NEW CareersCraft landmark launched on 15 October 2024 at Bluestone resort with local school pupils

• The resource enables pupils to be immersed in a 3D Minecraft version of the Bluestone resort to develop careers knowledge and awareness of the hospitality and tourism sector in Wales

Careers Wales, in partnership with Visit Wales Welsh Government and Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, have launched a new landmark feature based on Bluestone’s 500-acre resort, within the award-winning CareersCraft resource.

CareersCraft is a Minecraft world featuring Welsh landmarks, designed to inspire and motivate school children aged 8 – 13, whilst developing their careers skills and knowledge. Each landmark is linked to an Area of Learning within the Curriculum for Wales, or a particular sector.

Through exploring the landmarks virtually through the platform and taking part in challenges, young people are encouraged to consider their own skills, attributes and interests, and how these can support their career journeys. 

Bluestone, which is located near Narberth, is a new addition to the seven landmarks already within the CareersCraft world, all detailed below with the Area of Learning or sector they relate to:

• Bluestone – hospitality and tourism
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – engineering
• The Senedd – language, literacy and communications
• Tenby – health and wellbeing
• Cardiff Coal Exchange – maths and numeracy
• Wales Millenium Centre – expressive arts
• Big Pit – science and technology
• Caernarfon Castle – humanities

To celebrate the release of the new landmark, Careers Wales hosted a launch event on Tuesday 15 October at the Bluestone resort with pupils from Templeton Community Primary School.

After an introduction to the new landmark, pupils were invited to complete the Bluestone challenges, including testing the safety of the Sky Walk at the Serendome, sorting the resources in the Well Spa and finding missing swimming floats at the Blue Lagoon.

This was followed by a tailored careers session, providing an opportunity for pupils to gain an insight into the world of hospitality directly from Bluestone staff. The exciting event ended with a personalised tour of Bluestone, letting the pupils explore the resort in-person, and learn more about careers within the industry.

Oliver Furneaux, a teacher at Templeton Primary School, said: “The children have thoroughly enjoyed today, as have I, and I think CareersCraft is an excellent resource. The children liked that the session was so interactive and that they’ve been using Minecraft, which they love anyway. Having potential jobs they can do in the future built into a Minecraft world creates a really interesting and engaging way for the children to learn.

“It’s definitely something I can take back to the school and share with the other teachers and classes, and schools within our local area as well. With Bluestone built into the resource, it is a fantastic way for the children to see how they might stay and work in the area in the future.”

A pupil from Templeton Primary School said: “I’ve loved that you get to go places and it looks the same as in real life. We’ve learnt about jobs that are actually real and it’s really cool how to get to experience them.”

A second pupil said: “I really enjoyed the Skywalk challenge, even though it’s hard, I found it really fun, especially when you get your high score. I’ve learnt not to give up on the challenges. I am definitely going to play it at home.”

Nikki Lawrence, Chief Executive at Careers Wales, said: “It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with our colleagues at Bluestone and Visit Wales and launch the exciting new Bluestone landmark within CareersCraft.

“Bluestone is an iconic holiday resort, and this new landmark enables players to explore the vibrant hospitality industry and discover the opportunities within this sector in Wales.

“It’s fantastic to see local school pupils exploring the new features of CareersCraft, developing their careers knowledge and expanding their horizons, all whilst in the beautiful setting of Bluestone itself.” 

“We’re thrilled to be part of CareersCraft, opening the doors of Bluestone to young minds throughout Wales and beyond,” said Helen John, Bluestone Academy Manager.

“This virtual experience showcases the exciting world of hospitality and tourism, inspiring the next generation of employees and industry leaders. It’s a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the diverse career paths available right here in the heart of Pembrokeshire and throughout Wales.”

The Minister for Skills, Jack Sargeant, said: “I want our children and young people to be offered as many opportunities as possible to be inspired and motivated about their future careers. Opportunities like the fantastic one Templeton Primary school pupils have had today – meeting employees at our award-winning Bluestone National Park Resort.

“Thanks to Careers Wales and Bluestone, this new virtual world in the CareersCraft resource will also give pupils across Wales an opportunity to find out about the breadth of valuable career options available in tourism and hospitality.” 

CareersCraft is available to all pupils in schools across the country through Minecraft Education Edition, and is accompanied by lesson plans for teachers.

The resource is also available for anyone with a games console, tablet or laptop to download and has had over seven million downloads through Minecraft Marketplace.

In 2021, CareersCraft was nominated in the ‘Use of Technology in Career Development’ category at the CDI’s UK Career Development Awards.

You can find out more about CareersCraft on the Careers Wales website.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE woman behind Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm and Bug Farm Foods has disputed claims that insect protein ‘mince’ will soon be rolled out to school dinner menus in the county.

In a submitted question to be heard at the Pembrokeshire County Council meeting of October 17, member of the public Valerie Sutherland will ask: “At a recent Biodiversity Study Day, Dr Sarah Beynon of the St David’s Bug Farm said that VEXo – the ‘mince’ used in their spaghetti bolognese comprising insect protein and vegetables – will be rolled out to Pembrokeshire schools soon.

“Has a contract for this been signed for imminent rollout? If so, have the allergic reactions and inflammatory issues been taken fully into account as children with seafood allergies will be affected by the chitin in this product?”

In a related question, she will also ask: “Insects bred for human consumption carry parasites that are seriously harmful to humans. Are councillors aware of the potentially serious health implications of children effectively being forced to consume insect protein as outlined [in an accompanying study]?”

Pembrokeshire is well known for Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, the vision of Dr Sarah Beynon, who wanted to combine her love of farming, academic research and education by setting up a centre of excellence in her hometown of St Davids, with VEXo produced by Bug Farm Foods.

Dr Beynon, responding to the published submitted question, disputed saying the ‘mince’ would be ‘rolled out’ to schools.

“I did not say this, as it is not true. I explained the exciting development of VEXo insect and plant protein mince with over 2,000 Pembrokeshire school children, teachers, social scientists, nutritionists, Welsh Government and Innovate UK, explaining that VEXO Bolognese was due to be offered on school menus in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit during the same week that we were due to finalise the roll-out with Pembrokeshire County Council. Schools were closed, so it did not go ahead. I mentioned that we are looking forward to revisiting this with Pembrokeshire County Council in the future, but did not put a timeframe on it.”

On pupils being ‘forced’ to consume the protein, Dr Beynon added: “We would never force anyone to eat anything they didn’t want to. Pupils are never forced to consume a food – during the previous discussions, it would be offered as a choice on the menu.

“Interestingly, 100 per cent of pupils liked VEXo Bolognese and one of the most wonderful outcomes of in-school workshops we ran was that children said it made them want to learn more about sustainability in schools. It also increased the take-up of school meals.”

On other issues raised by the questioner, she said: “As insects, like crustaceans, are arthropods, those allergic to crustaceans may also be allergic to insects. As with any other food, allergen labelling is vital, and all of our insect-based products are labelled appropriately and allergen information provided to groups who visit us in advance.”

She finished: “All plant, fungi and livestock foods have the potential to carry pests, parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to humans. The vital stage in eating them is how they are processed or cooked with industry-standard critical control points reached. Insects are no different. Insects farmed for human food are anaesthetized before being killed (frozen) and are cooked at high temperatures. Full microbiology testing is carried out.

“The fact that the resultant products have a stable ambient shelf life for around two years shows just how low-risk the food product is. Insects used in Bug Farm Foods’ food products are farmed in UK insect farms with the very highest biosecurity standards. Because the industry is relatively new to the UK and Europe, the legislation around farming them has been developed with modern understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare, meaning that it is some of the most up-to-date in the world.

“VEXo was specifically developed, here in Pembrokeshire, to tackle issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition gaps in growing young people. It contains about 80 per cent less saturated fat than a conventional meat-based Bolognese and is high in iodine, which is often low in teenage girls’ diets. Insects contain highly digestible protein, contain all essential amino acids, heme iron and a really good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.”

The questions will be heard and responded to at the meeting.

SENEDD members warned schools face “harrowing” funding pressures that risk failing a generation of children and young people in Wales.

Cefin Campbell led a Senedd debate on a report by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which warned of a deepening school funding crisis.

Mr Campbell told the Senedd: “The financial situation is dire now, the sector is facing a teacher recruitment crisis now and the skills gap is at its highest level on record now.”

The former lecturer, who represents Mid and West Wales, called for funding to reverse a 6% real-terms cut in spending per pupil identified in the report.

Mr Campbell said the Welsh Government has missed its target for recruiting secondary school teachers for the past eight years, with almost 5,500 leaving the profession.

He explained that this equates to 100,000 years’ worth of experience lost.

He accused the Welsh Government of mismanaging and underfunding schools, leading to Wales’ worst results on record in last year’s international Pisa tests.

Referring to an ITV Wales report on literacy, Mr Campbell criticised “mixed messaging” as he warned ministers promoted “outdated and discredited” teaching guidance.

He said: “Is it any wonder that teachers, parents and pupils are confused by all of this, if the government seemingly doesn’t have a clue about what it’s doing or saying from day to day?

“This failure to improve literacy levels is a damning indictment.”

Vaughan Gething argued Labour can be proud of its record of investing in schools despite the “brutal reality” of 14 years of austerity under the previous UK Government.

Wales’ former First Minister said the Welsh Government has invested more than £3bn in new buildings for schools and colleges over the past decade.

Mr Gething, now a backbencher, pointed to an above-inflation 5.5% pay offer for teachers as he criticised a “painful and shameful” pattern of Wales being shortchanged by the Tories.

He told the Senedd that Labour’s commitment to ending tax breaks for private schools will see that money instead invested in state education.

Mr Gething, who will stand down as Cardiff South and Penarth MS in 2026, said a 6% increase for schools would equate to finding about £215m this year.

He warned: “It’s not intellectually honest to claim the resources could be found from waste or attacking perceived mismanagement.”

Warning of a bleak picture for Welsh schools, Tom Giffard, the Tories’ shadow education secretary, described the NAHT report as “shocking but not surprising”.

Mr Giffard argued the Welsh Government’s additional learning needs (ALN) system has proved bureaucratic and expensive.

He told the Senedd that 87% of school leaders described funding for ALN as inadequate, with 88% saying this has caused huge financial pressures.

Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams raised concerns about more than 61% of secondary school pupils who are eligible for free school meals being persistently absent in 2023/24.

“That is an absolutely catastrophic figure,” she warned.

Wales’ education secretary Lynne Neagle recognised the financial pressures on schools, saying she does not underestimate the scale of the challenge.

Ms Neagle, who has been in post for six months, said the Welsh Government is delivering a new curriculum, ALN and mental health reform, and universal free school meals in primaries.

She told the Senedd that the Welsh Government’s settlement is still worth up to £700m less in real terms than expected in 2021.

Stressing that councils are responsible for funding schools, she said ministers have sought to protect public services with local authorities receiving a 3.3% increase this year.

Ms Neagle said council funding formulas for schools will be reviewed, with the aim of making the system more transparent, comparable and consistent.

Following the debate on October 9, members voted 23-25 against the Plaid Cymru motion. The Welsh Government’s amended version was agreed by the same margin in reverse.