News

New schools to open thanks to £70m investment

Published

8 years ago

September 1, 2018

THREE brand new secondary schools are set to open in the county this month, funded by more than £70 million by Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

Welcoming hundreds of pupils through their doors for the first time are Ysgol Harri Tudur/ Henry Tudor School in Pembroke; Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest and Ysgol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Penrhyn Dewi in St Davids.

The schools are part of the 21st Century Schools investment programme run by the County Council in collaboration with the Welsh Government.

Darren Thomas, Programme Manager and the Council’s Head of Infrastructure, said he was delighted that the three major projects had been delivered successfully.

“We’d like to thank the staff, governing bodies and local communities of the three schools who have undertaken a tremendous amount of work to ensure that the new schools have opened on time and within budget,” he said.

Ysgol Harri Tudur / Henry Tudor School is an entirely new build on the Bush school site in Pembroke, accommodating all pupils from the former Pembroke School.

The flagship project cost £38.3 million and is the largest ever project undertaken by the County Council.

The 11-19 secondary school was built by construction company Bouygues UK and provides education for 1,463 children and an autism centre for 30 learners.

Work will now begin to demolish the old Pembroke School and the former Pembroke Grammar School buildings, with the aim of completing all work on site by August 2019.

Headteacher Fiona Kite said: ”Last year we held a competition among staff and students to create a motto for our new school.

“The winning entry, ‘Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow’ embodies the aims of Ysgol Harri Tudur / Henry Tudor School to fulfil the potential and dreams of all pupils and students who learn with us, whether onto further academic study at A Level or undergraduate level or into employment and training.

“The impressive new school building is just the beginning of an exciting time for education for everyone who works and learns at Ysgol Harri Tudur / Henry Tudor School.

The school will open its doors to pupils on Thursday, 6th September.

Ysgol Caer Elen is a brand new £28.1million Welsh medium school in Haverfordwest for children aged 3-16.

The school replaces the former Welsh-language primary school in the town – Ysgol Glan Cleddau – and provides secondary education in Welsh for children aged 11-16 for the first time ever in the centre of the County.

Headteacher Mike Davies said it’s an exciting time for the Welsh language in Pembrokeshire.

“The establishment of Ysgol Caer Elen is a celebration of the success of Welsh medium education in the county. Our aim will be to develop a pioneering 3-16 school which will deliver Welsh medium education of the highest quality in partnership with the feeder primary schools and Ysgol y Preseli.

“One of the main strengths of our school will be its caring, open and happy ethos where pupils feel at home and enjoy their education in a totally Welsh environment.

“One of our main aims will be to make learning an exciting and pleasurable experience and we are confident that our pupils will be proud of their new school, proud of their Cymreictod and their bilingualism.“

Ysgol Caer Elen includes a 600-place secondary provision, 315-place primary provision and 45-place nursery, as well as a 24-place Cylch Meithin (Welsh-language playgroup).

Separate entrances have been provided for the different age groups. Post-16 Welsh-medium education will continue to be provided at Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych.
Contractors Wilmott Dixon will continue to work on some parts of the site not required by the current year groups until late autumn (as scheduled).

The school’s first day of the new term is Thursday, September 6th.

Ysgol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Penrhyn Dewi is a new 3-16 school for the St Davids Peninsula, operating across the three sites formerly known as Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Dewi and Solva Community School.
Penrhyn Dewi will be the first Church in Wales secondary phase school to open since the 1920s and the Church’s first 3-16 school.

The former Ysgol Dewi Sant site has seen £4 million investment into a part-new build and remodelling of teaching accommodation.

Post-16 provision for pupils is available at the new sixth form centre in Haverfordwest as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College.

Penrhyn Dewi will welcome its first intake of pupils across all three sites on Thursday, 6th September.

Headteacher David Haynes said: “‘I am thrilled that we are about to open the doors to Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA and I am sure that the pupils will benefit greatly from the improvements that have been made to the buildings.

“I would personally like to thank the older pupils who have been travelling to Haverfordwest over the last year while the work has been completed, together with the parents and the teachers who have supported them greatly during this time.

“Many thanks also to WB Griffiths and Pembrokeshire County Council who have worked tirelessly with the temporary governing body in order to deliver the project on time.”

Pembrokeshire County Councillor David Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The transformation of the schools’ estate of the county is a testimony to the vision and drive of a group of officers lead by the former Leader, Councillor Jamie Adams.

“The fact that it has been the second largest 21st Century Schools Programme in Wales gives the scale of this achievement.

“It was badly needed. The Victorian primary schools and the 50’s secondary schools were no longer fit places for our children to be taught in.

“We are now able, however, to offer some of the best education centres in Wales for the benefit of future generations.”

Two more brand new schools are also coming into existence this week.

Sir Thomas Picton School and Tasker Milward VC School are merging to form Haverfordwest High VC School, with pupils continuing to receive their education on the two sites for now.

In July, at a meeting of full Council, members expressed their preference for a brand new school building at the Sir Thomas Picton site. The Council will now proceed to submit a business case for the development to the Welsh Government.

The other new school starting this week is Milford Haven Community Primary School, which will replace the Meads Infants School and Milford Haven Junior School. Pupils will continue to receive their education on the two sites.

Crime

Convicted sex offender found with push dagger at Milford Haven home

Published

24 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Uwen Watts was jailed last year after exposing himself to a vulnerable woman and sending her offensive sexual messages

A REGISTERED sex offender who was jailed last year for exposing himself to a vulnerable woman has returned to court after police found a push dagger at his Milford Haven home.

Uwen Watts, aged 20, was sentenced to 29 weeks in prison in December after sending the woman links to pornographic material before exposing his genitals to her.

He was also made subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

Watts has now appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court after officers discovered the push dagger at his home in Coombs Drive.

Police attended the property on May 15 while monitoring Watts in connection with an unrelated matter.

After entering the address, officers found the push dagger, which is legally classed as an offensive weapon.

Watts pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“The item was found in a private place and he didn’t use it or threaten anyone with it,” Mr Lloyd told the court.

“It wasn’t hidden and he made full admissions to the officers.”

Magistrates fined Watts £40 and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £16 surcharge.

A destruction order was also imposed for the push dagger.

***Stock image of a Push Dagger (Pic: Herald)***

Crime

Threatened to smash up parents’ home after demand for alcohol refused

Published

39 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Christopher Sizer’s mother told magistrates the family could no longer cope with his behaviour and repeated demands for money

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after threatening to damage his parents’ home with a hammer when they refused his demands for pizza and alcohol.

Christopher Sizer made the threats on March 3 while at his parents’ property with a group of friends.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the 38-year-old had repeatedly asked his parents for money, causing increasing tension within the family.

“He came downstairs asking for pizza and drink, but was told there was already food in the house because they could not stretch to buying more,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said.

Sizer then referred to a hammer he knew was kept inside the property.

“He told his parents he would use the hammer to damage the windows and that he would also kick the doors in,” Ms Vaughan told the court.

In a victim impact statement, Sizer’s mother, Kay Sizer, said she and her husband were no longer able to manage their son’s behaviour.

“If we don’t give him what he wants, he threatens to kill himself,” she said.

“If we have a night away, he phones the hotel and constantly asks us for money. My husband has had to get another job just to bring in additional money.

“We can’t cope with this behaviour any more, nor with the threats he makes against the house.”

Sizer, of Prescelly Place, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to threatening to destroy or damage property.

Defending, Tom Lloyd said Sizer had paranoid schizophrenia and had lost his temper on the night of the offence.

“He said certain things which he regrets,” Mr Lloyd said.

“The defendant needs help and is willing to engage with the probation service to get it.”

Sizer was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A two-year restraining order was also imposed, preventing him from contacting either of his parents directly or indirectly.

The order prohibits him from visiting any property occupied by his parents and from posting anything online or on social media that refers directly to them.

Sizer was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

Crime

Man sentenced after smashing four holes in bedroom wall

Published

41 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Adam Vickery damaged the Pembroke Dock social housing property after sending threatening messages to his partner

A MAN has been sentenced after smashing four large holes into the bedroom wall of a social housing property in Pembroke Dock.

The criminal damage was caused on the night of December 21 after Adam Vickery arrived at the rented home of his partner, Cerys Randall.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that earlier that evening Ms Randall had received numerous messages from Vickery while she was at work, some of which were threatening.

“When she got home, she walked upstairs to her bedroom and heard a series of bangs,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.

“She discovered Adam Vickery smashing up her bedroom, so she phoned the police.”

When officers arrived, they found four large holes in the plaster walls of the bedroom.

The property is owned by Pembrokeshire County Council and rented through Ateb housing association, with Ms Randall named as the sole tenant.

“I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve had enough,” Ms Randall said in a victim impact statement read to the court.

“I’ve tried to help so much in the relationship, but there’s nothing more I can do.”

Vickery, of West Percy Street, North Shields, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“The defendant came down at Christmas to visit his children but found out that Ms Randall was going to take them away from him that night,” said Mr Kelleher.

“He became frustrated and took that frustration out on the wall. He fully accepts that this was wrong and that he now loses his good character as a result.”