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Councillors given new school plan

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screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-12-22-55PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (PCC) met with members of Estyn this week (Oct 11) for a confidential seminar on the future of secondary school education provision in Pembrokeshire.

Just months after councillors voted against the proposed plans to reorganise Pembrokeshire’s secondary school structure in May this year, plans for a new sixth form provision in the county have surfaced once again.

A major aspect of the newly proposed plans include an 11-19 school to be sited in Haverfordwest – this is in addition to the 3-16 Welsh medium school which will be sited at Withybush, Haverfordwest.

The specific site of the new secondary school is still unknown; there is several in contention, including the site of Tasker Milward, Sir Thomas Picton, or a new site entirely. Also discussed as a possibility was a split site; however, this is now increasingly unlikely.

The new school will feature sixth form provision with ‘delivery to be in line with any future arrangements for Pembrokeshire’.

Three smaller 11-19 schools to be sited in Milford Haven, Greenhill and Pembroke also feature in the newly proposed plans. The current school of Pembroke had been hoping for a new vocational centre as an off-shoot of Pembrokeshire College; however, decisions taken by PCC in July have likely brought such plans to a close.

Presenting at the seminar, Director for Children and Schools Kate Evans-Hughes also stated the need for a ‘revised federation model’ for secondary school provision in Pembrokeshire.

Reiterating this point, and largely proposing a new set of guidelines regarding sixth form provision, was Frank Ciccotti of the Pembrokeshire Association of Secondary Headteachers (PASH).

In what seemed to suggest a consolidation of post-16 education in the county, PASH said: “The larger the school, the more viable, allowing greater investment in A level teaching.”

PASH also stated, in its presentation, that ‘no sixth form can survive alone and offer the full range of subjects’, and furthermore suggested that there would be ‘significant benefits from a school of 500+ in sixth form, as regards the ability to offer more subjects and deliver surpluses’.

With reference to the financial viability of the current model, it was suggested that subjects currently require at least 15 students to achieve viability.

Taking only AS level into account, in the north of the county, Ysgol Bro Gwaun currently has no subjects which fill this quota. Ysgol Dewi Sant has four (out of 11 subjects); English Literature, Chemistry, Maths and Religious Studies.

Institutions in Haverfordwest fare slightly better, with Pembrokeshire College achieving the 15 students mark in 13 out of 15 subjects offered, while Sir Thomas Picton currently meets the target in 12 out of 19 subjects. Tasker Milward, however, only achieves the target in three subjects; Chemistry, Biology and Psychology.

The south of the county appears in a similar situation to the north, with Milford Haven, Greenhill and Pembroke collectively offering 11 subjects which have 15 students or more – out of a collective subject count of 56.

With the figures to hand, Mr Ciccotti suggested ‘there is limited strategic planning of what is taught where’ and, as such, went on to echo the words of Kate Evans-Hughes in calling for a ‘federation model’ and a ‘duty to collaborate’.

Justifying the need for a federation model, Mr Ciccotti said that the current situation means there is ‘no consistency of subjects offered across the county’, with subjects often based on ‘historic legacy’. He also added that the best teachers may not be available in each school. This has resulted in duplication of subjects and resources being stretched, and students being forced to ‘travel to get their choice, or select subjects based on logistics’, Mr Campion added.

Also expressing concern over financial sustainability, Mr Campion went on to list further justifications for a federation model. These included insufficient investment for existing facilities and technology, as well as professional development of staff. He also added that resources are diverted away from 11-16 teaching in order to support A level teaching, which is ‘not fair or appropriate’.

Mr Ciccotti has previously called on PCC in the past, repeatedly questioning the sustainability of the current secondary provision model.

Mr Ciccotti also made reference to the need for greater ‘access to technology’, suggesting that the way in which students learn is changing: “No longer are libraries the way students study.” He added that a rural community such as Pembrokeshire requires teaching methods that allow for remote learning.

In the closing stages of his presentation, speaking in regard to some form of consolidation across the county, Mr Ciccotti expressed how ‘on a combined basis, 30 subjects are viable; however, even more could be offered’.

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Business

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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New bus services announced by Pembrokeshire County Council

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A NUMBER of changes to local bus services will be introduced in the coming weeks as a result of a shake up to bus funding. 

From April 2024, the funding which has been provided directly to bus operators by the Welsh Government to keep services going in the wake of the Covid pandemic will cease. 

Additional funding will instead be provided to Local Authorities to support their local bus network.

In total, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government will provide over £3million in support for bus services in Pembrokeshire during the coming year.

As part of this process, all Pembrokeshire’s local bus services have been re-tendered. 

A public consultation, receiving over 300 responses, helped to inform decisions about which services should be prioritised. 

Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “I am delighted to be able to report that we are able to maintain the whole of Pembrokeshire’s current local bus network in the coming year.

“We have also secured key improvements such as reinstating an hourly service on the 349 route between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, and the popular Strumble Shuttle and Puffin Shuttle coastal bus services during the summer.”

The changes will also see two key services, the 302 Haverfordwest to Milford Haven and 349 Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock, brought under Council oversight for the first time. 

This will give the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares.  Pembrokeshire residents will also benefit from a new fare structure on all First Cymru services, due to be introduced from 1 April 2024. 

This will use Tap On Tap Off to allow passengers to pay the cheapest fare depending on the number of journeys they make or distance travelled, and will cap the maximum adult fare at £3 single and £5.40 return. 

More information about these fares can be found on the First Cymru website

A number of additional service changes and improvements are being considered for introduction during the course of the coming year in response to feedback received from the public consultation.  

The following bus service changes have been confirmed:

From 23 March 2024:

  • The Celtic Coaster (403) on the St Davids peninsular will restart for the 2024 season on Saturday 23 March and will run until Sunday 29 September. This is an hourly service, increasing to half-hourly during the whitsun half term and school summer holidays. There will be no service departing Caerfai Road at 13.00 and 13.30.
  • The 351 (Tenby to Pendine via Amroth) will return to its summer timetable.

From 1 April 2024

  • An hourly service will return on the 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) service (April to September only).
  • The 356 (Milford Haven to Monkton) service will no longer call at Waterston and Hazelbeach due to operational issues caused by the narrow lanes in this area. The Fflecsi service will still be available.
  • A Saturday service, between 07:30 and 18:30, will be reintroduced in the Fflecsi Mid Pembrokeshire zone (formerly known as Bwcabus). This zone covers the area between Letterston, Crymych, Clunderwen and Wiston.  Passengers can also travel from this zone to Fishguard and Haverfordwest. 
  • The 302 (Haverfordwest to Milford Haven) and 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) services operated by First Cymru will come under Pembrokeshire County Council control, giving the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares.
  • The 322 (Haverfordwest to Carmarthen) and 381 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Narberth) services will be run by First Cymru. The 322 timetable will remain the same. The 381 timetable will remain the same from Haverfordwest to Tenby but journeys from Tenby to Haverfordwest will depart slightly earlier (37 past the hour instead of 45).
  • The X22 and X61 services which provided journeys at the start and end of the day between Pembroke Dock and Kilgetty, and Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest will be withdrawn.
  • The 410 (Fishguard Town) and T11 (Haverfordwest to Fishguard via St Davids) services will be operated on a commercial (T11 part commercial) basis by Richards Bros. An improved connection with the ferry at Fishguard Harbour will be provided at 12.30.

From 19 May 2024

  • The Tenby Coaster service between Tenby and Saundersfoot will return for the summer season.

From 25 May 2024

  • The 400 Puffin Shuttle and 404 Strumble Shuttle services will return to the coast between Marloes and St Davids, and St Davids and Fishguard. These services will operate 7 days a week until 29 September 2024.  The Fflecsi service is also available in this area throughout the year.
  • The 387/388 Coastal Cruiser service around the Angle Peninsula will also return to its summer timetable, operating 7 days a week until 29th September 2024.

Further information about all Pembrokeshire bus services can be found on the Council’s website.

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