Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Education

New support for education leaders

Published

on

Kirsty Williams: 'Important to develop inspirational leaders'

A NEW body tasked with inspiring educational leaders of the future has been launched by the Welsh Government.

The National Academy for Educational Leadership will work with partners across the system to provide strategic support for those in current leadership roles as well as providing encouragement and inspiration for those who wish to pursue a leadership career in education.

Building on the good practice already delivered by inspirational, experienced and effective leaders working within the Welsh system, across the UK and internationally, the new organisation will be led by an independent team and accountable to a Board consisting of people with a range of skills that will support the Academy as it develops. A stakeholder group, representative of all sectors in education, will also be on hand to influence the continuous work of the Academy and ensure its relevance to the day to day work of school leaders.

In making the announcement, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams AM, emphasised the importance of strong leadership.

“It is crucial that we develop leaders who can inspire, not only our young people, but also their colleagues so we can work collaboratively to raise standards.

“The academy will play a vital role in developing the current and future leadership talent for Wales and ensure all schools can deliver our new curriculum.

“The launch today is an important step in our national mission in delivering an education system that is a source of national pride and public confidence.”

A Shadow Board, led by former Chief Inspector of Schools Ann Keane, has been in place to oversee the instigation of the Academy co-ordinating workshops and consultation events all over Wales to ensure that the voice of practitioners has been a major influencing factor in the Academy’s on-going development.

Newly appointed Academy Chair Sue Davies expressed her delight at the launch: “I believe this is a hugely important step for education in Wales as we recognise the crucial role leaders play in delivering the reform we want within the educational sector. While appreciating the need to nurture future leaders it is also vital that we provide appropriate support for those delivering leadership roles at present, in what can only be described as very challenging times.

“That is why we have ensured that key stakeholders, including school leaders, have been closely involved in developing this Academy and will continue to be involved for the foreseeable future as the work programme is rolled out.”

To further support the organisation and provide practical input for school leaders already in place, a group of 12 associates, made up of head teachers from across Wales, has been established. Gwyn Tudur is head of Ysgol Tryfan in Bangor and explains the role of the associates​.​

“We see our role as ensuring the National Academy responds to the very real needs of those working in the Welsh educational system and especially those undertaking leadership responsibilities or looking to step up to leadership. We are looking to ensure that there will be very practical and relevant work programmes to help our colleagues feel they are part of a wider support structure, and that avenues of assistance will be on hand at all times.

“As school leaders, we can at times feel isolated, and the establishment of the National Academy for Educational Leadership and its core aims have been greatly appreciated.”

Education

Redhill Knights secure place in national chess finals

Published

on

THE REDHILL KNIGHTS CHESS TEAM from Redhill Preparatory School has secured a spot in the British Primary Teams’ Chess Championship finals after a strong performance at the qualifier in Bristol.

Facing 32 top teams from across the UK, the Redhill Knights A team emerged victorious in a fiercely contested tournament at Bristol Grammar School, earning their place in the national finals at Nottingham University on June 24, 2025.

This achievement adds to their growing success, having won silver medals at the Welsh Primary Schools Chess Championship for two consecutive years.

Headteacher Adrian Thomas said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our children. Chess at Redhill has gone from strength to strength, and we are delighted to see our pupils representing not just the school, but Wales, on such a prestigious stage.”

The Redhill Knights remain the only Welsh primary school team to qualify for the national finals.

The school’s B team also put in an impressive performance, finishing 6th despite being initially ranked 20th. Their remarkable progress highlights the depth of talent within Redhill’s chess programme, nurtured by FIDE Master Alexis Harakis, whose expert coaching has been key to their success.

Redhill Preparatory School expressed gratitude to Coach Harakis and the dedicated parents who continue to support the young chess players.

For those inspired by the Knights’ success, Redhill Preparatory School hosts a chess tournament for primary-aged children three times a year.

The next tournament takes place on Saturday, April 5.

Continue Reading

Education

Half of secondary schools must do better on teaching – Estyn

Published

on

ESTYN warned teaching must improve in half of secondary schools in Wales, with the inspectorate raising serious concerns about the quality of leadership.

Buffy Williams, who chairs the Senedd education committee, quizzed Estyn chiefs about 52% of secondary schools inspected receiving a recommendation to improve teaching.

Giving evidence on March 5, Estyn’s chief inspector Owen Evans said: “We try to focus on what matters and teaching, as you say, is absolutely at the heart of what we expect to see.

“Yes, it is a concern that so many recommendations are given to schools on what is a fairly basic tenet of what we should be doing.”

Claire Morgan, a strategic director at Estyn, said around 20% of primary schools also received a recommendation on teaching in the last academic year.

She warned of inconsistencies across secondaries, with schools failing to build on pockets of best practice due to weaknesses in self-evaluation.

Joel James said Estyn inspected 31 secondaries in 2023/24, with 10% requiring follow-up inspections, two in special measures and two others needing significant improvement.

The Tory asked: “Is that an anomaly in terms of previous years or … a general reflection?”

Ms Morgan said: “It’s been a very challenging time for secondary schools: they’re still grappling with curriculum reform, additional learning needs reform, qualifications reform.”

Claire Morgan, a strategic director at Estyn
Claire Morgan, a strategic director at Estyn

She added: “Across all secondary schools, it’s about 10% of them in the statutory category, so that is really concerning for us.”

Ms Morgan raised issues around attendance, particularly among pupils eligible for free school meals, as well as weaknesses on literacy, numeracy and Welsh-language skills.

She said: “When you put all of these issues together, you can identify some serious concerns about the quality of leadership.”

She warned of a lack of high-quality, subject-specific professional learning for teachers.

“The job is very demanding,” she said. “We are seeing children with increased and complex wellbeing needs and often teachers are dealing with those on a daily basis.”

On Tuesday, trade union NAHT Cymru warned of rising abuse from parents towards school staff, including verbal abuse, threats and even physical violence.

Mr Evans, who was himself expelled from school for pulling a prank on teachers, said Estyn would soon be publishing an in-depth thematic report on behavioural issues.

He told the committee: “Where we see that behaviour is less of a problem it’s where they have quite strong policies that have been developed with pupils and parents.”

Mr Evans, a former senior Welsh Government civil servant responsible for schools, warned of a “plethora of priorities” and called for a tighter focus over the long term.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas asked about the main challenges in primary schools.

Ms Morgan said the key challenges include pupil progression, self-evaluation, improvement planning, consistency of teaching and Welsh skills in English-medium schools.

Pressed on literacy and numeracy by the Conservatives’ Natasha Asghar, Ms Morgan warned of weaknesses in higher-level reading skills across primary and secondary.

Raising concerns about too much variation and low standards in maths teaching, she said: “The only way we’re going to make progress on numeracy is to get mathematics right.”

The witnesses called for a relentless focus on reading and numeracy, with the chief inspector later warning of a recruitment and retention crisis in schools.

Mr Evans said Estyn aims to embed a supportive ethos, with interim inspections every three years as part of a six-year cycle rather than a “big bang” every eight years as before.

The former S4C boss said: “Last year, we introduced the interim visits, so instead of what was every eight years getting the magic call and the boots of Estyn are in your school – we’re trying to take the sting, we’re trying to take the anxiety out of it.”

Continue Reading

Education

Senedd votes to end tax relief for private schools

Published

on

THE WELSH Parliament voted to scrap charitable business rates relief for private schools.

From April, private schools in Wales will no longer be eligible for charitable relief but an exception will be introduced for independent special schools.

Of the 83 independent schools in Wales, 17 receive charitable relief at an annual cost to the public purse of about £1.3m – equivalent to £210 for each of the estimated 6,200 pupils.

Welsh ministers said it would be impossible to “disentangle” the impact from the Labour UK Government’s separate decision to introduce VAT on private school fees.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated the proportion of pupils who may move from private to state-funded schools as a result of the UK changes at 3% to 7%.

Similarly, private schools that are charities in England will also no longer be eligible to receive charitable relief of up to 80% off business rates bills from April 1.

Urging Senedd Members to back the Welsh regulations on March 4, Mark Drakeford said: “The policy aim is to make additional funding available for local services in Wales, by withdrawing a tax reduction for private education that is paid for by public funds.”

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford
Finance secretary Mark Drakeford

Natasha Asghar, the Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, accused the Labour Welsh Government of “another attack” on private schools.

She told the Senedd: “Not content with enforcing VAT on private independent schools, and implementing a hugely damaging national insurance hike, Labour now wants to take away the 80% business rate relief for charity-run private schools.

“Independent schools are being punished by Labour’s triple whammy on higher taxes.”

Ms Asghar raised a report that found 23% of parents were considering moving their children from private to state schools, which would equate to 140,000 pupils in Wales and England.

She said: “After 26 years of Labour mismanagement, we have the worst educational outcomes of anywhere else in the UK and this decision will only add to the already crippling pressures facing our schools.

“Removing charitable status from independent schools may seem like a quick fix, but it risks creating more problems than it actually solves.

“It could lead to fewer options for parents, increased costs for families, and, more importantly, it risks shifting the focus away from the real issue, which is improving education for all children regardless of their background.”

South Wales East MS Natasha Asghar
South Wales East MS Natasha Asghar

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan welcomed the regulations, calling for details of how much consequential funding Wales will receive from the VAT changes and when.

Prof Drakeford said the Welsh Government expects only one independent school to be exempt because it provides education to children with additional learning needs.

He did not address the question on consequential funding.

The First Minister-turned-finance secretary told the Senedd: “Of course, I was not surprised to hear the contribution from the Welsh Conservatives.

“They would rather my constituents in Ely and Riverside pay the £1.6m that goes in charitable rate relief to schools whose parents are well able to pay the fees out of their own pockets, that’s what you would prefer … to support the few and the privileged.

“And I absolutely resent … that it is somehow a problem to have more young people receiving state education in Wales.”

The Senedd approved the regulations, 42-16, with the Tory group voting against.

Continue Reading

News14 hours ago

Man faces charges over tragic death of baby in Tenby car park

A MAN accused of involvement in the death of a six-month-old baby in a multi-storey car park in Tenby has...

News15 hours ago

Oil tanker and cargo ship ablaze after collision in North Sea

MILFORD HAVEN LINKS TO LARGE SCALE MARITIME RESCUE OPERATION A MAJOR maritime disaster unfolded in the North Sea on Monday...

Crime16 hours ago

Milford Haven man jailed for six years after hiding cocaine in police car

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been jailed for six years after attempting to hide nearly 50 grams of cocaine under...

News1 day ago

Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate

SENIOR councillors will consider a bid for Pembrokeshire to become the latest council to support the devolution of Crown Estate...

Community3 days ago

Festival of the Sea makes a splash at Milford Waterfront this weekend

MILFORD HAVEN is buzzing with excitement as the Festival of the Sea kicks off this weekend, bringing a wave of...

Charity3 days ago

Cardigan RNLI’s first all-female lifeboat exercise

FROM launch to recovery: for the first time in the history of Cardigan RNLI, the station’s D class inshore lifeboat...

Crime3 days ago

Fishy business: Illegal fishers caught hook, line and sinker

FIVE Belgian fishing companies and their vessel masters have been prosecuted for serious breaches of fisheries legislation in Welsh waters,...

Crime3 days ago

Police seize £860k worth of cannabis in week-long regional crackdown

DYFED-POWYS POLICE say they have seized cannabis plants worth more than £860,000 in a week-long operation targeting large-scale production by...

Community4 days ago

School children and staff parade through in St David’s Day celebration

HAVERFORDWEST was a hive of activity as hundreds of children from 14 schools sang and waved as they paraded through...

News5 days ago

Pembrokeshire Council Tax rise for residents at 9.35% agreed

PEMBROKEHIRE taxpayers are to see their bills increase by 9.35 percent after “political tribalism was set aside,” but an alternative...

Popular This Week