Concerns raised over PSHE content in Bridgend schools

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called for an immediate review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons in Bridgend, following reports that pupils were taught about sexual practices involving choking.

Natasha Asghar MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, has written to Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, requesting urgent clarification and action. The lessons, she claims, could risk normalising “harmful, misogynistic behaviours” among young people.

Ms Asghar said she was particularly concerned about the message such lessons might send to young girls and warned of the potential influence of violent pornography on youth culture.

“This is a matter of great urgency. Schools should be places of learning, not environments where harmful behaviours are taught or normalised,” she said.

“This is an alarming indication of the cultural shift towards violent and demeaning acts towards women and young girls being perceived as acceptable. Our education system must actively counter such trends, not contribute to them.”

The Welsh Conservatives have called for Bridgend County Council to work closely with domestic abuse charities, such as Welsh Women’s Aid, and with survivors of abuse, to ensure that sex education lessons are delivered appropriately and sensitively.

“These sensitive and serious topics should be addressed with care and expertise, not reduced to PowerPoint presentations,” Ms Asghar added. She has requested a ministerial statement in the Senedd next week.

Calls for context and clarity

The Welsh Government has not yet responded to the claims. It is currently unclear which materials or lesson plans were involved, or whether the lessons were part of approved curriculum guidance.

Sex education in Wales is now taught under the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) framework, which became mandatory in 2022 and aims to provide age-appropriate, inclusive and factual information to pupils across all schools.

Supporters of the new framework say it aims to equip young people with knowledge about consent, respectful relationships and personal safety. Some experts argue that avoiding topics like pornography or rough sex may leave young people unprepared or misinformed.

The Herald understands that some education professionals have defended the inclusion of difficult topics—such as choking or coercive sexual behaviour—when taught responsibly and in age-appropriate ways, as a way of tackling myths, preventing harm and encouraging discussion around consent.

Bridgend County Borough Council has not commented publicly on the matter, but the issue is likely to be raised formally in the Senedd next week.

CONTROVERSY over the Labour Welsh Government’s rollout of the 20mph default speed limit shows no signs of slowing, despite the release of new compliance statistics.

The policy, which came into force last year, has faced criticism from drivers, businesses and communities across Wales. Many remain confused by the blanket implementation of the limit, which replaced the previous 30mph standard in most built-up areas.

Figures published this week suggest high levels of compliance among motorists—but opponents say this only demonstrates that drivers are law-abiding, not that the policy itself is supported.

The Welsh Government spent £32 million on implementing the scheme. Its own impact assessment warned it could cost the Welsh economy up to £9 billion.

Speaking to The Herald, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport & Infrastructure, Peter Fox MS said: “The roll out of Labour’s 20mph speed limit has been controversial to say the least and our concern remains the way the 20mph speed limit has been implemented.

“These latest statistics do nothing more than prove drivers are law-abiding citizens adhering to a speed limit that the vast majority do not support.

“We continue to believe a targeted approach, focusing on sensitive areas like schools and hospitals, is the right way to improve road safety without unnecessarily penalising drivers on roads where 20mph is inappropriate. That is why we would revert back to a 30mph default limit, only introducing 20mph where it is needed.”

The Herald understands that local authorities have also raised concerns about signage, enforcement, and the long-term costs of the policy.

AMENDMENTS to a previously granted scheme for a south Pembrokeshire solar farm by using higher specification panels which would actually see less land covered have been approved by county planners.

Last year, plans for a nine-megawatt solar farm at West Farm, Cosheston, near Pembroke Dock by James Wallwork of One Planet Developments Limited were approved by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The applicants said the scheme would generate enough power for 2,500 homes.

The scheme was initially recommended for refusal before a later recommendation for approval at last March’s planning committee; the scheme supported by Cosheston Community Council, which said the plans would be a natural rounding-off of the site, with no detrimental impact as it would neighbour the existing solar farm.

A supporting statement, through agent Mango Planning & Development Ltd, said: “The proposed development would contribute circa 9,337,000 KWh of renewable electricity to the local area, which will typically produce enough green electricity a year to power about 2,500 homes.

“The proposed development is for a temporary 40-year timescale and will be fully reinstated at the end of its operational life. There will be no loss of agricultural land.”

After last year’s approval, the applicants had asked for a change of planning conditions.

A supporting statement accompanying the amendment request says: “Subsequent to the grant of consent, the applicant has been advised that the solar panels originally proposed are no longer available. It is necessary, therefore, to substitute these with an alternative type.”

It says the proposed alternative panels would be slightly larger in size but “as a consequence of the improved specification of the proposed panels, a reduced site coverage is required to achieve the originally agreed output,” adding: “In particular, it is not now necessary to provide arrays in the small field at the east of the application site.”

The proposed amendments have been approved by planning officers.