Education
UWTSD celebrates first women graduates

UWTSD has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first women to graduate from the university’s Lampeter campus, which was then known as St David’s College.
Some of these graduates will be returning to the campus in mid-July for their annual reunion. Over the weekend they will have the opportunity to view a specially curated exhibition of archival material relating to the decision to admit women to Lampeter in 1965, and to the first cohort of female graduates in 1968.
The exhibition has been organised by Sarah Jones, Head of Academic Services, and by Sarah Roberts, Special Collections Archivist. Sarah Jones said: “We’re really pleased to be able to highlight the significant contributions that women have made to making UWTSD what it is today.
“When we realised it was 50 years since the first women had graduated from St. David’s College and that we had significant Archival material relating to this, we were very keen to highlight this in celebration of not only this year’s Graduates but the important milestone of 1964, when the decision was made to allow women into the college.
“The Special Collections and Archives at UWTSD Lampeter contain a wealth of primary resources which are of great importance to social history and access to these is available to anyone who would like to see them. They serve to remind us how far we’ve come as a society and how the determination and strength of individuals can make such a difference.”
Education
Haverfordwest school wins fight to keep mobile classroom

A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire school to keep a mobile classroom in use for nearly 16 years, as there is no money for a replacement facility, has been approved by county planners.
Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application to county planners, sought a renewal of permission for the mobile classroom at Fenton Community Primary School, Jury Lane, Haverfordwest.
The mobile classroom has been in use since the start of 2009.
A statement in support of the application said: “This application seeks retrospective planning consent for the continued retention of the existing mobile classroom. Access and parking arrangements would remain as existing.
“The mobile classroom is used on a daily basis, and provides a vital facility for the children who use it. This application is for the retention of the existing mobile classroom to ensure the children can continue to benefit from its use.
“There is currently no budget available to provide a more permanent solution.”
It added: “The mobile is located at the rear of the school, adjacent to the rear fenced boundary and generally out of public view. The mobile is in close proximity to the main school building to provide ease of use.”
The application has now been conditionally approved by Pembrokeshire County Council planners.
Education
Bid for pupils to access free school transport turned down

A CALL to review school catchment areas, allowing school pupils from Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school has been turned down by senior councillors.
Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.
Two petitions calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment areas to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest were started in the county last year, effectively reverting to the position that was in place prior to the reorganisation of secondary education provision in Haverfordwest in 2018.
Johnston/Tiers Cross was considered by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee last November and the Neyland petition by full council last December, with both referred to the council’s Cabinet, in this case the February meeting, where it was recommended the situation remained unchanged.
A report for members said: “Revisions of school catchment areas are normally considered and decided by Cabinet, but in the case of the changes to the Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland areas, these were considered as part of the wider complex process of reorganisation of secondary education in mid and north west Pembrokeshire during the period 2014 – 2018, i.e. by full council.
“The petitions specifically relate to the closure of Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools prior to the formation of Haverfordwest High VC School in September 2018. Prior to this reorganisation of schools, pupils living in the Neyland CP School catchment area fed into Sir Thomas Picton School, and those living in the Johnston / Tiers Cross area fed into Tasker Milward School.”
It stressed: “Whilst parents/carers may exercise their preference for any school of their choice from an admissions perspective, their entitlement to free home to school transport is determined by their home location.”
The report, presented to members by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, concluded: “It is considered that the justification for the change in catchment areas as part of secondary school reorganisation in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven in 2017/18 remains valid.
“Retaining the geographical areas of Johnston, Tiers Cross and Neyland as part of the Milford Haven School catchment area continues to provide the greatest opportunity to equalise pupil numbers across our schools, particularly given the significant housing developments likely to be delivered during Local Development Plan 2.
“The potential pupil yield arising from the Slade Lane [Haverfordwest] development alone is significant, and it is logical that they should attend secondary provision in Haverfordwest. This is an important point given the responsibility of the council to plan provision to meet demand for school places.”
“Officers are currently preparing the Strategic Outline Case in relation to the redevelopment of primary and secondary education provision in Milford Haven. Any significant change in the pupil population, e.g. arising as a result of a change in catchment is likely to add further delay, given the need to amend the project brief.”
Members voted seven to two in favour of the recommendation; councillors Paul Miller and Tessa Hodgson voting against.
Commenting after the decision, Johnston county councillor Aled Thomas said: “Deeply disappointed that Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet [that morning] voted against calls to return Johnston CP school to the Haverfordwest catchment, despite the overwhelming support from the majority of Johnston residents and indeed schoolchildren attending Haverfordwest High School after leaving Johnston Primary.”
Neyland county councillor Simon Hancock said: “I am really disappointed the cabinet did not agree to change the catchment area for Neyland children back to Haverfordwest. The cabinet papers were substantial, but I believe some of the data was incomplete or out of date. The very least the authority should do is to support those Neyland parents who send their children to Haverfordwest High VC School with the provision of transport. I believe there is capacity.”
Education
Gas leak forces partial closure of school in Milford Haven

MILFORD HAVEN Community Primary School’s Prioryville site was forced to close on Monday morning (Feb 17) following a gas leak.
The junior section of the school shut down at 10:15am due to a strong smell of gas in the main corridors. As a precaution, all gas to the site was turned off, leaving the building without heating or hot water.
Pupils were sent home for the remainder of the day while the issue was assessed. It is not yet clear when the site will reopen.
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