Education

Wales’ youth triumph at national skills competition

Published

10 months ago

March 17, 2024

Over 280 talented young people from across Wales have been recognised for their outstanding vocational skills at this year’s Skills Competition Wales awards, securing 96 gold, 92 silver and 97 bronze medals.

Pembrokeshire proudly emerges as a beacon of excellence, seizing an impressive array of accolades at the Skills Competition Wales. With sheer determination and unwavering commitment, participants clinched an outstanding tally of achievements, including three coveted gold medals, eleven silver medals, and three bronze medals.

Furthermore, Pembrokeshire’s dedication to excellence was duly recognised with the prestigious Ecolab Excellence in Hygiene Award for Hospitality learner Leo Luke. Not stopping there, Pembrokeshire also clinched the esteemed title of Best in Region for Childcare thanks to Level 3 Childcare student Tamika Simms, a testament to our learner’s commitment and the dedication of staff in supporting future generations.

Pembrokeshire College is pleased to acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of their students at the Skills Competition Wales. Luke Gibbons, Celyn Lewis, and Mia Parkin secured bronze medals in Electrical Installation, Childcare, and Beauty Therapy, respectively, demonstrating their expertise. The collaborative effort of Tom Jenkins, Drew John, Jak Matera-Byford, and Reuben Swindlehurst (SLÃ‚K) in Popular Music earned them a deserving silver medal, alongside other silver medallists such as Ffion Mabey, Tamika Simms, Cerys Rogers, Kaya Majica, Luke Roberts, Connor Johnson, and Logan Russ. Emma Wilkinson, Erin Owens, and Ross Muller claimed gold medals in Life Skills, Beauty Therapy, and Horticulture, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication. These achievements underscore the hard work and commitment of the College’s students, solidifying Pembrokeshire College’s reputation for excellence in education and skills development.

Furthermore, Ysgol Preseli pupil Geraint Thomas earned a gold medal in the 14-16 years category for Construction Skills, demonstrating the breadth of talent within Pembrokeshire’s educational community.

These remarkable achievements stand as a testament to the talent, hard work, and dedication of the participants and tutors, solidifying Pembrokeshire’s reputation as a powerhouse in skills and innovation.

The announcement follows a series of competitions that took place in January and February, where a record-breaking 1,129 representatives from every corner of Wales competed to be named the ‘country’s best’ in their sector. Competitions covered skill areas including culinary arts, web development, aeronautical engineering and renewable energy.

This year’s competition also saw a steady and encouraging rise in female participation in the traditionally male-dominated construction categories, including carpentry, painting and decorating, and renewable energy, making up 20% of the competitor numbers – an increase of 10% since 2020.

The awards ceremony took place at the ICC Wales in Newport on Thursday 14 March, where medallists received well-deserved recognition for demonstrating their skills and hard work, surrounded by friends and family.

In addition, numerous ‘watch parties’ across Wales allowed competitors and their families to celebrate collectively across the nation and Pembrokeshire College celebrated the success of their students in the Merlin Theatre.

Gold medallist, Erin Owen, who competed in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner (Body) category, described her competition experience: “I am absolutely thrilled to have won the gold medal, I was secretly hoping to be in the top 3 but was overwhelmed to win Gold.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout the competitions, and I am looking forward to competing in WorldSkills UK later this year.”

Erin’s tutors celebrated her momentous moment with her: “We are not surprised that Erin won the gold medal as she is an outstanding student who excels in all her work. She has proved that hard work and determination pays off. As a team we are extremely proud of Erin’s achievements and have no doubt she will continue to succeed at every given opportunity. Ardderchog Erin Cer amdani! “

Skills Competition Wales, run by the Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project, serves as a launchpad for participants to compete in prestigious national and international events such as WorldSkills UK, EuroSkills, and WorldSkills International. Funded by the Welsh Government, the project aims to nurture talent and drive excellence across different skill sectors by collaborating with a dedicated network of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations.

Reflecting on the recent success at Pembrokeshire College, Principal Barry Walters said: “Pembrokeshire College is delighted to have scooped 17 medals from the Inspiring Skills Wales competitions last night. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were achieved by 17 learners across 10 different vocational routes. Thanks to the staff for their support for the learners’ competition journeys. We are all really proud of their achievements.”

Young people in Wales can also compete in the upcoming SkillBuild and WorldSkills national and international competitions subject to a further round of applications. Registrations for this year’s Skill Build competitions close on 1st April 2024 and WorldSkills UK competitions close on the 28^th March 2024.

Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, said: “Skills Competition Wales serves as the perfect platform for our youth to push their boundaries and showcase their talents.

“One of my priorities for a stronger economy is to focus on young peoples’ skills and creativity, giving them the support they need to achieve ambitious futures here in Wales.

“Having had the privilege of supporting and attending numerous competitions, including this year’s Renewable Energy competition hosted at the Senedd, I’ve witnessed first hand the remarkable talent pool we have in Wales. It’s truly inspiring to see these young individuals take pride in their work and continuously strive for excellence in their chosen fields.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every competitor for their outstanding achievements so far. Each of you has a very exciting journey ahead.”

As Wales looks ahead, Lyon, France, will host the 47th International WorldSkills competition, where Welsh competitors will represent Team UK to be in with a shot at being crowned the best in the world at their vocational skill.

For more information on skills competitions in Wales and to be in with a chance to represent your country in 2024 and 2025, visit https://inspiringskills.gov.wales/

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)