Education

Primary school children hit all the right notes at popular festival of music

Published

11 months ago

March 1, 2024

MORE than 400 Primary school children took part in the Pembrokeshire Music Service Valero Primary Music Festival last weekend.

Pembrokeshire Music Service welcomed pupils from across the county to share their musical talents with a delighted audience at Ysgol Caer Elen on February 24th.

St Oswalds School pupil Alice Thomas, age eight, was crowned overall winner of the festival following an outstanding performance of Galop by Charles Bohm on her violin.

This year’s event included the addition of a “Come and Play” class, where learners who were at the start of their musical journey could come and share their music with each other.

Philippa Roberts, Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service said: “It was wonderful to listen to the performances of all the young musicians, particularly those who are new to playing. Congratulations to each participant for their commendable efforts.

“The implementation of the New Music Plan for Wales has enabled Pembrokeshire Music Service to offer essential progression opportunities for our pupils which includes our new Second Steps ensemble who delivered an outstanding performance at the spotlight concert. Da iawn pawb!”

The Spotlight concert opened with a bang as 45 players from across the County’s Second Steps ensembles came together for their first public performance. These ensembles, for children in Years Three to Six, only began in September.

Open class winners who performed at the Spotlight Concert included Matthew Picton, of Gelliswick School, who performed Allegro Vivace by Singelee on his Saxophone; Mali Macfarlane, who performed A Whole New World by Alan Menken on the Cornet and Amber O’Connor, Ysgol Eglwyswrw, who performed Concerto by O’Carolan on the Harp.

Griff Nicholas, from Ysgol Casmael, performed She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult on Drums and the ensemble winners were Golden Grove School’s Wolfgang Evans and Betsy Adamiec who performed a piano duet of Faraway by Allan Bullard.

Events coordinator for Pembrokeshire Music Service, Miranda Morgan, added: “We are extremely grateful to Valero, as always, for sponsoring our event. When our last primary festival was held, the current Year Six pupils would have been in Year Two, so this was the first time performing in the festival for every single child present. They should all be very proud of themselves.”

Pembrokeshire Music Service Primary Valero Music Festival 2024 Results

Woodwind

Initial Grade:

1^st – Seren Holder, Hafan y Mor

2^nd – Eva Frearson, Hafan y Mor

3^rd – Eifion James, St Oswalds

HC – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

Grade 1:

1^st – Oliver Davis, Johnston

2^nd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch

3^rd – Evie Towe, St Dogmaels

Grade 2:

1^st – Angharad Chinn, MHCPS

2^nd – Autumn Shepherd, Coastlands

3^rd – Saphire Cook, MHCPS

Open:

1^st – Matthew Picton, Gelliswick

2^nd – Elin Rodriguez, Hook

3^rd – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen

Brass:

Initial Grade:

1^st – Iolo Sims, Caer Elen

2^nd – Henry Woods, St Dogmaels

3^rd – Polly Summers, YPD & Penny Ibberson-Senior, Roch

Lower Brass Grade 1:

1^st – Isaac Phillips, Saundersfoot

2^nd – Aria White, Saundersfoot

3^rd – Thomas Codd, Glannau Gwaun & Archie Llewellyn, Tenby VC

HC – TJ Stewart, Glannau Gwaun

Trumpet & Cornet Grade 1:

1^st – Zoey Pyart, Prendergast

2^nd – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

3^rd – Ella-May Kurvy, MHCPS

HC – Freddie Coleman, YPD

Grade 2:

1^st – Henry Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog & Eilidh Frazer, Tenby VC

Open:

1^st – Mali Macfarlane, Caer Elen

2^nd – Idris Leeming-Hicks, Caer Elen

3^rd – Elizabeth Davies, Saundersfoot,

HC – Elin Jones, Bro Ingli

Strings

Initial grade:

1^st – Ashley Cristobel, Prendergast

2^nd – Efa Britton, Johnston

3^rd – Bella Carrier, St Oswalds

Grade 1:

1^st – Lily Kingaby, Casmael

2^nd – Vivienne King, Hafan y Mor

3^rd – Celeste Watts, Roch

HC – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

Grade 2:

1^st – Leila Powell

2^nd – Genula Wickramaarachichi, Prendergast

3^rd – Harrison Shepherd, Caer Elen

Open:

1^st – Alice Thomas, St Oswalds

2^nd – Nina Powell

3^rd – Chloe Jenkins Simms, Hafan y Mor

Piano & Harp

Initial grade:

1^st – Gwen Porter

2^nd – Mia Rogers, Lamphey & Ffion Fenrich, Cilgerran

3^rd – Alice Ng, Caer Elen

HC – Eva Allen, Lamphey

Grade 1:

1^st – Poppy Hammersley, Brynconin

2^nd – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

3^rd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch

HC – Darcy Taylor – Lamphey, George Thomas, Layla McGilloway – Lamphey, Phoebe Ritchie – Caer Elen, Haydn Griffiths – Caer Elen, Noah Worrall, Scarlett Chandra – Caer Elen.

Grade 2:

1^st – Eva Evans, Wiston

2^nd – Millie Griffiths, Wiston & Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones, Bro Preseli

3^rd – Elsbeth Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog

Open:

1^st – Amber O’Connor, Eglwyswru

2^nd – Mischa Orford, Tavernspite

3^rd – Roberta Gale, YPD

Percussion

Initial Grade:

1^st – Maddie Wright, Saundersfoot

2^nd – Harri George, Casmael

3^rd – Charlie Cheeseman, Saundersfoot

HC – Efan Rees, Casmael & Alfie Hughes, Tenby VC

Open:

1^st – Griff Nicholas, Casmael

2^nd – Edward Batchelor, Caer Elen

3^rd – Max Griffiths, Caer Elen & Alex Youngs, Johnston

HC – Owain James, Casmael & Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen

Ensembles

1^st – Golden Grove piano duet (Wolfgang Evans & Betsy Adamiec)

2^nd – Bro Preseli Harp Duo (Cadi Haf Marshall-Jones & Elen Davies)

3^rd – Piano ensemble (Roberta Gale, Seren Reason & Poppy Burton)

Community

County Show calling all Pembrokeshire parents and teachers

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the county are invited to the next Food Story event, Nutritious, Delicious & Local, which will take place at the Pembrokeshire County Showground on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, 2025.

This exciting event, suitable for pupils from Year 2 to Year 11, will offer a hands-on learning experience focusing on health and well-being, as well as the role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in local food production. Topics will include how weather and climate impact farming, the growth of crops, and the daily challenges faced by farmers.

Children will also have the chance to cook and sample local produce, making it a truly interactive and educational experience.

All primary and secondary schools across Pembrokeshire will receive an invitation and booking form to attend. If teachers have not received the email and would like to participate, they are encouraged to contact the Pembrokeshire Showground Office at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire the next generation about the importance of nutritious, local food!

Education

Former Haverfordwest High student wins South Hook LNG scholarship

Published

4 days ago

January 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PROMISING local law student, Alisha Akhtar, has been awarded South Hook LNG’s 2024 Scholarship, receiving £5,000 to support her academic journey. Alisha, a former Haverfordwest High pupil, is in her final year of an LLB Law degree at the University of Salford, Manchester, and is preparing to undertake the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in two years.

The annual South Hook Scholarship is designed to encourage academic excellence and career ambition among Pembrokeshire students. Candidates go through a rigorous selection process that includes a written application and an informal interview, demonstrating South Hook’s commitment to supporting local education.

During a ceremony held at South Hook LNG, Alisha was presented with her award by the South Hook team. Speaking about the scholarship, she said: “My late parents worked tirelessly to provide opportunities they never had. This scholarship brings me closer to my goal of pursuing a career in law and honours my parents’ sacrifices. I am deeply grateful to South Hook LNG for believing in my potential.”

Hamad Al Samra, General Manager of South Hook LNG, praised Alisha’s determination, saying: “We are continually inspired by Pembrokeshire students. Alisha’s focus and commitment stood out, and we are pleased to support her in achieving her aspirations.”

South Hook LNG encourages local students pursuing higher education in engineering, science, or business-related fields to apply for their scholarship programme. Details for the 2025 award will be available on the company’s website in September.

Photo caption: Alisha Akhtar, South Hook LNG’s Scholarship recipient of 2024, with members of the South Hook team responsible for assessing the applications. (Pic: Supplied)

Education

New resource to support Welsh medium pupils

Published

1 week ago

January 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EDUCATION researchers have published a special booklet to support pupils in Welsh medium schools from homes where the language is not spoken.

Entitled Partner, Promote and Provide, the booklet was co-created in workshops led by Aberystwyth University which brought together education partners from Ceredigion and Powys, with input from parents and pupils.

It builds on a series of research studies by the School of Education which began during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and which explored the impact of the pandemic on pupils along with the additional challenges facing Welsh-medium schools in extending support to children from non-Welsh-speaking homes.

Dr Siân Lloyd-Williams Director of Research at Aberystwyth University’s School of Education, said:

“Based on the studies we carried out between 2020 and 2024, it was clear we needed to continue the work so that we could evaluate, identify and measure the impact of our recommendations on supporting non-Welsh speaking families.

“We set out to organise a series of workshops, bringing together representatives from the local education authorities, teachers, parents and others to hear their experiences and gather evidence. As a result, we have co-created a special booklet that teachers can use to support pupils from non-Welsh-speaking homes who attend Welsh medium schools.”

Another member of the research team at Aberystwyth School of Education, Dr Rhodri Aled Evans, said:

“This is an example of effective and purposeful collaboration between academics and practitioners on the ground. We hope this booklet, together with the recommendations of our previous studies, will be a valuable resource for the education sector and beneficial for teachers, pupils and families alike.”

The Director of Education for Ceredigion County Council, Elen James, said:

“It has been extremely valuable to collaborate with the University’s researchers to create dedicated resources that offer practical help on how to further improve the experiences of Welsh-medium pupils from non-Welsh speaking homes. This work is important and an excellent starting point for further collaboration. We look forward to developing the project further in the future.”

The Partner, Promote and Provide booklet was launched at a training event for teachers held at the University on 16 January 2025 and can be downloaded from the University’s website as a PDF or hard copies can be sent on request.

Pictured: L to R: Susan Ferguson (Research Impact and Knowledge Officer, Aberystwyth University), Prysor Davies (Interim Head of the School of Education, Aberystwyth University), Dr Rhodri Evans (Lecturer in Education, Aberystwyth University), Rhiannon Salisbury (teacher), Alwyn Ward (Ceredigion County Council)