News

Taskers to be put into special measures

Published

12 years ago

July 24, 2014

taskers HER MAJESTY’S INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS have recommended that a Haverfordwest secondary school should be put into special measures. The school has not improved since a visit last year in which certain improvements were directed,

A report which has just been published on the Estyn website says: “Tasker-Milward V.C. School is judged to have made insufficient progress in relation to the recommendations following the core inspection in March 2013. As a result, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales is increasing the level of follow-up activity.”

The report goes on to say:”In accordance with the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are required in relation to this school. The school will draw up an action plan, which shows how it is going to address the recommendations. ”

Estyn have told The Herald that inspectors will re-visit the school in about three months’ time to inspect progress against the recommendations.

You can view the report by clicking here:

http://www.estyn.gov.uk/download/publication/322904.4/monitoring-report-tasker-milward-vc-school-2014-english-only/

Related Topics:

Up Next

Bhangra Night purchases bed for hospital

Don't Miss

Bryn Parry Jones: Formal criminal investigation launched

10 Comments

Heidi Moseley

July 24, 2014 at 1:29 pm

Told u there was major problems at that school
Steve

July 24, 2014 at 1:36 pm

Not good news, but before everyone jumps on the Pembrokeshire band wagon, dont judge all the pupils at the school as the same. Yes they may have a minorty of pupils who are dragging it down and making it diffcult for others, but there are those who are doing well. Comments like your Heidi do nothing for their confidence. What the education authority need to do is get rid of the wasters who dont want to learn and let the rest get on with it. As for the so called adults who seem to think it acceptable to look at anyone in a Taskers uniform as a lower form of life well maybe they need to go back to school.
Not surprised!

July 24, 2014 at 3:17 pm

The problem does not lie with the pupils, but with the poor standard of teaching and management. There are pupils in Swansea living in areas that are considered so poor they receive European area 1 funding. Pembrokeshire does not have that problem apparently, but our schools are performing to a lesser standard than in those areas! Until the teaching standard is raised and the management is held to account for their failures then the school should remain in special measures, or be closed! It’s time for action.
Sam

July 24, 2014 at 3:23 pm

I have to say my daughter went there from the start of her school career till this January (year 10) when I took her out. Initially I thought it was a good school however I discovered this not to be the case. There is good and bad in every school but I found from personal experience books not checked or written in for guidence (only 1 teacher had bothered from every subject), no feedback from the school if the pupil hadn’t done homework set and my major problem is that the teachers seem to be more concerned with what the children were wearing to the point of ridiculousness. Yes I totally agree with uniform and so on but complaining and threatening a child to confiscate their coat in -7 degree weather just because it was black and white and not black is well and truly over the top. The school needs major input!!!
Steve

July 24, 2014 at 3:50 pm

nice to see the concensus that the vast majority of the children want to learn and are well behaved. Agree Estyn need to give a big push here to help these children out so they dont feel they are losing out. as for those who cant be bothered, fine, but dont drag my child down with you
Tomos

July 24, 2014 at 5:34 pm

Surely it’s PCC that needs to be put in special measures.

If you have an ache in your arm because you’re having a heart attack you treat the heart attack not the bad arm.
Rhys

July 24, 2014 at 9:46 pm

Shameful! As a former pupil I find it difficult to accept that the school has deteriorated so much in such a short space of time. The demographics of the children entering the school has not changed in the last ten years, only the teaching staff and the head teacher.

Ms Haines became the head in my final year, and it was obvious that she was not a suitable candidate for the job (the school council voted overwhelmingly AGAINST her appointment). Her methods were not suitable for the school, and her general behaviour was unacceptable. I have heard horror stories of her turning up to parents evenings in flip-flops with wet hair!

When I was a pupil we had 1200 kids attending the school, now there is just over 800! Obviously parents have had their concerns for a long time and have taken their children elsewhere. Why has it taken so long for anything to be done? How many bright and talented youngsters have been failed by the school and the local authority? This is my main concern, the youngsters who needed pointing in the right direction, but have now left with poor grades and a terrible alma mata on their CV’s. What future do they have?

The first thing I noticed at university was the superior schooling that our counterparts in England receive (I am not talking about fee paying schools, but comprehensive and grammar schools); for a rural area we should not have such poor attainment and teaching standards.

Why did we change the uniform from smart blazers and ties to a horrendous red polo shirt? Why did many of the best teachers leave? Why?… In short, Ms Haines and Pembs Couty Council.
steve

July 24, 2014 at 10:19 pm

@ Rhys

Thankfully Ms Haines is no more. I hope in 3 months at next inspection the new regime have started to make improvement, there are signs. There still are pupils doing well, getting their heads down and doing their best to ignore the trouble element that need addressing. What I find sad is the manner in which the “grapevine” start calling the school (face book this evening) and by default damage the pupils confidence and self worth. Lets remember it’s not their fault the management has been poor, the vast majority want to learn and be proud of themselves and correctly so. What is not needed is parents from other schools in the vicinity assuming that ALL kids in Taskers must be trouble, wrong! It also does not make children or parents of “other” schools any better. I think we need to be adult about this , get measures in place to support and drive forward, stop the name calling and if you have nothing constructive to offer help wise, say nothing because ultimately it’s the kids that are being let down and hurt by the name calling.
steve

July 25, 2014 at 3:22 pm

Greenhill estyn report last week – ranked school as Adequate (could be Excellent, Good, Adequate, or unsatisfactory). The report for Whitland earlier this year also said Adequate. And Taskers is also Adequate and in special measures. Not exactly a glowing review of the local schools (i think Bush in 2012 was also deemed adequate – sorry havent looked at others).

im not in education – but a parent. I am concerned that on national and local level our schools are inferior to those elsewhere.

Friends who work in education in England comment that the generally held view (in England) is that welsh education is pretty poor, let down by a poor assemby decisions, a poor review body (estyn rather than ofsted), a lack of Sats, and opportunity cost for fixating on welsh language as compulsory in terms of impacts for both pupils and teachers when there are more crucial issues to address.

i appreciate this doesnt provide any answers…just concerns.
Jayne

July 26, 2014 at 9:04 am

Totally agree with Rhys. There are two measures of achievement in inspection performance (results) and capacity to improve (leadership/management). Pembroke School is the only Pembrokeshire School to date to gain a “good” from Estyn for the second measure. It should also be noted that it was students that were not educated on site at Pembroke that dragged the first measure down. Greenhill had the title of most improved school in Wales following results last year yet Estyn were not impressed…what do they want? Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of guidance filtering down from County (where lets face it has been a jobs for the boys club when it comes to appointing advisors). I feel for the teachers in all theses schools as it is them on whom the criticism will be levelled and they are already working at full effort with ZERO incentive to change due to lack of support and respect from the leaders.

Community

Fire leaves Letterston families homeless after homes destroyed

Published

7 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Two houses lost and a third badly smoke-damaged as villagers rally to support those affected

THREE families have been forced from their homes after a major fire tore through a terrace in Letterston, destroying two properties and leaving a third badly affected by smoke.

The blaze broke out at around 4:00pm on Wednesday (Apr 15), prompting a major emergency response from fire crews across west Wales.

Appliances were sent from Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, St Davids, Narberth, Carmarthen and Tumble as firefighters worked for hours to bring the incident under control.

Residents nearby said they first noticed what looked like a dark haze outside before realising smoke was pouring from the row of houses. As the seriousness of the situation became clear, people in neighbouring homes were told to get out.

Witnesses described seeing flames race through the roof spaces of the terrace, while windy conditions made the fire harder to contain. There were also reports of loud bangs as the blaze spread close to overhead power lines.

Fire crews remained at the scene into the evening, supported by utility workers dealing with the electricity supply. Some nearby homes were left without power until late that night.

By the time the fire was out, two houses had been completely gutted. A third remained standing but was left uninhabitable because of heavy smoke contamination inside.

Among those affected was a young family with a three-month-old baby. Although their house was not destroyed structurally, smoke damage is understood to have ruined furniture, clothing and other possessions, including items for the child.

All three households have since moved in with relatives or friends while they deal with the aftermath.

Despite the scale of the incident, nobody was injured.

The fire has shocked the village, but local people have quickly stepped in to offer help, with fundraising appeals launched to support those who have lost their homes and belongings.

How to help

Fundraising appeals can be found at:

gofundme.com/f/help-young-family-return-home-after-smoke-damage

gofundme.com/f/friends-house-destroyed-by-fire-f24y5

gofundme.com/f/the-families-effected-by-the-fire

Crime

Man cleared after prosecution offers no evidence at Crown Court

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Court Reporter

Swansea Crown Court entered formal not guilty verdicts on all counts, bringing the case to an end

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been cleared after the prosecution offered no evidence against him at Swansea Crown Court.

Luke Phillips, 23, of Woodlands Park, Haverfordwest, had previously faced charges relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The case came before His Honour Judge Thomas KC on Monday (Apr 13).

When the matter was called on, the prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.

Formal not guilty verdicts were then entered on each count, bringing the proceedings to an end.

Phillips was represented by barrister Ian Ibrahim.

The outcome means there is no further action to be taken in relation to the case.

It is understood that property seized during the investigation can now be returned following the conclusion of the proceedings.

Community

Pembrokeshire among worst-hit areas as accidental deaths rise

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE and Carmarthenshire have been named among the worst-affected areas in England and Wales for accidental deaths, according to new figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Newly-published data shows Pembrokeshire recorded an accidental death rate of 55.18 per 100,000 people in 2023, with Carmarthenshire close behind on 55.15. Both figures are rounded to 55 and place the two west Wales counties in the top 10 highest local authority areas across England and Wales.

Pembrokeshire ranked eighth on the list, while Carmarthenshire was ninth.

The figures form part of RoSPA’s latest Annual Review of Accidents, which warns that preventable deaths and injuries are continuing to rise across the UK.

Wales as a whole recorded an accidental death rate of 44.25 per 100,000 people in 2023, far above the UK-wide figure of 33.97. Only Scotland recorded a higher national rate.

The report paints a worrying picture for Wales, where RoSPA says accidental deaths have risen by 43 per cent over the past decade and now claim more than 1,200 lives a year.

Falls remain the biggest single cause of accidental death. In Wales, 733 people died in falls in 2023, up from 560 the previous year. That equates to a fatal falls rate of 23.15 per 100,000 people across the country.

The local breakdown suggests falls are also a major factor in west Wales. Pembrokeshire recorded a falls death rate of 28.79 per 100,000, while Carmarthenshire stood at 27.31. Carmarthenshire also had a notably higher accidental poisoning death rate than Pembrokeshire.

Across the whole of the UK, RoSPA estimates around 23,000 people died in accidents in 2023, while almost 900,000 people were admitted to hospital because of accidental injuries in 2023–24.

Becky Hickman, chief executive of RoSPA, said too many families were suffering life-changing loss from incidents that could often have been prevented.

She said: “Accidents devastate lives in an instant.

“They are often sudden, violent, and shocking, leaving families and communities to cope with consequences that can last a lifetime.

“What makes this devastation even harder to bear is the knowledge that so many of these incidents are entirely preventable.”

RoSPA has called for stronger action from governments across the UK, including a national strategy to reduce accidental deaths and serious injuries.

Ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, the charity has also launched its Stronger, Safer Wales campaign, urging the next Welsh Government to treat accident prevention as a major public health priority.

The charity says the risks in Wales are particularly acute in areas such as falls, accidental poisonings, rural roads, machinery-related incidents and water safety.

Ms Hickman said: “Our Annual Review of Accidents shows we are still not doing enough to reduce avoidable harm, life-changing injuries and personal tragedies.

“From our roads to our workplaces, the homes we live in to where we spend our leisure time, people in Britain are at increasing and unacceptable risk of suffering a serious accident.”