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Estyn finds Pembrokeshire’s education service improving

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A REPORT by Wales’s schools’ inspectorate, Estyn, released on Friday (Nov 4), found improvement in the performance of the County Council’s Education Directorate.

Estyn monitored Pembrokeshire County Council’s Education services during October this year. As a result of the improvements found – affecting learners, teachers, and officers – Pembrokeshire has moved out of the category of causing significant concern.

The last inspection, in 2019, contributed to the sudden departure of the former Director of Education, Kate Evans-Hughes, and led to her replacement by Stephen Richards Downes.

That report made four core recommendations the Council had to address, found the Council’s education services caused inspectors “significant concern” and needed follow-up scrutiny. The report’s authors identified learner outcomes were too variable, and high-achieving pupils lacked support.

Responding to the 2019 inspection, the then-Acting Director of Education, Stephen Richards-Downes, said: “In terms of teaching and their leadership, the buck stops with schools. I think probably one of the things that have happened in the local authority is that there has been too disparate an approach, and we must focus on identifying good teaching and good leadership to make sure they happen in all our schools.”

In the new report, Education Directorate officers receive praise for taking on board the findings of the previous inspection and implementing the previous recommendations. Where plans are not meeting expectations, the Council provides support and challenge to lead staff to ensure they get back on track.

The report finds that, since the inspection, the County Council has made significant strides in helping schools to improve. It notes the authority has made key appointments bringing “quality and valuable experience” into Pembrokeshire’s education system.

The report says, “There has been a tangible improvement in working relationships with schools” and that the authority has “cemented a more productive working relationship with schools through the involvement of headteachers in reference groups and seeking their views on new developments”.

Within the Education Directorate, Estyn found a more proactive approach meant officers identified schools needing additional support earlier and intervened when necessary.

At the time of the 2019 inspection, three of the local authority’s secondary schools were in a follow-up category after unsatisfactory inspections. Since then, two schools have moved out of the follow-up category. While one of the schools, Greenhill, made only limited progress against its earlier inspection Estyn noted recent improvements have helped the school address previous shortcomings.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We are pleased that the work of our schools and education services have been recognised for the improvements that have been made.
“We wish to continue improving education for all our learners in Pembrokeshire and will continue to make progress. We have significantly improved our provision and evaluation during one of the most challenging periods in education in recent times. We will continue to monitor our performance carefully as we strive for better outcomes.”

 

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Sheep rescue called off at Stack Rocks as coastguard urges public to stay back

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Public warned not to look over cliff edge as animals remain stranded near firing range

A RESCUE attempt to reach two sheep stranded below the cliffs at Stack Rocks has been called off, with the coastguard urging members of the public to stay well back from the cliff edge.

The sheep were seen on the rocky ground below the cliffs this afternoon, prompting concern from people in the area.

The Herald understands that a rescue attempt was made, but it was later stood down. The animals remain at the location.

A witness at the scene told The Herald that the coastguard was keen for the public to be warned not to approach the cliff edge or try to look down at the sheep.

The situation is further complicated by activity at the nearby firing range, where several days of live firing are understood to be scheduled, meaning a further rescue attempt is not currently possible.

Members of the public are being urged not to put themselves at risk by going near the edge of the cliffs.

Photo: The stranded sheep at Stack Rocks (Pic: Cerianne Palmer).

 

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Sub aqua club marks first serious sea-diving weekend of season

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CARDIGAN Sub Aqua Club has completed its first major weekend of sea diving of the season, with 23 divers taking part across four days.

The club rounded off the weekend on Monday (May 4), meeting at Porthgain at 8:30am with two club boats for a dive before returning by 2:00pm.

Ten divers took part in Monday’s outing, with the group diving on the Leysion, where visibility was reported at around three to four metres.

The club said the weekend had been an important opportunity for members to refresh skills, refamiliarise themselves with equipment and procedures, and give newer divers valuable sea experience.

There was also a milestone for club member Katie, who completed her first sea dive.

A club spokesperson said: “This has been the first serious club weekend out in the sea. Lots of refreshing of skills. Lots of refamiliarisation of kit and procedures. Some newbie experiences and some extending of experiences.”

The weekend also helped the club identify maintenance work needed on boats and trailers, with notes taken so the committee can prioritise resources.

The spokesperson added: “It’s been a good weekend for club diving — four days, two different locations and 23 different divers.”

The club said it will now focus over the next month on helping members who have not yet been back into the sea this season to get diving again and continue progressing with training.

Monday’s dive was followed by a debrief at The Sloop Inn, Porthgain.

 

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Fresh Hamilton wage claims raise new questions for Haverfordwest County fans

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Scottish reports of late and short wages add a new and more immediate concern for Bluebirds supporters already watching problems elsewhere in the same football network

REPORTS in Scotland that Hamilton Academical players were paid late, with some allegedly underpaid ahead of the club’s final game of the season, have added to scrutiny around the football network linked to Haverfordwest County AFC chairman Rob Edwards.

The latest claims were reported by Lanarkshire Live Sport and the Daily Record.

The relevance for Pembrokeshire lies in the links between Hamilton and Haverfordwest through Rob Edwards and Morley Sports Management.

Hamilton has previously stated that Morley Sports Management owns 100 per cent of 1874 Holdings Limited, and that 1874 Holdings in turn owns 97.5 per cent of Hamilton Academical FC.

Haverfordwest County has previously said Morley Sports Management has been the business vehicle behind Edwards’ takeover and funding of the Bluebirds since 2020.

Earlier this month, Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Ltd faced an HM Revenue & Customs winding-up petition at the High Court in London. The case was dismissed on April 15, but only after reaching a live hearing at the Rolls Building, with costs ordered against the company.

Separately, 1874 Holdings has faced a winding-up petition in Scotland. Hamilton later issued a statement acknowledging that petition, while saying the claim is disputed and that the company is seeking dismissal.

The latest Scottish wage claims come against a background of previous disciplinary action involving Hamilton. Earlier this year, the club was punished over failures to pay players on time and in full, resulting in a points deduction following an independent disciplinary process. Hamilton acknowledged that outcome in a club statement.

Companies House has also shown 1874 Holdings with overdue accounts and a strike-off notice. Those are separate processes from a winding-up petition, but they add to the list of recent off-field issues involving companies in the same football network.

There are also operational links between the two clubs. Haverfordwest publicly credited chief executive Beccy Nuttall with key work during the club’s licensing process earlier this month, while Hamilton has also announced Rebecca Nuttall in a senior role there.

The timing of the Haverfordwest case also drew attention because the club announced on April 8 that it had secured both its UEFA licence and FAW Tier 1 licence for the 2026-27 season, even though the HMRC petition remained live at that stage and was not disposed of until April 15.

The Herald contacted the Football Association of Wales for comment on the licensing position last week, but had received no response at the time of publication.

The Hamilton wage claims remain reports from Scotland, and there is no suggestion that Haverfordwest County AFC is facing the same issue. However, the developments are likely to be of interest to Bluebirds supporters because they concern companies and senior figures linked to the same wider football operation.

 

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