News

Report highlights racism in Wales’s secondary schools

Published

3 years ago

November 30, 2023

A REPORT from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales claims that pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds are the target of racist abuse in Welsh secondary schools.

The report, published on Tuesday, November 28, says minority ethnic children and young people from across Wales experience racism in many ways. According to the report’s authors, those ways range from microaggressions to verbal and physical abuse.

The report claims those experiences are almost commonplace in schools.

The report also states that many incidents remain unreported as the youngsters targeted by abuse don’t want to be seen as “grasses”. If labelled “a grass”, victims of racist abuse fear they will be targeted with escalating abuse and retaliation. They also lack confidence in schools’ ability to tackle the issue.

The authors suggest that reported incidents are only “the tip of a very large iceberg”.

Meanwhile, teachers reported feeling underequipped and unconfident in responding to racism.

Mary van den Heuvel, Senior Policy Officer for the National Education Union Cymru, said: “NEU Cymru is deeply concerned by this report, which mirrors the experience of Black staff, who report a rise in racism in our schools and colleges with both Black students and staff facing varying degrees of racist abuse.

“NEU Cymru believes that all forms of racism must be challenged and that more must be done to support all learners and staff to feel safe and supported to understand and address this behaviour, and to feel valued and listened to in schools.”

Those teachers spoken to during the survey work for the report said they needed more practical and clearer guidance and ongoing support on how to respond.

How robust the report’s conclusions are is open to question.

Welsh secondary schools educate over 175,000 students, of whom 12% come from “Any other ethnic background’ other than ‘White British’.”

That’s 21,000 students, most educated in Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport.

However, researchers spoke only to 170 pupils, less than one per cent of the Welsh total.

In addition, the Commissioner drew on ten children who are members of her office’s existing advisory panel and special interest community ambassador groups.

According to the report, those “were children aged between 11 and 16 and with lived experience of racism who volunteered to join the CYP (Children and Young Persons) steering group.”

One of those participants, who appeared on television news to endorse the report’s findings, is the Youth

Officer for Swansea West Labour Party, whose membership includes the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes MBE.

Whatever issues exist about methodology, there is little doubt that racist abuse occurs in schools in every part of Wales. The scale of the issue in individual schools is likely disproportionate to the number of minority ethnic students. That is, where the number of minority ethnic children is fewest, abuse is more likely to occur.

One student in Pembrokeshire told researchers: “I was called a ‘monkey’ by a student.

“Other students reported it and parents were contacted but she [the student who called her the name] started crying so I didn’t want to make a fuss.”

A group of predominantly White Welsh participants shared that they had not directly experienced racism but had witnessed it, the majority daily.

Their experience included racist slurs in the corridor and people laughing it off. It also included people using a racial slur daily whilst talking about Asian-heritage boys.

One child said: “None of these incidents got reported apart from one. It’s all brushed under the carpet.”
Anecdotally, those incidents do not sound unlikely for Pembrokeshire schools, in which the number of minority ethnic students is comparatively small compared to the rest of Wales.

Problems with how schools tackle racism also feature in a comment by a Pembrokeshire student: “In my school, perpetrators must go to ‘rehab’ where they fill out the equality booklet. I don’t know how seriously they take this.”

Children’s Commission for Wales Rocio Cuifentes said: “There is a need for a whole culture change to support schools to respond more effectively and, more importantly, to help young people and children feel safer and feel confident that their schools will take incidents of racism seriously and something will be done about it.

“There is a real need for a comprehensive approach to dealing with this, rather than at the moment where we have pockets of excellent practice but other schools are really struggling.”

A key differential unexplored by the report is the extent to which racist expressions by children reflect their family, economic and neighbourhood backgrounds or how much those expressions arise from peer pressure and their wish to fit in with their friendship groups.

Absent those voices and that information, tackling the root causes of racism relies on the Welsh Government doing much the same as it is now, but harder and more thoroughly. Changing hearts and minds away from reflexive or learned racism will need much more.

Local Government

Catapult attacks suspected after wildlife deaths at Pembroke Mill Pond

Published

58 seconds ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Wildlife Crime Officers are investigating after the town council said around five animals showed signs of deliberate injury

WILDLIFE found dead around Pembroke Mill Pond may have been deliberately targeted with a catapult, Pembroke Town Council has said.

The statement follows earlier reporting by The Pembrokeshire Herald after residents raised concerns about several dead birds, including ducks, discovered around the Mill Pond and nearby Ferry Lane.

Photographs shared on social media prompted calls for an investigation, with some residents questioning whether the deaths could be connected to algae visible on the pond or a deterioration in water quality.

However, the town council has now said its representatives visited the area and recovered some of the dead wildlife.

According to the council, around five different animals appeared to have suffered injuries consistent with being intentionally targeted using a catapult.

The findings have been passed to Wildlife Crime Officers, who are understood to be investigating. The cause of the deaths has not yet been independently confirmed and will remain a matter for the police investigation.

Pembroke Town Council said: “This is an extremely distressing and cruel act against wildlife.”

The council also sought to reassure residents that it did not believe the deaths were connected to the condition of the pond.

It said Aqua Clear had been employed for the past seven years to manage algae growth and control the spread of reeds.

According to the council, the programme has reduced algae levels by approximately 45 per cent, while the water quality continues to be monitored and remains in good condition.

The council added: “We are aware that there has been speculation on social media suggesting that the deaths may be linked to the water quality or algae currently present in the pond. We would like to reassure residents that this is not the case.”

Pembroke Mill Pond is one of the town’s best-known beauty spots and supports a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.

The council said it strongly condemned all forms of cruelty and urged anyone who had witnessed suspicious behaviour around the pond, or who had information that could assist the investigation, to report it immediately.

Information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The council thanked residents for raising the alarm and for their continued concern for the pond and the animals living there.

The Herald’s earlier report recorded residents’ concerns about dead birds around the Mill Pond and Ferry Lane. The latest statement confirms that the council believes the visible algae was not responsible and that injuries found on approximately five animals pointed towards suspected deliberate attacks.

Crime

Police issue counterfeit £20 warning ahead of Royal Welsh Show

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Businesses and members of the public across the Dyfed-Powys area are being urged to check banknotes carefully after fake currency was reported in Builth Wells

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has issued a warning after receiving an increased number of reports of counterfeit £20 notes being circulated in the Builth Wells area.

Although the reports have so far centred on the town, the warning is relevant to businesses and residents across the force area, particularly with thousands of visitors expected to travel to Powys for the Royal Welsh Show.

Police are urging shopkeepers, hospitality businesses, market traders, taxi drivers and members of the public to examine any £20 notes they receive.

A genuine Bank of England polymer £20 note contains several security features. When the note is tilted from side to side, the word “twenty” inside the oval hologram should change to “pounds”.

The holographic section should also appear multicoloured when moved. Genuine polymer notes have a smooth, slightly glossy texture, with raised printing on areas including the words “Bank of England”.

Signs that a note could be counterfeit include the word “twenty” failing to change when the note is tilted, the holographic section remaining silver and the note having an unusual texture or thickness.

On some fake notes, the holographic patch may also appear out of alignment because it has been glued into place.

Police are also warning people to look out for so-called “prop notes”, which may have the words “prop” or “copy” printed on them.

In some cases, these words are covered with a foil sticker intended to resemble the security hologram on a genuine banknote. Police said these notes are still considered counterfeit under UK law, even when the wording remains visible.

Anyone who suspects they have received a counterfeit note should avoid attempting to spend it and should report the matter to police.

Possessing or knowingly using counterfeit currency is a serious criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of up to ten years and an unlimited fine.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, email [email protected] or call 101.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Community

Steam car set to star at Pembroke Dock classic vehicle show

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Classic and vintage vehicles will gather at Hancock’s Yard this Saturday for a free family event

A RARE steam-powered car will be among the star attractions when classic and vintage vehicles gather in Pembroke Dock this weekend.

The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s historic boatyard at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday, July 18.

Running from 11:00am until 4:00pm, the event will give visitors the chance to admire a varied collection of carefully preserved vehicles and speak to the owners who keep them on the road.

Organiser Peter Kraus said there was particular excitement surrounding one highly unusual exhibit.

“We even have a steam car coming,” he said.

Steam cars were among the earliest mechanically powered road vehicles, using a boiler and steam engine rather than the petrol or diesel engines found in most classic cars.

The show will offer motoring enthusiasts a chance to take a closer look at vehicles from different periods of road transport history, while providing an enjoyable day out for families and visitors to Pembroke Dock.

The event is being held within the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s working boatyard, where volunteers preserve the area’s maritime history.

Visitors will also be able to explore the society’s museum, restoration workshops and collection of historic vessels and maritime artefacts.

Admission and parking are free, although donations to support the work of the volunteer-run society are welcomed.

The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6JY, from 11:00am until 4:00pm on Saturday, July 18.