News
Pembroke: Estyn report slams Henry Tudor School
A BRAND new Pembrokeshire school, which had been open for just ten weeks at the time of inspection in November 2018, is in need of serious and urgent improvement.
The £38.3m Henry Tudor School secondary school needs to raise standards, particularly in key stage 4 and the sixth form, improve pupil attendance and behaviour, and improve the quality of teaching and assessment. The school also needs to strengthen the effectiveness and accountability of the management of the school at all levels.
Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, said in its latest report: “In accordance with the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that this school is in need of significant improvement. The school will draw up an action plan to show how it is going to address the recommendations. Estyn will monitor the school’s progress about 12 months after the publication of this report.”
The school was inspected in five areas of service provision, and under ‘standards’, ‘wellbeing and attitudes to learning’ and ‘care, support and guidance’ the school scored ‘unsatisfactory and in need of urgent improvement’. In the two areas, ‘teaching and learning experience’ and ‘leadership and management’ the school attained ‘adequate but needs improvement’
A spokesperson for the council hit back highlighting the positives in the report, saying: “Positive features from the report include the fact that Henry Tudor School provides a caring and supportive environment which has a positive impact on the majority of pupils.
“Most pupils behave well around the school, enjoy their lessons and are positive about learning. They work independently, engage well in activities, make useful contributions in class and at least suitable progress in lessons. Provision for pupils with additional learning needs is comprehensive and well organised and overall, they make suitable progress over time.
“The report says many pupils feel the school listens to their views and makes changes as a result, and most teachers have secure subject knowledge and many foster productive working relationships with their pupils.
“Many teachers provide good language models, communicate clearly, and establish effective routines to ensure pupils settle quickly and are ready to learn.
“At key stage 4, school leaders plan the curriculum effectively to meet pupils’ educational needs and aspirations, and the school provides a wide range of valuable opportunities to enhance the curriculum.
“Others positives include daily mentor sessions, which are described as beneficial, and the fact that many teachers and school staff engage purposefully with professional learning opportunities. The appointment of the new Head teacher was a ‘catalyst for change’ and there is a clear vision of high expectations for standards and behaviour.
“The report also includes a summary of areas to significantly and rapidly improve. It says there has been a sharp downward trend in the school’s performance at key stage 4 over the past four years, that a minority of pupils do not concentrate well in lessons and the behaviour of a few pupils causes significant disruption in lessons and has a negative impact on other pupils’ progress.
The report adds that a minority of pupils do not feel safe in school, and a few say that they experience bullying. Attendance does not compare well to that in similar schools.
It also says that in the majority of cases, teachers do not plan lessons sufficiently well to enable pupils to make strong progress and in general, the quality of teachers’ written feedback to pupils is too variable.
Other areas to improve include self-evaluation and improvement planning work and the professional learning support for middle leaders.
Mrs Fiona Kite, Headteacher of Henry Tudor School since September 2017, said governors and staff are working hard to address the recommendations in the report, and to ensure that the school is rated at least good by Estyn in the future.
“We look forward to welcoming them back for a monitoring visit in 12 to 18 months’ time, and to show them the impact of the range of new initiatives which have already been implemented at the school,” said Mrs Kite.
“We are very proud of our pupils and all of their many academic, creative and sporting achievements.”
A worrying paragraph in the report states: “A minority of pupils do not concentrate well in lessons and do not contribute to class discussions.
“The behaviour of a few pupils causes significant disruption in lessons and impacts negatively on other pupils’ progress.
“A very few pupils are disrespectful and defiant towards staff and do not show appropriate respect and care for others. A minority of pupils do not feel safe in school and a very few pupils reported that aggressive behaviour by a few pupils is common during break times. A few pupils say that they experience bullying and a minority feel that the school does not deal effectively with this.
“The rates of both fixed term and permanent exclusion are too high. Although attendance has improved marginally over the last three years, it remains significantly below that in similar schools. However, rates of persistent absence have declined during the last two years. “
Community
Princess of Wales praised for ‘skill’ during local wool mill and factory visit
Royal tour shines spotlight on west Wales textile heritage and local jobs
CATHERINE, Princess of Wales was told “she’s got the skill” after trying her hand at traditional textile work during a visit to west Wales on Tuesday (Feb 3).
The royal spent the day meeting staff and apprentices at two well-known manufacturers – Melin Tregwynt in Pembrokeshire and Hiut Denim in Cardigan – highlighting the region’s long-standing reputation for craftsmanship and small-scale, high-quality production.
Stitching and mending at historic mill

At Melin Tregwynt, a family-run woollen mill that now operates as an employee-owned trust, the princess was guided through each stage of production, from weaving to finishing.
In the quality control room she was invited to mend a blanket using a needle and thread, carefully repairing the fabric under the watchful eye of experienced staff.
Paula Harding, who has worked at the mill for more than a decade, praised her technique, saying: “She did it right – and she didn’t go through the other side. That’s skill. She’s got the skill.”
Laughing, the princess told workers: “You make it look so easy,” adding that the craft was clearly “a labour of love”.
She asked questions about the history of the business, which has produced Welsh-designed blankets and throws for more than a century, and spoke with several generations of the same families who have worked at the mill.
‘Made in Wales’ denim

Later, the princess travelled to Hiut Denim, the Cardigan-based firm credited with bringing jeans manufacturing back to the town after large factories closed in the early 2000s.
The company now focuses on small-batch, premium denim and employs skilled cutters and machinists locally.
During a tour of the factory floor, the princess tried cutting out a pair of jeans and helped stitch a “Made in Wales” label onto a finished pair that staff said would be presented to the Prince of Wales.
“He will love those,” she replied.
She joked that there was “no pressure” when handed the cutting tools and said she enjoys making clothes herself, admitting the most adventurous project she had attempted was sewing a pair of pyjamas.
The royal also stopped to greet Barney, the factory’s English cocker spaniel, drawing smiles from staff.
Meeting well-wishers
Crowds gathered outside both sites to catch a glimpse of the visitor, with the princess spending time chatting with families and children before moving on.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the royal household to showcase traditional industries and skilled manufacturing across the UK, with west Wales’ textile sector recognised as a key part of the region’s heritage and economy.
For workers at both businesses, the message was simple: the spotlight on locally made products and homegrown skills was just as important as the royal presence itself.

Crime
Man spared jail after admitting child abuse image offences
Police seized devices after intelligence linked Pembrokeshire address to illegal cloud storage accounts
A 23-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has avoided immediate custody after admitting making and possessing indecent images of children, including extreme bestiality material.
Ryan Beale, aged 23, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing this week.
At his first hearing, before magistrates on December 31, he entered guilty pleas and being granted conditional bail.
The court heard the case followed an intelligence-led police investigation linking Beale to a Dropbox account suspected of storing illegal material. Officers executed a warrant at his home on December 18.
During his arrest, Beale told officers: “I don’t use Dropbox,” claiming his email and Google accounts had been compromised.
However, police seized his mobile phone and computer equipment. A forensic examination found the email address connected to the Dropbox account stored on his device. Although the account had also been accessed from overseas locations, including Nigeria, investigators were satisfied it was controlled by Beale and linked to a larger cloud storage account containing significant volumes of illegal content.
Officers discovered 120 Category A images, 36 Category B images and 29 Category C images.
Category A represents the most serious level of abuse.
The material included extreme and disturbing bestiality content. Further Category C images were also located within the Dropbox account.
Two identified victims depicted in the images were girls aged nine and eleven.
Beale initially denied the allegations but later admitted the offences.
Passing sentence, at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Feb 3) the His Honour Geraint Walters said: “This was not an innocent pastime. Every time an adult views that image, a child is still being abused.”
He added that an early guilty plea had spared Beale immediate custody but warned the offences would have lifelong consequences.
“The public have no time for anybody doing this,” the judge said. “If you’re doing this, the police will find out. They didn’t knock on your door randomly — they knew what they were looking for.”
Beale was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay £300 in prosecution costs.
The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his electronic devices, and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
“If you keep yourself out of trouble, you won’t have to serve that custodial sentence,” the judge told him.
Entertainment
One Night in Dublin returns to the Torch with a brand-new show
ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN is heading back to the stage at the Torch Theatre with a lively new production fronted by renowned Irish singer Danny Muldoon.
Tickets are already selling fast for the feel-good celebration of Irish music, which promises two hours of songs, stories and plenty of craic.
Backed by an award-winning five-piece band, Muldoon leads audiences through a packed set of sing-along favourites including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover and The Galway Shawl, along with many more well-loved classics.
The show recreates the atmosphere of a bustling Dublin pub, complete with fiddle, whistle, guitars, banjo, bodhrán, accordion and driving drums, transporting the audience straight into “Murphy’s Tavern” for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.
Fans can also expect hits from Irish legends including The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.
One Night in Dublin comes to the Torch Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm.
Tickets cost £26.50. Visit the theatre website or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267 to book.

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