Education
Tories and Labour clash over FE

WELSH CONSERVATIVES have raised serious concerns over enrolment in further education and called on Labour Ministers to ‘stop the decline before it’s too late’. However, a spokesperson for the Welsh government hit back by stating that the Tories had a mess to clear up which they had created.
Local Assembly Member and Shadow Minister for Education Angela Burns said: “Recent numbers from StatsWales show that the number of Further Education (FE) enrolments during 2013-14 fell compared to 2012-13 by 4.1pc. But even more worryingly, the number of people from deprived backgrounds that enrolled during the same period decreased by 2.6pc.
“People living in poverty need education and skills to help attain a better standard of living and contribute to our economy. Indeed, Welsh Government say that one of the overarching policy goals in education is to break the link between deprivation and attainment. Given the swingeing cuts to Further Education introduced this year by the Labour Government I am deeply concerned that there will be a further drop in these numbers in future academic years.
“Our Further Education Institutions have been remarkably adept at weathering the storms that have blown through Education in recent years but the drop in admissions and the cuts in funding are going to put our Colleges under immense pressure.”
Mrs Burns added: “Labour must stop the decline before it’s too late. Such a significant fall in FE enrolment raises extremely serious questions, particularly within deprived areas. Labour claim they’re committed to closing the attainment gap – yet these figures confirm they’re failing spectacularly. It’s in deprived areas where the most significant support is required to encourage further education, advance skills and boost jobs growth. Since they (Labour) took over the reins of our education system in 1999, standards have declined dramatically.
“We need a swift strategy that deals with the problem and guarantees that Labour’s huge FE cuts are not hitting the frontline and causing fatal damage to our FE institutions.”
Hitting back, a spokesperson for the Education Minister Huw Lewis said of the comments: “The Tories need to spend more time fixing the mess they have created in English Further Education before they start criticising Welsh colleges. Just this week the National Audit Office published a report on the financial health of Further Education in England which makes for pretty worrying reading. Under the Tories watch half of all colleges in England are experiencing financial difficulty and the whole system is at risk of meltdown.
“Despite the £1.4bn the UK Government has cut from the Welsh budget since 2010, we have protected FE provision for 16-18 year olds here in Wales and gone beyond our statutory duty to protect provision for 19 year olds as well. We have also maintained funding for Traineeships and are continuing to fund Apprenticeships for 16-24 year olds as well as all-age Higher Level Apprenticeships. We’ve also protected the deprivation grant we give to colleges and school sixth forms to support the education of learners from deprived backgrounds.
“FE institutions in Wales have anticipated that UK funding reductions were likely to have an effect on their budgets and adapted accordingly. There are some very good examples where colleges have generated privately funded income through engagement with local businesses. Being responsive to employers’ needs and building on good practice is now more important than ever.”
Education
Welsh Government urged to match England’s £1.2bn apprenticeship investment

Training federation warns of sharp fall in apprentice starts across Wales
THE ORGANISATION representing training providers across Wales has called on the Welsh Government to prioritise apprenticeships and skills funding in the wake of a major investment announcement in England.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the UK Government’s spending review last week that £1.2 billion per year will be committed to boosting apprenticeships and training opportunities for more than one million young people in England.
With the Treasury allocating around £23 billion to the Welsh Government, the National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW) is now urging ministers in Cardiff Bay to invest a greater share in workforce development and expand the nation’s apprenticeship programme.
The call comes amid growing concern over a decline in new apprenticeship starts in Wales. A recent statistical release from Medr, the national regulator for tertiary education, revealed 1,880 fewer apprenticeships were started between August 2023 and January 2024 compared to the same period a year earlier.
The drop, equivalent to a 15% reduction, has disproportionately affected critical sectors. Construction, seen as vital to future infrastructure delivery, recorded a 26% fall in starts. Health and Social Care, essential to NHS Wales staffing, saw a 10.5% decline.
NTFW says the decline is partly due to the failure to replace EU structural funds lost post-Brexit, which had previously supported skills and training initiatives across the country.
Despite the funding challenges, Wales continues to deliver one of the highest apprenticeship completion rates in the UK — 74% on average, compared with 61% in England and 62% in Northern Ireland.
The NTFW argues that apprenticeships are key to three major policy areas: economic growth, social mobility, and the sustainability of the healthcare system. According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, doubling apprenticeship investment over the next Senedd term could add £3.4 billion in lifetime earnings across Wales over the next three decades.
Lisa Mytton, strategic director at the NTFW, said: “The Welsh Government could achieve crucial economic, health and education priorities by investing more in apprenticeships and replacing the lost European funding.
“Greater investment will create pathways for people of all backgrounds — whether starting their careers or reskilling — and will strengthen industries that are essential to Wales’ long-term prosperity.
“Large employers operating on both sides of the border are already questioning why opportunities are growing in England but declining in Wales. Without urgent action, we risk falling behind.”
The call to action follows what the federation described as a “positive and constructive” meeting last Thursday between NTFW board members and the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS. The Minister was said to be receptive to the concerns raised and acknowledged the wider economic impact of a strong apprenticeship programme.
Photo caption:
Lisa Mytton: NTFW director calls on Welsh Government to match UK apprenticeship funding (Pic: Supplied).
Education
Last chance to apply for fully funded green skills apprenticeship

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.
Education
New Carmarthenshire special school finally approved after fierce backlash

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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ian campbell
August 24, 2015 at 1:29 pm
the block grant to wales is by the barnett formula wag have no control.fe in england is under extreme pressure as fe has to pay vat so cannot compete with six forms.
burns is joining the cameron misinformation about wag failings wag can only spend the money it has been given.
FE for many students is their best choice, only discipline is that they work hard or are asked to leave.
ian campbell