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‘Major challenges to overcome,’ says cabinet member

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major challengesTHE Cabinet Member for Education, County Councillor Ken Rowlands, gave his six monthly report at the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, January 23.

In his report he outlines the work he has been doing, his visits to schools and he also addresses the recent banding results.

He said: “The last few months have been a period of major change in the Directorate. We now have, with the exception of the Head of Business Services, an entirely new Senior Management Team.

“When I took over responsibility for my portfolio it was my intention to visit all secondary schools to see for myself the changes taking place. To date I have visited Greenhill, Ysgol y Preseli, Ysgol Dewi Sant, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Tasker Milward and Sir Thomas Picton. I am also making arrangements to visit Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

“In our schools where performance is good, I am glad to share in their achievement and to celebrate success. However, I feel it is as important for me to be aware of the schools where results are inadequate and where focussed work needs to be undertaken”.

Councillor Rowlands then went on to talk about the banding positions of certain schools.

“Following disappointing outcomes in inspection and performance, we have issued formal warning letters to the board of governors in Tasker Milward and Dewi Sant, setting out the need for rapid improvement and the requirements of the local authority to secure that improvement. The Chief Education Officer is closely monitoring the progress of the two schools and the work of the intervention boards that have been established.

“I receive regular updates in relation to progress in these two schools. In order to improve standards, every school in the authority has placed attendance as a priority, and, whilst it is early days, there are early signs this term that attendance is improving. However there is still a distance to go”.

Councillor Rowlands concluded by saying: “I intend to continue to work closely with the Director and his team to ensure our progress on the improvement journey is steady, long lasting and lays down a strong foundation for the future.

“This will not be achieved immediately and there is no doubt that there are still major challenges to overcome. Nevertheless, I am confident that the outcome we aim for, that ‘children, young people and families have the opportunity to fulfil their learning potential and live healthy and happy lives’, will be achieved”.

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Value of hedges in storing carbon below ground studied in Welsh Soil Project

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THE ROLE hedges play in capturing carbon and storing it in soils is being investigated as Farming Connect gathers soil samples from across Wales in an initiative that will provide important benchmarking data for farmers.

Data collection for the second year of the Welsh Soil Project is underway, and this time soil samples have also been taken from land within a metre from field hedges, in addition to within-field samples.

Dr Non Williams, Farming Connect’s Carbon Specialist Officer, said the aim is to compare soil carbon stocks within fields and under woody vegetation.

“We often get questions from farmers about this, and we hope that the results of this project will provide them with the answers,’’ she said.

“Estimating the soil carbon levels by hedges will help to highlight their importance for climate change mitigation.’’

Farmers have a key role to play in tackling climate change and soils can play an important part in that.

The Welsh Soil Project samples are being analysed ahead of Wales Climate Week in December.

Over 1,000 samples were taken from farms that are a part of Farming Connect’s Our Farms Network, which were then analysed for organic matter content and bulk density, as well as other measurements.

For uniformity, all samples were collected within the same period this autumn and from grass fields including permanent pasture, hay and silage fields, and reseeds.

“This project looks at how varying management intensities, along with geographical factors, are impacting soil carbon stocks across Wales.”

Soil was taken from multiple depths, from the top 10cm layer to a depth of 50cm.

Dr Williams, who is leading the project, is a speaker at a major soil science event in Belfast in December.

At the British Society of Soil Science and the Soil Science Society of Ireland Annual Conference, she will deliver a presentation on the preliminary results of the project.

Soil carbon and carbon in general are also themes at three Farming Connect Masterclasses taking place in February 2024.

Dr Williams, who will lead these workshops, said it will give farmers an opportunity to improve their understanding of the basics of carbon footprinting prior to carrying out a carbon audit for their farms.

“These interactive workshops will focus on breaking down the carbon jargon, allow farmers to learn about the significance of the carbon cycle to their farm, and how it can be influenced to help reduce the farm’s carbon footprint in the future,’’ she said.

The events will take place at Llety Cynin, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, on 6 February, at Elephant and Castle, Newtown, on 8 February, and at Nanhoron Arms Hotel, Nefyn on 20 February, all from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Further details on how to book a place can be found on the Farming Connect website.

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Body found in missing person search in Carmarthenshire

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IN THE LAST few moments, Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that a body has been found this afternoon, Wednesday, November 29, during the search for Angharad, who had been reported missing.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, however Angharad’s family has been informed of this development.

Police said: “Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.”

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Excellent progress on construction of new Welsh medium primary school

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A CELEBRATION event was held on the site of the new Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro in Pembroke on Tuesday 14th November to mark the reaching of the highest point of the building, traditionally known as the ‘topping-out’ ceremony.

The event was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd and attended by pupils and staff from Ysgol Gelli Aur, the Executive Headteacher of the new school, governors of the Temporary Governing Body of Ysgol Bro Penfro, Cabinet members, senior Council officers, and a members of the project team.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said that he was extremely pleased with progress at the site.
“Whilst I was unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony, my Cabinet colleagues have shared with me their experience, and the excellent progress being made on the new school.
“I am particularly pleased that the project remains on budget, and on programme, which means that Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro will be in a position to admit pupils in September 2024.”
Members of the school’s Temporary Governing Body expressed their delight with the building.

The Executive Headteacher of Ysgol Bro Penfro, Mr Dafydd Hughes, confirmed that pupils and staff thoroughly enjoyed the event and that everyone connected with the school is excited at the prospect of moving to the new school next year.

“The fact that a new Welsh medium primary school is being built in Pembroke is an important and exciting development on so many levels.

“As Executive Headteacher of Ysgol Bro Penfro I am committed to ensure that when the school opens its doors in September 2024 every pupil will be given opportunities to flourish and thrive in a welcoming Welsh medium setting. I am also focused on ensuring that the whole Pembroke community takes great pride in the school.”

Pupils were very excited to see the new school. Among the comments received were: “We loved signing the steels, it will help us to remember when we came here when our school was being built and we will always be a part of our new school”

“I can see that everyone is working really hard to build us our school. The school is so much bigger than we expected and can’t wait to start learning in our new classes”.

The project is being funded by Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, and will provide a significant contribution to the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

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