News

Secondary schools could close in big education shake up

Published

11 years ago

January 23, 2015

Tom Sinclair

School changes: Taskers site could become a new Welsh Medium School

– Five schools could close and be replaced with three new ones, says report
– Public meeting and protest planned

THE COUNTY COUNCIL’s plans for the future of education in north and mid-Pembrokeshire will come under the spotlight at an Extraordinary Meeting of the County Council scheduled for Thursday January 29.

If passed by members, the far-reaching plans would see English-medium secondary provision centred at Haverfordwest’s Sir Thomas Picton School’s campus, with significant redevelopment of the site over several years. The report being considered notes: “The merging of the two existing schools on the STP site may result in some disruption during construction phase. However, all reasonable steps will be taken to minimise such disruption.”

The council’s preferred options are set out in Appendix 5 of a 62-page paper prepared by the Council’s Director of Education.

Following on from the Cabinet’s adoption of a Welsh language strategy on January 5, the plan unveils and ambitious scheme to extend the council’s Welsh-medium education provision by the construction of a 3-16 school at the site of Taker Milward in Haverfordwest. The report says that: ‘Provision is feasible on the Tasker Milward site if an English medium school is established on the Sir Thomas Picton site’.

The report states that 3-16 education is becoming more common across Wales, although the authority anticipates resistance to the idea in Haverfordwest, not least from the parents at Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Cleddau.

The construction of a new Welsh medium school accessible to the wider county means that almost all parents who wish their children to be taught through the medium of Welsh will be within a 45 minute journey of such a facility.

As revealed in this paper in November 2013, the plans mean that Pembrokeshire College will take on additional responsibilities in relation to vocational and post-16 education.

The bitterest blow has fallen on Saint Davids, with the school there scheduled for closure while its functions amalgamate in part with Fishguard and in part – for Welsh medium pupils – with a new Welsh education school in Haverfordwest. The report acknowledges fears that the loss of Ysgol Dewi Sant might accelerate the process of turning the city into a place only attractive to older people and not to young families with children.

Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Fishguard, has come well out of the exercise with the Council noting that its site is: ‘Appropriate for either a refurbishment of existing facilities or a new build’.

The key recommendations are:

Discontinue Sir Thomas Picton School and Tasker Milward VC School and establish a new 11-16 English medium secondary school with additional ALN provision for pupils with complex learning needs on the site of the current Sir Thomas Picton School. Post 16 provision to be provided in a new integrated sixth form centre as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College, subject to formal governance arrangements being agreed.

Discontinue Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Ysgol Dewi Sant Schools and establish a new 11-16 English medium (with significant use of Welsh ) secondary school with additional ALN provision for pupils with complex learning needs on the site of the current Ysgol Bro Gwaun School. Post 16 provision to be provided in a new integrated sixth form centre as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College, subject to formal governance arrangements being agreed.

Discontinue Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Cleddau and establish a new 3-16 Welsh medium / bilingual school on the site of the current Tasker Milward VC School. Post 16 provision to be provided at Ysgol y Preseli.

In response to education review proposals Bethan Williams, field officer for Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Dyfed told The Herald: “While it is encouraging that the council will increase Welsh provision by opening a 3-16 school in Haverfordwest we want to know what will be the capacity of the school – will it be big enough from the beginning? There is also the question why there is no provision for the sixth form as part of the recommendations. Why would pupils who have received their whole primary and secondary education in the Haverfordwest area then choose to go all the way to Ysgol y Preseli instead of Pembrokeshire College?”

Ms Williams said: “We also encourage members to reject the euphemism that a new school will be established through amalgamating Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun. In all but legal terms it is simply the closure of Ysgol Dewi Sant which will be a severe blow for the local economy. Why not create instead a new two-site school, and use the opportunity to change the language category to create a 2A school which would ensure that all pupils received a significant proportion of teir education through the medium of Welsh? ”

She added: “We urge councillors not to miss out on the opportunity to improve provision in Tenby, where a Welsh primary school will be opened next year and Pembroke Dock where the Welsh unit is full. Welsh secondary provision in Haverfordwest will make very little difference in these areas.”

The decision made by councillors next week will affect education across the county for years to come and it is essential that Welsh education becomes easily available in all parts of the county.”

Public meeting and protest planned

Following the announcement on educational changes by Pembrokeshire County Council, a public meeting has been called for 5pm on Monday, January 26 at City Hall, St Davids, to be chaired by local County Councillor, David Lloyd.

David Haynes, the headteacher of Ysgol Dewi Sant, has sent a letter home with pupils on Friday (Jan 23) in an attempt to reassure parents that whatever decisions are made about the school, the staff and leadership will focus on their core purpose of providing the best possible education.

A public demonstration is planned ahead of Thursday extraordinary meeting of full council. Protesters will gather outside County Hall from 8am. The council meeting starts at 9am.

Crime

Man accused of Milford Haven burglary and GBH remanded to Crown Court

Published

11 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared in court charged with burglary and inflicting grievous bodily harm, following an incident at a flat in the town earlier this week.

Charged after alleged attack inside Victoria Road flat

Stephen Collier, aged thirty-eight, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, Dec 5). Collier is accused of entering a property known as Nos Da Flat, 2 Victoria Road, on December 3 and, while inside, inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man named John Hilton.

The court was told the alleged burglary and assault was carried out jointly with another man, Denis Chmelevski.

The charge is brought under section 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968, which covers burglary where violence is inflicted on a person inside the property.

No plea entered

Collier, represented by defence solicitor Chris White, did not enter a plea during the hearing. Prosecutor Simone Walsh applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody, citing the serious nature of the offence, the risk of further offending, and concerns that he could interfere with witnesses.

Magistrates Mr I Howells, Mr V Brickley and Mrs H Meade agreed, refusing bail and ordering that Collier be kept in custody before trial.

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Collier will next appear on January 5, 2026 at 9:00am for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.

A custody time limit has been set for June 5, 2026.

Chmelevski is expected to face proceedings separately.

News

Woman dies after collision in Tumble as police renew appeal for witnesses

Published

12 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information after a woman died following a collision in Tumble on Tuesday (Dec 2).

Officers were called to Heol y Neuadd at around 5:35pm after a collision involving a maroon Skoda and a pedestrian. The female pedestrian was taken to hospital but sadly died from her injuries.

Dyfed-Powys Police has launched a renewed appeal for witnesses, including anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV footage, or any information that could help the investigation.

Investigators are urging anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have captured the vehicle or the pedestrian on camera shortly before the collision to get in touch. (Phone: 101 Quote reference: DP-20251202-259.)

News

Greyhound Bill faces fresh scrutiny as second committee raises “serious concerns”

Published

12 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PROHIBITION of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill has been heavily criticised for a second time in 24 hours after the Senedd’s Legislation, Justice and Constitution (LJC) Committee published a highly critical Stage 1 report yesterday.

The cross-party committee said the Welsh Government’s handling of the legislation had “in several respects, fallen short of the standard of good legislative practice that we would normally expect”.

Key concerns highlighted by the LJC Committee include:

Introducing the Bill before all relevant impact assessments (including a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment) had been completed – a step it described as “poor legislative practice, particularly … where the Bill may impact on human rights”.
Failure to publish a statement confirming the Bill’s compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The committee has recommended that Rural Affairs Minister Huw Irranca-Davies issue such a statement before the Stage 1 vote on 16 December.
Inadequate public consultation, with the 2023 animal-licensing consultation deemed “not an appropriate substitute” for targeted engagement on the specific proposal to ban the sport.

The report follows Tuesday’s equally critical findings from the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee, which questioned the robustness of the evidence base and the accelerated legislative timetable.

Industry reaction Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), described the two reports as leaving the Bill “in tatters”.

“Two consecutive cross-party Senedd committees have now condemned the Welsh Government’s failures in due diligence, consultation and human rights considerations and evidence gathering,” he said. “The case for a ban has been comprehensively undermined. The responsible path forward is stronger regulation of the single remaining track at Ystrad Mynach, not prohibition.”

Response from supporters of the Bill Luke Fletcher MS (Labour, South Wales West), who introduced the Member-proposed Bill, said he welcomed thorough scrutiny and remained confident the legislation could be improved at later stages.

“I have always said this Bill is about ending an outdated practice that causes unnecessary suffering to thousands of greyhounds every year,” Mr Fletcher said. “The committees have raised legitimate procedural points, and I look forward to working with the Welsh Government and colleagues across the Senedd to address those concerns while keeping the core aim of the Bill intact.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The Minister has noted the committees’ reports and will respond formally in due course. The government supports the principle of the Bill and believes a ban on greyhound racing is justified on animal welfare grounds. Work is ongoing to finalise the outstanding impact assessments and to ensure full compatibility with the ECHR.”

The Bill is scheduled for a Stage 1 debate and vote in plenary on Tuesday 16 December. Even if it passes that hurdle, it would still require significant amendment at Stages 2 and 3 to satisfy the committees’ recommendations.