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Innovative approaches to year 6 transition praised

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Pictured is the Headteacher of Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, David Haynes, leading a virtual tour of the school site.

PEMBROKESHIRE schools have risen to the challenge of supporting the transition of Year 6 learners to secondary education, despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 virus.

Normally, all Year 6 pupils (those in the last year of primary school) spend two days in late June/ early July at the secondary school which they are due to move up to the following September.

The transition days help children to prepare for the new world of secondary education by enabling them to become familiar with the layout of the school site, meeting their form teachers, negotiating the canteen and more.

The two days are complemented by other transition activities throughout Year 6 such as taster days, visits by secondary teachers to schools in their primary cluster, and classroom discussions.

However, as Acting Director for Children and Schools Steven Richards-Downes explains, the return to schools on June 29, may affect the transition processes of individual schools.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has made us think very differently about the approach to transition from primary to secondary school this year,” he said.

“I am delighted that our secondary schools have responded with enthusiasm to the challenges that face transition learners in Year 6, as well as Years 9 and 11.

“We have provided our learners with a wide range of opportunities and all schools have developed new and innovative approaches to transition.”

Some examples of the ground-breaking preparations taking place include Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi’s online approach to transition, featured recently in the Times Education Supplement.

As well as filming a virtual tour of the school, staff are in the process of launching their annual transition project and have plans to run a live virtual transition day. “We didn’t want the children who are coming to us to feel as though they’d missed out,” said Headteacher David Haynes. “In fact we want to make sure they feel as if they’re part of something really special.”

Also creating a digital transition experience is Haverfordwest High VC School who have launched a new website for the pupils due to join in September, which Headteacher Jane Harries said has received an ‘overwhelmingly positive response’.

As well as information on a variety of subjects, there are welcoming videos by staff and pupils, introductions to learning areas and a virtual tour of the site by Head of Year 7, Lauren Davies. “The video is very much focused on the pupils themselves and making them feel comfortable and enthusiastic about moving up in September,” she said.

At Milford Haven School, a welcome video filmed has been with Headteacher Ceri-Ann Morris together with a virtual tour of the school site by Strategic Lead Rachel Mansell.

A virtual google classroom has been set up for over 200 pupils, while all prospective pupils have already received their welcome letter from the Headteacher. A dedicated website has also been transformed to include letters from current pupils to the new learners. Ms Morris explains in her video about the launch of the virtual transition project on June 1: ‘Our transition this year is slightly different and there will be a range of activities created in collaboration with our cluster of schools’.

At Ysgol Bro Gwaun, pupils have been encouraged to send in their pen-portraits and have been using Google Classroom to provide daily updates and promote communication and wellbeing amongst the year-group.

“We have been using ‘Flip-Grid’ to introduce staff and to promote further interaction,” said Head of Year 7, Emma Bowen who has been overwhelmed by the pupils’ willingness to participate and their creativity when using the e-learning platform.

Year 6 pupils due to join Ysgol Harri Tudur/ Henry Tudor School in September will be able to take part in transition visits to the school over a number of agreed set days with current primary schools from June 29, to include a school tour, as well as working on transition materials in their primary schools.

The school is also providing a video for Year 6 pupils, parents and primary schools.

Ysgol y Preseli contacted all prospective Year 6 pupils and their parents to assess how the school could help the transition process during the closure period. Based on pupils’ responses the school has created a range of help videos, a transition blog, weekly digital learning activities and designated Facebook page focusing on transition.

Deputy Headteacher Iola Phillips said ‘We have listened to pupil and parental voice and have adopted an innovative approach using the latest digital technology to create resources which will help pupils look forward to the process of joining us at Ysgol y Preseli. We have placed their well-being at the heart of all of the resources created.”

At Ysgol Caer Elen, a transition pack has been sent to the feeder primary schools as well as being shared on the school’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. The school has also created a TEAM group for all Year 6 pupils in order to share the pack and other resources.

“We are also working towards ensuring a smooth and successful transition for all prospective Year 6 pupils in Ysgol Caer Elen,” said Gareth Owens, Assistant Headteacher.

Staff at Ysgol Greenhill have been working quickly and creatively to support pupils in Year 6 with making a positive transition to secondary school while minimising disruption and focusing on pupils’ well-being.

Pupils can access the school’s ‘Google Classroom’ which has already seen a successful virtual music transition event, and the school has provided a range of curriculum related activity using the online ‘Greenhill Transition 2020’ including numeracy, literacy, and science challenges.

Victoria Thomas, KS2-3 transition leader, has started holding Microsoft Teams meetings with Year 6 pupils and staff, and the school is announcing the next phase of Year 6 Virtual Transition soon. An exciting virtual transition video is also being created.

All school websites (primary and secondary) can be accessed by viewing the following page: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus-Advice-and-Guidance/children-and-schools-transition-to-the-new-normal

Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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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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News

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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