News

Improvement a priority for school

Published

12 years ago

December 12, 2013

A KEY Council Committee discussed how to improve Tasker Milward School on Tuesday, December 2.

The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed eight recommendations and concerns regarding the School’s performance with the headmistress, Mrs Maggie Haynes.

The Head of School Effectiveness informed the Committee that since an inspection in March 2013 an informal School Improvement Board was established to deal with challenges faced within the school. Among the issues the informal board looked at was the rapid decline in standards achieved at Key Stage 4.

Mrs Haynes, headmistress of Tasker Milward told the Committee:

“Every member of staff has a target. They must reach these targets and know which pupils need help. We are now teaching pupils in groups based on what they find difficult”.

The Head of School Effectiveness also emphasised the need for the school to move quickly to raise standards and noted that the situation was so urgent that there must be real concern with the school’s ability to improve.

Mrs Haynes said: “We have been improving our standards. We made changes to three line departments that we felt were our least strong and found they were led by the same member of staff. They are now being dealt with, though I admit it should have been done earlier”.

The inspection report stated that just over one third of the pupils were achieving five GCSEs grade A to C (including English or Welsh first language and Maths) and that the authority was required to consider all forms of intervention to secure improvement.

Mrs Haynes said: “We are judged against our family of schools. We are working hard to improve and have individual target setting. We are aware that our work was not bearing fruit”.

Cllr Michael James asked Mrs Haynes for her thoughts about the report and she replied:

“I was shocked. We did find that cyber bullying was an issue; therefore we created a ‘Bully Box’ in which pupils can report issues. The pupils are aware that they are there as we’ve discussed them in assembly.

“All students know who to talk to if they have a problem and matters are dealt with”.

Mrs Haynes said:

“Every break and lunch I am on duty. I spend at least one hour walking around popping into classes and I know the majority of the pupils on a first name basis”.

The Committee agreed that it is important to maintain a high level of support and encouragement and all at Tasker Milward School need to work hard to improve.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.