News

Pembrokeshire’s new ‘Vision for Education’ revealed

Published

9 years ago

October 7, 2016

Pembrokeshire County Council: New education ‘Vision’ revealed

A NEW ‘Vision’ for education and learning in Pembrokeshire is to be implemented by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The new plan was set out during the council’s latest meeting of Cabinet on Monday (Oct 3) and is designed to ‘clearly set out the aspirations for education in Pembrokeshire over the next three years’.

Heavily involved with the Vision, Cllr Susan Perkins said: “We are all aware of the recent history of education in the county and although this year has seen some improvement at key stage four, there is still improvement needed if the young people of Pembrokeshire are to access the highest quality education outcomes.”

With her supporting statement to hand, Cllr Perkins went on to list the objectives of the Vision, stating: “Every pupil is ready to learn and access across a broad range of learning and areas of experience; every pupil is resilient and supported to build their mental and emotional well-being; all pupils engage and participate and are able to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances; all local stakeholders positively contribute to the ambitions and aspirations of Pembrokeshire learners; a directorate which is responsive to future changes and has the capacity to adapt and effectively manage change.”

While there was obvious support for the Vision, some councillors expressed concern over how the Vision would be implemented as well as a lack of leadership in schools around Pembrokeshire.

Leader of the council, Cllr James Adams, said: “One of the key words that I’ve picked out of the foreword is that of leadership, school leadership particularly. There is still quite an alarming variance in terms of the performance of many of our schools and leadership appears time and again as the most critical factor in terms of school-based outcomes.”

Cllr Huw George shared his concern, adding: “It’s not a Pembrokeshire problem; it’s a lack of leadership.

“The whole of Wales needs to look at where we’re going to find leaders to take the Vision forward.”

The Director of Children and Schools, Kate Evans-Hughes, responded to Cllr Adams, saying: “We do find it difficult to recruit [leaders] from beyond Pembrokeshire. We actually need to strengthen the leadership development programme that we have within Pembrokeshire.

“The recognition was that we need to grow our own and there are plenty of talented teachers out there, there are plenty of inspired teachers; what we need to make sure is we have a middle leaders programme that is inspirational and does make them want to go onto the next step.

“One of the biggest challenges facing recruitment of Headteachers is an anxiety about undertaking the role because never has there been so much accountability for Headteachers, and rightly so, but now we have to shift people into wanting to be part of that accountability, not being afraid of it.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

22 minutes 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

44 minutes 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

50 minutes 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.