Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Education

Islwyn MS says Wales faces ‘watershed moment for culture’

Published

on

A SENEDD member warned Wales faces a watershed moment for culture as the Welsh Parliament debated cuts at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Rhianon Passmore led a Senedd debate on a 10,560-name petition against the RWCMD’s decision to cut junior programmes which were established 25 years ago.

The Labour backbencher, who represents Islwyn, said the petitions committee is extremely concerned about the impact of funding cuts on the pipeline for talented musicians.

Ms Passmore, who has been chairing the committee temporarily, warned: “This would leave Welsh children at a profound disadvantage to their English and Scottish counterparts.”

She told the Senedd the scaling back of youth services is a “hugely significant blow” to the college’s ability to support learners from poorer backgrounds.

Ms Passmore, a former music teacher who is chair of the cross-party group on music, pointed out that the Welsh Government’s draft budget will be published in December.

She said: “How we minimise the impact of funding cuts on our cultural institutions in the current economic climate is a critical issue for Wales and for our young people.”

The Islwyn MS welcomed the Welsh Government’s “encouraging” announcement of an additional £5m for culture and arm’s-length bodies such as the Arts Council of Wales.

But Ms Passmore warned: “The economic impact of stifling music development and the nurturing of our young people’s musical talent is of grave concern.”

She added: “Unless the Welsh Government steps in to safeguard institutions like the RWCMD, then we are at a watershed moment in the regression of Welsh cultural life.

“This is without the devastating reduction of Welsh National Opera to a part-time outfit.”

Peter Fox, a Conservative member of the petitions committee, warned the cuts will result in 112 staff losing their jobs and a loss of 400 students.

He said: “This will be an incredibly damaging blow to the arts scene … and threatens the future of an important part of our future cultural offer.

“It is a jewel in the crown we should be proud of and we should look to preserve.

“Sometimes, things aren’t always about money – they’re about social value and the importance that these things bring.”

Mr Fox, who represents Monmouth, said about 50% of students received bursaries, with many paying minimal or no fees.

He warned that many talented young musicians will find accessing training unaffordable, saying the cuts will have an incredibly detrimental impact.

Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru’s shadow culture secretary, recognised the “huge” financial pressure on the RWCMD which faced a 6% cut in public funding this year.

She said: “They need to make 10% spending savings this year, which corresponds to £1.5m and closing the provision that we’re addressing today contributes 16% of the 10% needed.”

Ms Fychan cautioned that a generation of the most talented young Welsh artists have been disenfranchised and “reduced to an elite few who can afford private tuition”.

Julie Morgan, the Labour MS for Cardiff North, visited the RWCMD during the consultation.

“It was actually heartbreaking, particularly on the last day…,” she said. ”People didn’t know what other opportunities there would be. They didn’t have anywhere to go….

“It just seemed so awful that this was happening here in Wales and that this was happening to something that was so important for the hopes and the future of our young people.”

Ms Morgan, a former minister and MP, told the chamber alternative proposals were put forward but were not seriously considered by the college.

She added: “The other point is that children were taught in Welsh and in English, which was the only facility that offered this. So, it just makes you think: why on earth did this happen?”

The Conservatives’ Tom Giffard, who represents South Wales West, pointed out that culture bore the brunt of cuts in this year’s Welsh Government budget.

He said: “We can talk all the warm words we like about the importance of the junior academy, but without putting the funding in place to support it, unfortunately the Welsh Government has practically condemned it to close.”

Rhys ab Owen, an independent member of the petitions committee, said he has received countless letters from concerned constituents.

The South Wales Central MS said: “We can boast as much as we like that Wales is the land of song but it doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

“The accolade is meaningless if we just rely on the glory of the past because that’s what will happen, if schools like this and musical services are continuing to be depleted…. Wales will be less musical, not more musical than other nations, if we continue down this road.”

Jenny Rathbone, the Labour MS for Cardiff Central, said it was a tragedy that the debate took place after the decision to close the junior department had already been made.

“In a sense, it’s an affront to all the people who bothered to sign the petition that the Royal Welsh College wasn’t prepared to wait and see what solutions could be arrived at,” she said.

“I’ve no doubt that change was needed and was inevitable because of the financial circumstances but I feel hugely disappointed that this decision was rushed ahead.”

Vikki Howells, who was appointed further and higher education minister last week, responded to the debate on September 18 on behalf of the Welsh Government.

She recognised the strength of feeling and financial challenges as she pledged to continue talks with the college as it shapes proposals for future provision.

Ms Howells pointed to the Welsh Government’s national plan for music education, saying key partners will provide support and signposting to talented young musicians.

The junior minister told the chamber the national music service has received significant investment, totalling £13m from 2022-25.

She stressed that it is not the role of ministers to intervene in the operational detail nor routine financial management of institutions.

“These decisions are clearly a matter for the college,” she said.

Education

Pressure mounts on Pembrokeshire Council to revert school catchment areas

Published

on

PRESSURE is being put on Pembrokeshire County Council to revert the Johnston and Tiers Cross school catchment areas.

The calls are being made as an ever-increasing number of Haverfordwest High pupils are currently having to pay for transport to and from the school.

A large number of these students are travelling from Neyland, Johnston, and Tiers Cross, despite no longer being in the catchment area for Haverfordwest High VC School. Pembrokeshire County Council’s policy states these areas are now in the Milford Haven school catchment area. As a result, children from these areas who choose to attend Haverfordwest High are no longer eligible for free transport.

Although these areas are served by flexi buses and service buses, it is becoming increasingly difficult for children to secure a place on the buses, as the number of children requiring transport to Haverfordwest continues to rise. There are also financial implications; the cost of a return journey to Haverfordwest High from Neyland on a flexi bus currently stands at £20 a week.

The schools currently in the Haverfordwest cluster are: Haverfordwest High School, Prendergast Community Primary School, Roch Community School, Spittal School, St Aidan’s Church in Wales School, Broad Haven Primary School, Fenton Community Primary School, Hook Community Primary School, Cleddau Reach VC Primary School, Waldo Williams Primary School, St Mark’s Church in Wales VC Primary School, and Mary Immaculate School.

An ePetition has now been launched, calling on Pembrokeshire County Council to change the Johnston and Tiers Cross school catchment areas back to Haverfordwest.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school,” states the petition.

The ePetition runs until 1 November 2024. At the time of going to press, it had been signed by 328 people. The petition can be viewed here

Continue Reading

Education

Welsh teachers urged to grab opportunity for environmental education

Published

on

TEACHERS and school leaders across Wales have an “unmissable opportunity” to transform the lives of pupils through meaningful outdoor education.

The Field Studies Council, the UK’s leading outdoor education charity, has called upon teachers to embrace the opportunities offered by the new Curriculum for Wales which will be introduced from September 2025.

The charity’s education manager Jo Harris, speaking at the National Education Show in Cardiff on Friday (October 4), said: “The Curriculum for Wales is an unmissable opportunity to embed outdoor education as an integral part of the learning experience.

“We have been banging the drum for meaningful, enriching and immersive experiences for all students since the conception of the Field Studies Council in 1943, and we know the impact and importance of real-world learning for students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

“I urge teachers to embrace outdoor learning as an integral part of the new curriculum as it aims to create the healthy and ambitious young people needed to move our society ahead.”

The new curriculum for Wales has a strong emphasis on four key purposes, with the formal boundaries between subjects becoming more fluid in a more holistic approach to encourage positive well-being.  The four purposes aim to create:

  • ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives
  • enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
  • ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world
  • healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society

The first cohort of Year 10 GCSE students will start following the new curriculum from September 2025, and Jo urged teachers to embed field trips and outdoor learning into their planning from the start.

She said: “We know that experience-based hands-on learning in natural environments fosters problem-solving, critical thinking and resilience. It encourages curiosity and a deep connection with the natural world, essential attributes for the citizens of tomorrow. 


“The world of outdoor learning and nature connection is vital in creative thinking and the investigative work involved in fieldwork creates critical thinkers who can work in teams and individually.  

“With green jobs on the rise at a rate much higher than workers with green skills, (World Economic Forum, Feb 2024), the future work force needs the stimulation, engagement and support to fulfil these roles, and the new Welsh curriculum is committed to delivering on this. 

“Field Studies Council is a key partner of choice for this commitment – our school and university courses, as well as our online biodiversity department, are delivering expert courses and resources around biodiversity and environmental learning.”

The Welsh Assembly Government has told schools that the new curriculum should make sure 14 to 16-year-olds get an appropriate mix of general, vocational and skill-based qualifications and that curriculum time helps learners to understand all of their strengths.

Jo added: “We all know the physical health benefits of being outside and being active and we are becoming ever more knowledgeable about outdoor learning’s impact on mental health well-being, confidence and resilience.

“The students who struggle more to concentrate in class, those that might not get the chance to relax in nature otherwise or those that suddenly blossom to life in front of your eyes when given a pond dipping net, these are the beneficiaries of the drive for more outdoor learning across the curriculum.

“As educators in Wales, developing the curriculum for and with your schools, you can look to outdoor learning and its benefits to help deliver these purposes. We have courses to support all learners across many subjects, and I’m happy to engage with teachers to explain how you can use outdoor environmental learning to reap the benefits for your pupils.”

With centres at Rhyd-y-Creuau in the Yr Wyddfa National Park, Dale Fort in Pembrokeshire and Margam Discovery Centre in Port Talbot, the charity is already playing a key role in helping educators to deliver and plan high-quality, engaging experiences that meet the demands of the new curriculum. 

It is currently working with subject advisers at WJEC – Wales’ largest awarding body – to pinpoint how its geography fieldwork courses can help prepare students to understand the six stages of enquiry and complete high quality non-examined assessments, which will be new for GCSE students next year.

It is also working with WJEC to help build teacher-confidence in delivering fieldwork for the new GCSE.

For more information visit https://www.field-studies-council.org/ 

Continue Reading

Education

Pembrokeshire school to achieves prestigious UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting Award

Published

on

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL has made history by becoming the first secondary school in Pembrokeshire, and only the seventh in Wales, to receive the prestigious UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School Award.

This accolade, the highest given by UNICEF in the UK, recognises the school’s exceptional commitment to embedding children’s rights into every aspect of school life, including its ethos, policies, and practices. The Gold Award is reserved for schools that have demonstrated a robust environment where children feel safe, respected, and have a strong sense of belonging.

Milford Haven School has stood out for its dedication to fostering a culture of mutual respect, inclusion, and active pupil participation. Headteacher Ms Morris expressed her pride at the school’s achievement, calling it a “momentous occasion” for both the school and the wider community.

“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, pupils, and the community,” said Ms Morris. “It reflects our commitment to creating a learning environment where every pupil feels valued, heard, and empowered. We believe in fostering a culture of respect and responsibility, and this recognition validates our efforts to ensure that children’s rights are central to everything we do.”

The Rights Respecting Schools Award recognises schools that have fully integrated the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into their day-to-day operations. The assessment process evaluates how well schools promote respect for rights, equality, and the active participation of pupils in shaping their educational experience.

Representatives from UNICEF commended Milford Haven School for its efforts, highlighting pupil-led initiatives, collaborative projects, and a sustained commitment to promoting global citizenship and human rights education. The school’s dedication to this cause earned it the coveted Gold status.

Miss Reynolds, Assistant Headteacher and the lead on the Rights Respecting Schools work, praised both pupils and staff for their hard work and dedication.

“This award reflects the whole school community’s commitment to promoting children’s rights and creating a respectful, inclusive environment,” she said. “The recognition underlines our ongoing focus on pupil wellbeing and development as part of the school’s core ethos. We look forward to continuing this fantastic work in the coming months.”

The role of Milford Haven School’s pupils has been crucial in driving the Rights Respecting agenda forward. Pupil voice groups have worked tirelessly to ensure that every student understands their rights and the importance of respect and equality. These groups have led campaigns, organised events, and contributed to decision-making processes within the school, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

One pupil, speaking on the importance of being part of a Rights Respecting School, said: “Being a part of a Rights Respecting School means that we have the opportunity to speak our minds, and we know that our voices will be heard and our ideas listened to. That gives us the confidence to bring about change and make a difference.”

Milford Haven School’s achievement in becoming a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School not only highlights the school’s dedication to its pupils but also sets a benchmark for other schools in Pembrokeshire and Wales to aspire to.

Continue Reading

Crime20 hours ago

Trial of teen accused of attempted murder at Welsh school abandoned

THE TRIAL of a teenage girl accused of attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil at a Welsh school...

Crime2 days ago

Former teacher found guilty of assaulting teenager days before he died in accident

FORMER Ysgol Dyffryn teacher, Llyr James, has been found guilty of assaulting 16-year-old Llyr Davies in an incident in Newcastle...

Crime2 days ago

Man denies causing death of motorcyclist at Nash Fingerpost Junction

A 42-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before magistrates charged with causing the death of father-of-two Ashley Rogers at the Nash Fingerpost...

Business2 days ago

Exciting future as traders take over Haverfordwest Farmers Market

IT is an exciting time for the popular Haverfordwest Farmers Market as the traders officially take over the running of...

Crime3 days ago

Pembrokeshire chef admits causing taxi driver’s death

A CHEF from Pembrokeshire has admitted causing the death local taxi driver, Christopher Boyle. Mateusz Sikorski, 30, formerly of Manorbier...

News3 days ago

Buddha Buddha restaurant fined for failing to display correct food hygiene rating

A TENBY restaurant displayed a hygiene rating of 5 when the current rating for the premises was actually a 1,...

News6 days ago

Woman charged over death of four paddleboarders in Haverfordwest

NERYS Bethan Lloyd, aged 39, from Aberavon, has been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence...

Entertainment6 days ago

Anna Ryder Richardson roars back to Manor Wildlife Park after six-year break

ANNA RYDER RICHARDSON, the celebrity founder of Pembrokeshire’s Manor Wildlife Park, has returned to lead the zoo after a six-year...

Business6 days ago

Milford Haven regeneration could return it to 50s glory days

Pembrokeshire could be “on the cusp” of an economic opportunity as great as the petrochemical industry investment in the county in the...

Crime7 days ago

Police raid cannabis grow at former Woolworths building in Pembroke Dock

POLICE in Pembroke Dock have shut down a large-scale cannabis grow in Pembroke Dock. Nearly 600 plants have been recovered,...

Popular This Week