Education

School closure raises alarm over future of alternative education in Pembrokeshire

Published

9 months ago

June 20, 2025

Westward House to shut after just one year—former Castle School site under same ownership set to close again

A SCHOOL offering specialist support to children with additional learning needs is to close at the end of this term—less than a year after it opened in the same building where a mainstream private school under the same ownership and management shut its doors last summer.

Westward House School in Haverfordwest will close in July, marking the second collapse of an independent education venture at Glenover House, Scarrowscant Lane, in under 12 months.

Both schools were founded and run by education provider Harriet Harrison, who opened Castle School in 2009 to offer mainstream independent education with a strong academic focus. That school closed in July 2024, citing the loss of key staff, mounting regulatory pressure, and rising operational costs.

In response, Mrs Harrison set up Westward House School—a new, smaller school designed to provide alternative education provision for children with additional needs who were not thriving in mainstream settings. Originally based in St Clears, it relocated to the former Castle School premises in Haverfordwest last year.

But speaking this week, Mrs Harrison confirmed that Westward House will now also close—this time due to a worsening financial situation made unmanageable by VAT changes introduced earlier this year.

Crushed by costs and policy change

“It’s devastating,” Mrs Harrison said. “Castle School was a traditional independent school, but we knew there were still families in Pembrokeshire whose children weren’t coping in mainstream. That’s why we opened Westward House—to meet that need. It was a new name, but the same mission to do right by the pupils.”

She said the school’s model, based on small class sizes, specialist support, and consistent pastoral care, had proven highly effective—but was no longer financially viable.

“Since January, all private schools have been required to add 20 per cent VAT to their fees,” she said. “This hit families hard. Our fees hadn’t risen since we opened in 2021, but the cost of wages, insurance, and energy have risen sharply. That extra 20 per cent was the final straw for many.”

The impact has been especially severe in west Wales, where local authorities such as Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire have not funded placements at Westward House, unlike in Cardiff where Harrison’s sister school, Eastward House, works closely with local government.

A loss for vulnerable learners

Westward House prided itself on helping children who had struggled in other schools. Its strapline, “Qualifications are important, but self-esteem is life-changing,” encapsulated its therapeutic approach to learning.

“Although most of our learners have now completed their GCSEs and are moving on to college or sixth form,” Mrs Harrison said, “some younger pupils still need support. That’s why I’m pleased to say we’ve been working closely with the Cherry Grove Learning Centre, which is due to open soon in Haverfordwest.”

The new centre will offer small-group teaching, pastoral support, external exam entry, and an enriched curriculum—providing, she hopes, “a lifeline” for families affected by the closure.

National pattern of closures

Westward House is not alone. Across the UK, small independent schools are closing at an alarming rate. The Labour policy of adding VAT to private school fees—intended to fund thousands of new state-sector teachers—has hit smaller, non-elite schools the hardest. Unlike Eton or Harrow, most small independent schools have no historic endowments or corporate backers.

According to a recent Times report, Whitehall officials are already braced for a wave of closures as schools struggle with inflation, declining enrolment, and new tax burdens.

Glenover House—built around 1907 and used as a school for decades—is now listed for sale at £495,000.

Whether it will reopen again as an education site remains to be seen. But for the second time in a year, the pupils, parents, and staff of a Harrison-run school are saying goodbye.

Photo caption:

Déjà vu: Glenover House, former site of Castle School and Westward House, is now for sale once again (Pic: Rightmove)

Education

Pembrokeshire College student crowned national champion in hair competition

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Learner beats more than 3,000 entrants to take top prize in textured hair category

A PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE student has been crowned a national champion after winning first place in a prestigious UK hairdressing competition.

Marieme, a Level 3 Hairdressing learner, took the top spot in the Textured Hair category after being selected from more than 3,300 applicants. She went on to compete against the final six contestants in the national finals, where she impressed judges to secure first place.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for both Marieme and the college, highlighting the high standard of training and talent emerging from Pembrokeshire.

Staff at the college said they were “absolutely thrilled” with the result, praising Marieme’s hard work, creativity and dedication throughout the competition.

The success did not stop there, with two other Pembrokeshire College learners also reaching the national finals.

Dylan was named among the top six in the Barbering category, while Laura achieved the same distinction in the Avant Garde category.

Their performances contributed to what the college described as a “fantastic day” for its hairdressing department.

The results underline the strength of vocational training in west Wales and the growing reputation of Pembrokeshire College in national competitions.

Education

Prendergast School achieves gold award for Armed Forces support

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Top honour recognises commitment to Service children and families

PRENDERGAST CP School in Haverfordwest has been awarded the highest possible recognition for its support of Armed Forces families.

The school has secured Gold Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing work to support pupils from Service backgrounds.

Headteacher Louise John said the achievement reflects a strong, whole-school commitment to ensuring Service children feel supported and able to succeed.

She said: “We are committed to ensuring Service pupils feel welcomed, understood and able to thrive.

“We recognise the unique experiences of children from Service families and have worked hard to embed that understanding across the school.

“Our approach focuses on early identification, strong communication with families, and consistent pastoral support.

“Achieving Gold status recognises the dedication of our staff and the inclusive practices already in place, while reinforcing our ongoing commitment to supporting Service children’s wellbeing, sense of belonging, and educational success.”

The Gold award, delivered through Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru (SSCE Cymru), requires schools to demonstrate strong and sustained support for Service children. This includes creating a positive environment where pupils can share their experiences and strengthening links with the wider Armed Forces community.

Prendergast CP School previously achieved both Bronze and Silver awards before progressing to the top level.

Cllr Simon Hancock, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, praised the achievement.

He said: “I would like to congratulate Prendergast School on achieving the coveted Gold Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status.

“From my visits, it is clear the school actively engages with the Armed Forces community and provides a positive and supportive environment for Service children.”

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, added: “This is fantastic recognition of the ongoing work at Prendergast School.

“It highlights the importance of supporting Armed Forces families and sets a strong example of best practice. Well done to everyone involved.”

Education

4 Essential Cyber Security Tips to Protect Your Data

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

Staff Writer

Protecting your personal data and financial information is crucial. With scammers and hijackers getting more and more sophisticated, you need to implement proper cyber security systems in order to keep yourself protected.

With that in mind, here are four cybersecurity tips to help you stay safe online.

Use Strong Passwords

A strong password is a basic security essential. A password that’s difficult to guess makes it harder for unauthorised users to gain access.

When creating a password, consider these guidelines:

Length – the longer the better, as there’s more opportunity to get it wrong
Character variation – use a combination of upper and lower case, symbols, and numbers
Avoid personal information – birthdays or other important dates, names, streets etc.
Keep passwords unique – don’t use the same password on different sites

It’s also a good idea to set up two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security, should your password be compromised.

Most people use simple passwords so they’re easy to remember, but this can be risky. If you struggle to remember complex passwords, consider using a password manager such as NordPass to securely store your passwords.

Remain Vigilant

It’s important to remain vigilant of scams or phishing attempts. They usually come through as emails or text messages and there are a few clear signs of malicious intent:

Misspellings – particularly in the email address itself
Pressure to take action – scammers often aim to create a sense or urgency to get you to take action without thinking
Asking for sensitive information – legitimate companies don’t typically ask for passwords or financial details via text or email. Never give personal information away without verifying the legitimacy of the site and the correspondence
Suspicious links – don’t click links that you’re unsure of or ones where the URL destination is completely different to the hyperlinked text (you can hover over links without clicking to see this)

Keep Your Software Up to Date

Keeping your software up-to-date ensures that you remain protected. Software updates are often designed to bridge security gaps and protect against new threats, plus new systems are typically better equipped to resist malware. Consider turning on automatic updates so you don’t miss any.

Remove Malware Immediately

If you notice that your device is slower than usual, apps that you don’t recognise have been installed, or pop-up ads are appearing everywhere, you may have malware on your device.

It’s important to run a scan to detect malware if you suspect your device has been affected, and remove it promptly. There is plenty of step-by-step help out there that can help you remove malware from your device.

Safeguard Your Data

By using strong passwords, remaining vigilant of scams and phishing attempts, keeping your software and devices up to date, and removing malware as soon as possible, you can help ensure your personal and financial information remains secure.