Education

Education budget uplift ‘much lower’ than £326m windfall, minister warns

Published

4 months ago

November 28, 2025

WALES’ education secretary has defended her “constrained” spending plans, suggesting the Welsh Government has diverted about £280m away from education towards other priorities.

Lynne Neagle told the Senedd’s education committee that her department received a £44.9m increase in the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2026/27.

Committee chair Buffy Williams warned the “standstill” draft budget, which increases by about 2% in line with forecasts of inflation, means some areas would see a real-terms cut.

Ms Neagle told Senedd Members the education department received an inflationary uplift of £37.4m for day-to-day revenue spending and £7.5m for longer-term capital investment.

Pledging to prioritise the areas of greatest need, she said: “That 2% inflationary uplift is much lower than the amount of consequential funding that was received by Wales which was £242m in revenue and £84m in capital for 2026/27.”

Ms Neagle said she has prioritised core services to meet legal obligations, with nearly 24% of the increase allocated to public-sector pay. She explained how the balance has been allocated to additional learning needs, school budgets and post-16 education.

“These haven’t been easy decisions for me to make,” she told the committee. “But they have been necessary to protect front-line services. I am acutely aware that there are areas that have not benefited from the level of funding that I would have liked to have seen.”

Giving evidence today (November 27), Ms Neagle said she wanted to provide extra funding for post-16 participation but she was constrained by the 2% “roll-over” budget.

The minister recognised that the education department budget is only part of the picture, with most funding for schools going via local government.

But she said: “I am really worried about the implications of a roll-over budget,” raising £262m extra for councils last year which was not possible this year due to the restated budget.

Ms Neagle told the committee she has had to make “heart-searching” decisions as she made a plea for a share of the £380m set aside for budget negotiations with other parties. She pledged to continue making a strong case for education around the cabinet table.

Vaughan Gething, who appointed Ms Neagle while he was First Minister in March 2024, contrasted a 2.3% uplift against inflation of 3.5% forecast alongside this week’s UK budget. He asked whether the Welsh Government would revisit headline inflation figures.

“Saying that two-and-a-bit per cent is an inflationary rise doesn’t match the facts,” he stated. “I appreciate why the finance minister called it a roll-over but, in real terms, it’s a reduction.”

Ms Neagle said the Welsh Government will need to consider the impact of revised forecasts as part of preparations for the final budget due to be published on January 20.

She sought to dispel a suggestion that First Minister Eluned Morgan has dropped education as one of her headline priorities for the Welsh Government.

But the minister warned the extra money for additional learning needs (ALN) is not the amount she anticipated Wales needs. She added that the consequential funding received was, in part, due to spending to address similar pressures across the border in England.

Ms Neagle acknowledged councils’ warning of £137m of schools-related pressures next year, pointing out that some local authorities even have ALN on their risk registers.

She told the committee: “In the run-up to an election, it can be tempting to put money into eye-catching initiatives – my experience… is what schools and colleges need is core funding… that is how we make the biggest difference to children and young people’s lives.”

Ms Neagle was keen to extend free school meals to secondary school pupils but “given the constraints of the roll-over budget, that meant I didn’t have the funding”.

Recalling a visit to a high school, she said: “I don’t want to be in a situation where young people are telling me they’re hungry when they’re studying for their GCSEs.”

Education

New facilities open at Portfield School as redevelopment reaches key milestone

Published

17 minutes ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST phase of a major redevelopment programme at Portfield School in Haverfordwest has been completed, marking a significant step forward in specialist education provision in Pembrokeshire.

The project has been jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, which aims to deliver modern, high-quality learning environments for pupils across Wales.

Developed in partnership with construction firm Morgan Sindall, the scheme has focused on accessibility, sustainability and the creation of spaces tailored to a wide range of learning and therapeutic needs.

Portfield School supports children and young people aged three to nineteen with additional learning needs. The new facilities provide modern, flexible and inclusive spaces designed to support pupils’ development while helping meet growing demand for specialist education provision in the county.

Headteacher Sarah Hartley said the new accommodation represented an important step forward for the school community.

She said: “We are delighted with the new provision for our pupils at Portfield School. It represents a significant step forward in ensuring every pupil has access to an inclusive, supportive and inspiring learning environment where they can thrive.

“As Headteacher I am incredibly proud of how well the pupils have transitioned into the new site and adapted so quickly to their new learning environment. I am very excited to be working alongside a dedicated team of staff who share the same passion for inclusive education. Together we will build a school community where every young person can flourish.”

The new building includes specialist facilities such as sensory rooms and improved outdoor areas designed to promote physical activity, social interaction and emotional wellbeing.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said the development would help support learners with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

She said: “All learners deserve environments that nurture, challenge and support them. I am pleased to support learners with additional learning needs in Pembrokeshire through our Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. The specialist spaces will help us meet a wide range of needs and ensure every learner feels valued and able to thrive.”

Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Jon Harvey, described the completion of the first phase as an important moment for the school and the wider community.

He said: “This is an exciting moment for the school, the families we support, and the wider community. The new facilities will provide pupils with the high-quality, nurturing environment they deserve, and the first phase brings us closer to delivering the full vision for this exceptional school.”

Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, said the company was proud to help deliver the project.

He said: “It’s a real privilege to hand over the new Portfield School SEN facilities. This milestone reflects the hard work and commitment of our Morgan Sindall team, and it has been fantastic to work with Pembrokeshire County Council to bring the project to life.

“The new facilities will make a lasting difference, providing children with a high-quality learning environment that offers the support pupils need to thrive and be inspired.”

Work on the next stage of the redevelopment has already begun. This will include refurbishment of the former Tasker Milward H Block for post-16 pupils, demolition of the existing primary school building, reinstatement works, the construction of a new respite care unit, and refurbishment of Holly House.

The overall scheme represents a long-term investment in specialist education and aims to ensure that children with additional learning needs across Pembrokeshire have access to the support and facilities they require.

Education

Tenby students compete in UK robotics challenge

Published

2 days ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STUDENTS from Ysgol Greenhill in Tenby have taken part in the FIRST Tech Challenge UK & Ireland competition, showcasing their engineering and computing skills at a national robotics event.

The Tenby Techno Team travelled to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s School of Applied Computingwhere teams from across the UK and Ireland gathered to compete in the international robotics programme.

The competition challenges students to design, build and programme robots capable of completing tasks on a specialist arena, testing both technical ability and teamwork.

The Tenby team said they were proud to be competing and were supported during the event by former computing students Issac, Ieuan and Finley, who returned to help the team as volunteers.

Organisers of the programme say the FIRST Tech Challenge aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while building practical problem-solving skills.

The team also thanked Valero Pembroke Refinery and Tenby Round Table for sponsoring the project, along with Marc Ingram, who provided advice and guidance during the build and preparation stages.

More updates from the competition are expected as the event progresses.

Education

Port joins careers event for Pembrokeshire pupils

Published

2 days ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN joined students from schools across Pembrokeshire for a careers event aimed at inspiring the next generation of workers in the region.

The event, organised by the SPARC Alliance, took place at the Canolfan Arloesedd y Bont / Bridge Innovation Centre. Pupils were given the opportunity to learn about a range of career opportunities available at the port and the wider maritime sector.

Representing the Port of Milford Haven were Pilot Jamie Furlong, Project Manager Claire Lawrence, Environmental & Sustainability Assistant Bethan Davie, HR Director Vidette Swales and Stakeholder Engagement Executive Emily Jones.

Students spoke directly with the team about different roles within the organisation and the skills needed to work in areas such as shipping operations, project management, environmental work and stakeholder engagement.

The Port thanked the SPARC Alliance for hosting the event and said supporting initiatives that connect young people with employers and highlight opportunities in Pembrokeshire is something it is proud to be part of.