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Education

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

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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:

1st – Seren Holder, Hafan y Mor

2nd – Eva Frearson, Hafan y Mor

3rd – Eifion James, St Oswalds

HC – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

Grade 1:

1st – Oliver Davis, Johnston

2nd – Annabel Ladd, Croesgoch

3rd – Evie Towe,  St Dogmaels

Grade 2:

1st – Angharad Chinn, MHCPS

2nd – Autumn Shepherd, Coastlands

3rd – Saphire Cook, MHCPS

Open:

1st – Matthew Picton, Gelliswick

2nd – Elin Rodriguez, Hook

3rd – Sasha Aulehla-Atkin, Caer Elen

Brass:

Initial Grade:

1st – Iolo Sims, Caer Elen

2nd – Henry Woods, St Dogmaels

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

Lower Brass Grade 1:

1st – Isaac Phillips, Saundersfoot

2nd – Aria White, Saundersfoot

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

HC – TJ Stewart, Glannau Gwaun

Trumpet & Cornet Grade 1:

1st – Zoey Pyart, Prendergast

2nd – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

3rd – Ella-May Kurvy, MHCPS

HC – Freddie Coleman, YPD

Grade 2:

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

Open:

1st – Mali Macfarlane, Caer Elen

2nd – Idris Leeming-Hicks, Caer Elen

3rd – Elizabeth Davies, Saundersfoot,

HC – Elin Jones, Bro Ingli

Strings

Initial grade:

1st – Ashley Cristobel, Prendergast

2nd – Efa Britton, Johnston

3rd – Bella Carrier, St Oswalds

Grade 1:

1st – Lily Kingaby, Casmael

2nd – Vivienne King, Hafan y Mor

3rd – Celeste Watts, Roch

HC – Isla Griffiths, Saundersfoot

Grade 2:

1st – Leila Powell

2nd – Genula Wickramaarachichi, Prendergast

3rd – Harrison Shepherd, Caer Elen

Open:

1st – Alice Thomas, St Oswalds

2nd – Nina Powell

3rd – Chloe Jenkins Simms, Hafan y Mor

Piano & Harp

Initial grade:

1st – Gwen Porter

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

3rd – Alice Ng, Caer Elen

 HC – Eva Allen, Lamphey

Grade 1:

1st – Poppy Hammersley, Brynconin

2nd – Jessica Lynch, Casmael

3rd – 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:

1st – Eva Evans, Wiston

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

3rd – Elsbeth Slade-Davies, Llanychllwydog

Open:

1st – Amber O’Connor, Eglwyswru

2nd – Mischa Orford, Tavernspite

3rd – Roberta Gale, YPD

Percussion

Initial Grade:

1st – Maddie Wright, Saundersfoot

2nd – Harri George, Casmael

3rd – Charlie Cheeseman, Saundersfoot

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

Open:

1st – Griff Nicholas, Casmael

2nd – Edward Batchelor, Caer Elen

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

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

Ensembles

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

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

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

Education

Planning for a greener future at Pembroke Dock Community School

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LEARNERS at Pembroke Dock Community School are being inspired to think of a future in renewable energy as they found out more about how the energy sector is changing in Pembrokeshire.

The whole school focused on the topic and discovered more about wind turbines, energy testing areas, combating climate change, solar power, and more, in a number of engaging and practical workshops.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the Darwin Centre brought the subject to life and learners enjoyed getting involved in researching and testing their work.

Some groups designed and built model floating platforms for offshore wind turbines as well as model turbines, children learnt all about how renewable energy is generated and used in modern life, as well as storage energy, while others went on a visit to Dragon LNG in Waterston to see a solar power farm.

Science, maths, problem solving and key thinking skills were all incorporated into the projects.
Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher Michele Thomas said: “The work of the school this term has been inspired by the exciting opportunities in net-zero careers in Pembrokeshire, as Wales heads towards being net-zero by 2050.  

“We want our learners to be knowledgeable about renewable energy across many levels, and to experience what it would be like to be a scientist or an engineer in the field. We have also strived to empower our learners to take social action on matters that are important to them and their lives, as well as on local decisions that impact on the global population. 

“The staff have been hugely creative in their curriculum design, which has in turn engaged and inspired all of the learners right across all school.”

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Education

Tenby school built just eight years ago could need new roof

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A £75,000 feasibility budget to look at ways of tackling roof leaks at Tenby’s VC school, including a complete new roof for the school built just eight years ago, has been backed by senior councillors, with the potential of seeking redress from those who built it.

A report for Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet members at their November meeting, presented by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “Since being established in 2016, and having been built as part of the Band A tranche of the Council’s 21st Century Schools Programme, the Tenby VC School building has experienced water ingress in roof areas.

“A number of these have been repaired, but unfortunately a number of leaks have resulted in a weakening of the structure and components within the roof construction. In order to reduce the load on the roof, the PV/Solar array which was installed at the time of the school’s construction has been removed; furthermore, a number of ‘props’ remain in place internally in order to support vulnerable areas of the roof.

“Over the past months, a number of discussions have taken place between the council’s professional construction services team and an external structural engineer to determine some possible options going forward.

“Such options range from limited intervention with a reliance on ongoing repair and maintenance, to a replacement of the entire roof structure. Given that the preferred option could result in a funding requirement in excess of £300,000, the council’s Capital Strategy requires Cabinet to approve feasibility funds.

“A project board has been established to review progress until the agreed works have been completed, the membership of which includes the headteacher and chair of the governing body.”

The report added: “As an operational school, it is considered essential that the roof issues at Tenby VC School can be resolved at the earliest opportunity. A feasibility exercise is required to be undertaken, but due to the constraints imposed by the terms and conditions of the most recent Welsh Government Capital Maintenance Grant, it cannot be funded via this grant.

“In accordance with the council’s Capital Strategy, Cabinet is asked to approve a £75,000 feasibility budget to explore the above options. Unless funded from an existing revenue budget, the feasibility study will be funded from the programme for administration reserve.”

Members agreed to approve a budget of £75,000 to fund a feasibility exercise to explore the options identified and to see whether there is potential redress from the contractors involved in building the school.

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Education

More Pembrokeshire schools championing going mobile phone free

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SCHOOLS in Pembrokeshire are leading the way in reducing issues with mobile phones with the Council among the first in Wales to develop a policy to support it.

The rationale behind the policy is the ubiquitous presence of mobile phones and devices that presents significant challenges to how pupils behave and learn in school settings.

Increasingly, there is mounting evidence suggesting that the unchecked use of mobile phones in schools is having a detrimental impact on pupils’ mental health and academic progress, while also draining the energy of school staff who must manage resulting problems.

As well as distraction by normal messaging there are the risks of bullying, sexting or sharing inappropriate chats and images.

Education officers set up a Local Authority and Schools working group to develop guidance on removing mobile phones during the school day following the success Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi had when it was introduced last year.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, Milford Haven School, Haverfordwest High, Pembroke Dock Community School and Gelliswick VC Primary School were involved in the group which has developed mobile phones guidance for schools to introduce this academic year.

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher Michele Thomas said: “Establishing good habits in primary school to be mobile free supports the transition into secondary schools with the same policy. 

“Nearly all Pembrokeshire schools prohibit the use of mobile phones during the school day, which has helped learners have a clearer focus on their work and reduces distractions.  In addition the policy reduces the risk of any inappropriate use.  The policy has been working well and will have long term benefits all round.” 

Rachel Thomas, Headteacher of Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi added: “The prohibited use of mobile phones and storage of them during lesson time has changed our entire school community’s safeguarding, wellbeing and learning environment completely.

“My latest mantra is that we live in a society where children are banned from playing conkers but are allowed mobile phones and online devices which put their safeguarding, wellbeing and childhood at risk.”

Funds have also been allocated to support schools with the logistics of removing phones, such as storage facilities, and all secondary schools are now implementing or are planning to introduce the policy guidance this year.

Sean Thomas, Assistant Headteacher for Behaviour, Culture and Ethos at Milford Haven School said: “As a school, we anticipated this policy being challenging to implement, at least for the first few weeks. However, the pupils, staff and parents have bought into it fantastically, it has been a huge success. 

“Pupils and staff have all commented on an increased focus during lessons, less distractions and a calmer environment.”

The Prefect Team, Communications Team and Headteacher collaborated to create a fun and informative video for social media, addressing concerns about the new mobile phone policy after the pupil voice session to ensure pupils felt heard and informed about the changes ahead. 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=8392736097461562
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2163212714061878

Headteacher Ceri-Ann Morris added: “I am extremely proud of how our pupils have embraced this positive change. Listening to our pupil voice prior to implementing the new policy has been instrumental in its success as their input and cooperation have helped shape a smoother, more positive transition for everyone.

“The Prefect Team did a wonderful job addressing concerns from our pupil voice in a fantastic video that was released to parents and pupils prior to the new policy being in place. We have seen tremendous positive impact in classrooms as pupils are more focused and an increase in social interactions at break. The feedback from staff, parents, and pupils has been overwhelmingly positive.” 

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “Our schools are leading the way in improving safety and learning for their learners, this mobile phone policy supports them in this work to protect young people.

“‘I’d like to thank all those involved in developing and implementing this new and effective policy.”

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