Community Schools Plus plan unveiled at spring conference

PLAID CYMRU has said that educational attainment in Wales “must be solved” following what it described as “26 years of neglect and mismanagement by Labour.”

The comments were made by Cefin Campbell MS, the party’s education spokesperson, during a speech at Plaid Cymru’s spring conference in Llandudno on Saturday (Mar 22).

Mr Campbell said that the current state of the education system required “bold and urgent action,” highlighting the need for a new university funding model, stronger Welsh-medium education plans, and investment to address a £500 million school maintenance backlog.

Freedom of Information requests by Plaid Cymru suggest that councils across Wales face at least a £543 million bill to bring school buildings up to standard.

Mr Campbell said the current model of “Community Schools” introduced by the Welsh Government did not go far enough and called for a new approach that includes on-site mental health and counselling services to help improve behaviour and attendance.

He told delegates: “Whether it’s tackling disruptive behaviour, high levels of absenteeism, or improving ALN and mental health provision, providing wraparound support will enable learners to reach their full potential, no matter what the challenges they face.

“That is why we want to build on the Welsh Government’s current Community School model. While it has good intentions, it does not go far enough.

“In creating a Community School ‘Plus’ model, we hope to bring support staff, services and relevant organisations together to improve support and outcomes for our young people.”

Estyn’s most recent annual report found significant issues facing schools in Wales, including low standards in literacy and numeracy, weaknesses in assessment, and difficulty in recruiting education staff.

International PISA results have also shown a decline in attainment, with Wales scoring lower than the rest of the UK in mathematics, reading and science.

Plaid Cymru said it would continue to push for urgent reforms in the run-up to the 2026 Senedd election.

Cover photo:

Cefin Campbell MS addresses the Plaid Cymru spring conference in Llandudno on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)

AN INTERNATIONAL art exhibition showcasing works from across the globe has opened at the Waterfront Gallery in Milford Haven.

The Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes exhibition, which began on Thursday (Mar 21), features two- and three-dimensional pieces from artists around the world and across Wales. Now in its fifth year, the exhibition is sponsored by the Port of Milford Haven and offers a total prize fund of £15,000.

Founded by the Waterfront Gallery in 2019, the Wales Contemporary has grown into a major cultural event. The exhibition first opened last month at the Garrison Chapel at Chelsea Barracks in London, where initial prize winners were announced. It has now transferred to Milford Haven, where visitors will have the chance to vote for the Welsh Public Choice Prize. The winning artist will receive £1,000, with the result announced at a closing event on Sunday, May 17.

This year’s competition attracted over 1,600 entries from more than 800 artists, covering painting, sculpture, drawing, print, ceramics, textiles and glass. Judging was carried out by a panel including painter Ian ‘H’ Watkins, artist Kelvin Okafor and printmaker Katherine Jones RA. Prizes were awarded for two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, as well as specific awards for Welsh and Pembrokeshire artists. Dana Finch won the Graham Sutherland Prize for her oil painting ‘Swoop’.

Lucy Wonnacott, Head of Communications and Marketing at the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Wales Contemporary exhibition for the fifth year and celebrate our longstanding support of the Waterfront Gallery, to bring world-class artwork to Milford Haven.

“This year’s exhibition is stunning, and we hope the entries continue to inspire local artists – or aspiring artists – to immerse themselves in the culture and creativity on display.

“Congratulations to all the extremely worthy winners so far. We encourage everyone in Pembrokeshire and southwest Wales to come to Milford Waterfront to see these pieces, and make the most of an amazing opportunity to experience world-class art.”

The exhibition is open at the Waterfront Gallery until Sunday, May 17, with free entry. Opening hours are 10:30am to 4:00pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

More information is available at: www.milfordwaterfront.co.uk

London airport shutdown sparks flight disruption, missed connections, and infrastructure review

THE UK’S busiest airport, London Heathrow, was forced to close after a major power failure on Thursday night (Mar 20), causing widespread flight cancellations and severe travel disruption for Welsh passengers and businesses.

A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, knocked out both primary and backup electricity supplies to the airport, which handles around 1,300 flights per day. The disruption is expected to last for several days, with no confirmed timeline for a full reopening.

Welsh passengers stranded or delayed

While Heathrow is not served directly by flights from Cardiff or other Welsh airports, thousands of Welsh residents rely on the airport for long-haul travel, including business trips, holidays, and family connections.

Passengers from Wales travelling via train or coach to Heathrow faced cancelled flights and diversions across the UK and Europe. Some international flights destined for Heathrow were rerouted to Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, and European airports including Brussels and Paris.

Several travellers from West Wales told The Herald they were left “stranded” at Reading and Paddington after trains were cancelled or redirected. One passenger, travelling from Carmarthen to catch a connecting flight to Canada, said they were now facing a 48-hour delay and an unexpected overnight stay in London.

Airport infrastructure questioned

The fire began at around 11:00pm on Thursday night and quickly spread through a transformer containing 25,000 litres of cooling oil. Firefighters remained at the scene on Friday afternoon, with 10% of the blaze still active.

Heathrow’s backup power systems failed to restore full operations. A spokesperson for the airport said the emergency generators are designed to maintain safety systems only, not to power the entire site.

The failure has prompted serious questions over the resilience of key national infrastructure.

Professor Tim Green, an electrical engineering expert at Imperial College London, said: “It is highly unusual for both primary and backup systems to fail at an airport of this size.”

Disruption to business and freight

The closure has also impacted Welsh businesses that rely on air freight through Heathrow, including medical suppliers and exporters of high-value goods.

Freight forwarding firms based in Deeside, Swansea, and Newport said delays in shipments could affect supply chains for days. Some perishable cargo has already been rerouted through East Midlands Airport and Birmingham.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, estimated that the closure could be costing the travel industry over £20 million a day. “This sort of failure should never happen at a strategic UK transport hub,” he said.

Government and Ofgem announce reviews

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that both the main and reserve power supplies failed. A third transformer is being brought online, but no estimate has been given for when full service will resume.

The energy regulator Ofgem has launched an urgent review. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem’s infrastructure director, said: “We must get to the bottom of this failure and ensure it can’t happen again.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that their Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation due to the site’s national infrastructure importance, though there is no evidence of foul play at this stage.

Legal uncertainty for affected passengers

Under UK and EU rules, passengers may be entitled to compensation if an airline is at fault—but not for infrastructure failures like this one.

Most airlines have issued rebooking offers or full refunds, but many passengers are still waiting for alternative flights. Legal experts say disputes over liability between airlines, the airport, and energy providers are likely.

Travellers from Wales with upcoming flights via Heathrow are being urged to check with their airline before travelling and to consider alternative airports.