cllr Glynog Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Cabinet Member for Education. Both involve building a new special school:

  • One plan would see a smaller school for 150 pupils built at a cost of up to £35.4 million, alongside the creation of autism-specific units at local mainstream schools.
  • The other would expand the original plans to accommodate 250 pupils, including those with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), at an estimated cost of up to £51.2 million.

Cllr Davies told the meeting that the “welfare of children is the obvious priority,” but added that any decision had to take into account the serious costs involved.

Although the story centres on Llanelli, the issues will be familiar to many in Pembrokeshire, where families with children who have additional needs often face long waits and limited local provision. Campaigners say the decision sends a clear message that specialist education must remain a priority, even during financial hardship.

Mr Jenkins said the school looked forward to a “positive dialogue” with the council in the months ahead.

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Education

Ceredigion County Council launches new graduate scheme

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Six paid placements open across key departments

CEREDIGION County Council has announced the launch of a new Graduate Scheme aimed at giving recent university graduates a foothold in professional public service careers.

The initiative, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offers six paid placements across a variety of departments, including Planning, Carbon Reduction, Engineering, Legal, Public Protection, and Youth Work.

Eifion Evans, Chief Executive of Ceredigion County Council, said:
“We are excited to launch this scheme. It’s not only a great initiative to support our Corporate Wellbeing Objective of ‘Boosting the economy, supporting businesses and enabling employment,’ but also a fantastic opportunity for recent graduates to take their first step on the career ladder and access quality career opportunities in public service and beyond.”

Council Leader, Councillor Bryan Davies, added:
“This scheme represents a valuable investment in our county. It offers graduates the chance to pursue rewarding careers within the region and the communities where they were raised. We strongly encourage graduates to apply and look forward to building on this initiative in the years ahead.”

About the scheme

The scheme is open to applicants with relevant degrees, offering 12-month paid contracts. Graduate Trainees will earn while they learn, gaining tailored support and training to develop specialist skills and a strong foundation for future employment.

The six areas currently available are:

  • Planning, Building Control & Development Management
  • Carbon Reduction, Energy & Asset Management
  • Engineering
  • Legal
  • Public Protection (Environmental Health or Trading Standards)
  • Youth Work

How to apply

Applications are now open via the Ceredigion County Council careers website. An online information session will be held on Monday, 9 June, for interested candidates to learn more about the roles and working life at Team Ceredigion.

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