News

Secondary schools are in decline

Published

12 years ago

December 19, 2013

SIX PEMBROKESHIRE secondary schools’ performance has declined over the last three years, according to data released yesterday (Thursday, December 12).

Not a single secondary school makes it into the top tier of banding, while two schools are in the lowest band for performance. The schools in the lowest band are Tasker Milward VC School, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven School.

Two Pembrokeshire secondary schools have improved their level two performances in English, Mathematics and Welsh over the three year period covered by the data, Pembroke School and Ysgol Greenhill.

The most marked performance declines have been at Tasker Milward School, where relative performance has fallen by 28.9 points, and Ysgol y Preseli has declined by 35.1 points over the same period. Ysgol y Preseli was the only school in Pembrokeshire in the three year reporting period tothe highest rating band. Criticism has been made by teaching unions about the data being inconsistent.

David Evans, head of NUT Cymru, said: “It is hard to see how a system that has so little support amongst the profession can continue in its current format. It is causing real difficulties for schools and unless that is addressed, risks creating a long-term crisis for Welsh education. We only need to consider the fact that the school ranked at the top of Band 1 last year but now finding itself in Band 4 to see that this is a seriously flawed system.”

Council Leader, Councillor Jamie Adams, said: “Pembrokeshire County Council notes the publication of the banding of secondary schools, which presents a mixed outcome for our schools.

“We are working with the schools identified as needing to improve their position.

“Pembrokeshire, like other local authorities in Wales, uses the outcomes of the school banding process to support school improvement.

“It is one part of a series of performance indicators used that support the evidence in self-evaluation.

“When used constructively and in context, it provides a good range of data demonstrating trends and annual performance. Schools are challenged and appropriate support and targeted interventions are undertaken.

“Since the data was available to schools and the local authority during the summer, appropriate interventions and support are now in place.”

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.