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Councillor questions ‘cover-up’ over former headteacher

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A COUNCILLOR has said that Pembrokeshire County Council attempted to ‘cover up’ allegations against former Saundersfoot CP School Headteacher Helen Lester.

Cllr Jacob Williams submitted a late question to the meeting of Full Council that was held on Thursday, December 14, and Chairman Cllr Paul Harries allowed the following questions to be raised.

In his submission Cllr Williams said: “The Education Workforce Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee recently determined that Helen Lester, “acted with unacceptable professional misconduct” by, among other things, changing pupils’ test results in an effort to “make the school look good.”

“During the hearing it was claimed that concerns were brought to the attention of Pembrokeshire County Counil’s education department by the new Headteacher, Nick Allen, ten days after he started at the school, who was told there was no need for an investigation as the Headteacher in question had left.

“As a matter of urgency, under requisite powers, could the leader or cabinet member please respond to this incident, specifically addressing:

“When concerns were first brought to the education department’s attention, how these were treated, what the outcome was and if this is now being reviewed?

“Whether any efforts are being made to establish if similar practices have occurred at other schools, and to try and prevent future occurrences?”

Cllr David Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Education, responded saying: “This is a very serious matter. Initial concerns were raised by the new Headteacher with the Education department. However no evidence was provided to substantiate those concerns.

“Following consideration within the education department, the Head was advised that a re-test could be done to see if they were able to answer the questions. The Head notified the Education Department of the outcome but no further action was taken.

“On June 17, 2016, the Education department was contacted by someone making allegations against the former head. A further email was received by the chief executive with more detailed allegations were made under the association of headteachers and following conclusion of the investigations, the matter was referred to the Education Workforce Council for Wales for their consideration.

“The National Test Results were examined for all Schools in Pembrokeshire where there was any association to Helen Lester but no more concerns were raised.”

Cllr Lloyd went on to say that since that had taken place all schools were reminded of their duties by the Counter Fraud Awarness and training for Headteachers was also taken up.

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “This serious allegation had gone, so far, uncommented on by Council and I thought that the public were due a statement on this to reassure that a cover up hadn’t happened or that it had happened and it would be looked in to.

“Cllr Lloyd’s reply was quite helpful but deeply concerning. The concerns were brought to the Council’s Education department two years ago and rather than look at the allegations that test results had been fiddled or improper practices had been undertaken, their response was to put right the test results.

“It wasn’t until 2016 when further whistleblowing that this was investigated and it seems the right thing did happen. I do intend to take this further and I am quite clear now that there was an attempt to cover this up, it’s totally unacceptable.”

Cllr Williams went on to ask who it was that dealt with the allegation when they were first made in 2015 and if there was a policy in place that was followed.

Cllr Lloyd responded stating he did not know the answers to those questions.

Crime

Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest

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HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.

Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.

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Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod

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Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.

The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives.  None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.

But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.

With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.

Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar.  She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage.  As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.

The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.

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Crime

Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl

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THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.

An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.

James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.

The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.

Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.

He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.

The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.

Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.

The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.

Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.

He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.

She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.

“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.

“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”

Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.

He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.

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