Education

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

Published

2 years 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)

Education

Positive Estyn report celebrates strengths of Prendergast Community Primary School

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SCHOOL RECOGNISED FOR INCLUSIVE ETHOS, STRONG SAFEGUARDING AND PUPIL WELLBEING

PRENDERGAST COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL is celebrating a highly positive inspection report from Estyn, which highlights the school’s strong sense of community, inclusive ethos, and commitment to pupil wellbeing and progress.

Inspectors described the school as “an inclusive, supportive community with a strong safeguarding culture”, where pupils feel respected, valued, and able to influence school life through leadership groups.

Pupils’ behaviour was also praised, with inspectors noting that it contributes to a calm and purposeful learning environment.

Strong support for learners

The report highlights the strong relationships between staff and pupils, which help foster enthusiasm for learning.

Inspectors also recognised the school’s approach to supporting learners as a key strength. Staff use assessment effectively to monitor progress and provide strong support for pupils with additional learning needs, those from low-income households, and children from service families.

Curriculum praised

The school’s curriculum was praised for being shaped by staff, governors, pupils and parents, ensuring it reflects both the local community and the wider world.

Pupils’ literacy and numeracy development was also highlighted positively. Inspectors found that pupils communicate confidently in English while developing strong Welsh speaking skills.

Reading is taught systematically, helping pupils become fluent readers, while mathematics provision supports the development of number skills and reasoning.

Spotlight recognition

School leaders were commended for maintaining a clear focus on pupil wellbeing and progress.

The report notes that robust monitoring and evaluation, alongside strong professional learning for staff, are helping to drive ongoing improvements. Inspectors also highlighted the effective use of grant funding to reduce the impact of poverty, as well as the strength of partnerships with parents and other schools.

The school was awarded a “Spotlight” by Estyn, recognising highly effective practice worthy of sharing with other schools. The spotlight focused on the school’s pupil-led library, which promotes a culture of reading across the school.

Headteacher Louise John said: “We are delighted that the inspection recognised the many strengths of the school and we are extremely proud of our pupils, staff, governors and families.

“We remain committed to continuous improvement and we welcome current and prospective families to our next open day on Tuesday, May 12, from 3:30pm to 6:00pm.”

Education

Holocaust survivor’s story shared with pupils at Ysgol Greenhill

Published

6 days ago

May 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE than 150 pupils at Ysgol Greenhill have heard the moving Holocaust testimony of the late Zigi Shipper BEM, who survived some of the most terrible events of the Second World War.

The special visit took place on Tuesday (May 5), when Mrs Lu Lawrence came to the school to speak about the life of her father.

Zigi Shipper survived the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Stutthof concentration camp and a death march, among other traumatic events. When he was liberated by British forces, he was just 15 years old.

Mrs Lawrence spoke to Key Stage 3 and GCSE pupils, sharing not only her father’s testimony but also her own family’s story.

Ysgol Greenhill said more than 150 students attended the session and were “exceptionally well behaved”, asking thoughtful questions during the visit.

The school said: “In the current climate of increasing anti-Semitism, understanding the dangers of prejudice is more important than ever.”

The visit was arranged by the Holocaust Educational Trust, which works with schools to ensure young people continue to learn about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred and discrimination.

The session gave pupils an opportunity to hear a deeply personal account of survival, loss and resilience, and to reflect on why Holocaust education remains so important today.

Photo caption:

Important lesson: Mrs Lu Lawrence visited Ysgol Greenhill to share the Holocaust testimony of her late father Zigi Shipper BEM (Pic: Ysgol Greenhill).

Community

Sixth-former firefighter balances schoolwork with saving lives

Published

7 days ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

WHEN the alerter sounds, 18-year-old Bobi Jones swaps his school for his local fire station, serving as one of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s (MAWWFRS) youngest On-Call Firefighters.

He responds to incidents in his own time and has been granted special permission by his school, Ysgol Bro Teifi to leave free periods whenever an emergency call comes in.

Bobi applied to become an on-call firefighter shortly before his 18th birthday and follows in the footsteps of his brother, father, uncle and grandfather, marking three generations of firefighters and over 75 years of combined service. His family’s legacy reflects the strong community roots and sense of duty that have underpinned MAWWFRS for three decades.

Having spent time around his local fire station and the fire and rescue service from a young age, Bobi was keen to join the service. With an upcoming point of entry test, he applied as soon as he was eligible.

After completing his initial training, Bobi joined the crew at Newcastle Emlyn Fire Station in November 2025 and has enjoyed responding to incidents while further building his skills and knowledge. One standout incident was a fire at a local gym where he was involved in rolling out hoses and establishing safety lines.

As well as following in his family’s footsteps, Bobi says he joined MAWWFRS as he wanted to support his local community, which he has found really rewarding. Alongside his operational role and playing for Newcastle Emlyn Rugby Club, Bobi is studying A-Level Business and Sport and plans to start an electrician apprenticeship after finishing school, with a long-term goal of becoming a Wholetime Firefighter.

Talking about balancing his role as an on-call firefighter with life as a sixth-form pupil at Ysgol Bro Teifi in Llandysul, Bobi said: “There’s a good crew here at Newcastle Emlyn Station, which includes members of my family. We all support each other and there’s great camaraderie here.”

Asked what advice he would give to anyone considering becoming an on-call firefighter, Bobi added: “I would say absolutely go for it, the availability options are flexible enough to suit everyone and the Service is always recruiting for more on-call firefighters.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting for on-call firefighters who, like Bobi, remain an essential part in protecting communities.
The role of an on-call Firefighter provides many opportunities for personal and professional development, through training, teamwork, leadership and problem solving. On-call firefighters receive payment for their services, including retainer fees and call-out payments, supplementing their income from other employment.