Education

Anti-strike proposals an attack on devolution says NAHT Cymru

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

THE GOVERNMENT’S proposed minimum service levels for schools are ‘draconian, unnecessary, and an attack on devolution’, school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru says.

In its response to the government consultation, which closes today, NAHT Cymru says the legislation cuts across devolved powers by the Welsh Government and would effectively remove the right to strike from most school staff – and especially head teachers given that most schools only have one such role.

The new laws would make it legal to sack striking education workers who have been issued with ‘work notices’ and will allow hefty fines to be imposed on unions.

NAHT Cymru says the proposals fail to recognise legislation in Wales, such as the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; the Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017 and Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 – all of which look to strengthen workers and employers’ rights and promote working together to resolve disputes where possible.

Far from ensuring a ‘minimum’ service, the union says requiring all vulnerable, critical worker and exam groups to be in school would mean a majority of pupils attending and all schools being required to open on strike days.

NAHT Cymru National Secretary Laura Doel has condemned the legislation, saying: “The proposals by the UK government aim to undermine the principles of social partnership and are a direct attack on the devolution settlement.

“The Department for Education (DfE) has no idea of the systems in place that manage and maintain Welsh schools and the UK Government has no right to involve itself in matters that do not concern it.

“School leaders across Wales face significant challenges, particularly when it comes to pay, workload and funding and we are currently working with the Welsh Government to address those issues.

“Having said that, we will not hesitate to take further industrial action if it is the will of our members and we will do everything in our power to protect those rights.”

NAHT Cymru says there was no clear evidence of detriment to pupils during last year’s industrial action by education unions, which included a strike by teachers – but that cuts to education and chronic underfunding have far-reaching implications for the delivery of education.

Referring to last year’s action in Wales, during which NAHT Cymru took action short of strike, the response continues: ‘Teachers, school leaders and support staff have taken part in industrial action to defend their pay and working conditions, to prevent a worsening of the staffing shortage and to restore the quality of our education services. The introduction of minimum levels of service will not resolve these issues, but they will impact workers ability to do something about them.’

In its response, NAHT Cymru also highlights the principle that union members need the freedom to withdraw their labour if their workplace is for any reason considered unsafe.

It points out that the proposals do not allow workplace notices requiring staff to work to be appealed or for any independent oversight of disputes that arise. There is no provision for meaningful consultation with unions and no obligation to consult individuals identified in a work notice as being required to work during a strike and is completely lacking in reference to the devolved governments at all.

NAHT Cymru has welcomed education minister Jeremey Miles’ response to the legislation, after he wrote to the DfE stating the Welsh Government will continue to work with employers and unions under social partnership to resolve disputes.

Paul Whiteman, NAHT’s general secretary, said: “The government’s proposals are a hostile attack on the basic democratic right of workers to withdraw their labour.

“Strike action will always be a last resort for dedicated education professionals. Sadly, however, it is sometimes the only way to engage tin-eared governments and employers in serious talks about issues which may not only affect their working conditions, safety and livelihoods – but also their ability to offer the education all children deserve.

“These proposals will not help to prevent industrial disputes but will make it even harder to resolve them and for dedicated school staff to act when they fear education is being devalued. If that happens, ultimately it is children who will suffer.”

NAHT Cymru is calling for the UK government to retract the proposals and enter meaningful negotiations with education unions after it abandoned talks last year.

It urges ministers to ‘learn from other nations and create a culture of social dialogue and balanced cooperation through the introduction of sector-wide collective bargaining, together with the clear legal recognition of a positive right to strike.’

The union says the proposals are ‘highly likely to fall foul of equality law’, arguing that school leaders who are more likely to be required to work are often older. It points out that a majority of the workforce are female, and that the approach taken was ‘effectively discriminating against’ staff at schools with a higher proportion of pupils with additional learning needs (ALN), vulnerable and critical worker children.

NAHT Cymru adds the legislation would ‘make the UK an outlier among comparable nations’, undermining a host of international human rights and labour law commitments. These include the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, European Social Charter and commitments through the International Labour Organisation.

Education

Language commissioner launches probe into school closure impact on Welsh

Published

18 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH Language Commissioner has launched a formal investigation into claims that the proposed closure of a rural Carmarthenshire primary school did not properly assess the impact on the Welsh language.

Campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith confirmed this week that the Welsh Language Commissioner will examine whether Carmarthenshire County Council complied with its legal duties when producing a language impact assessment linked to plans to close Ysgol Llansteffan.

The council issued a statutory notice last year proposing to shut the village school at the end of the summer term as part of wider education reorganisation. A final decision had been expected this spring.

However, the investigation now creates fresh uncertainty over the timetable.

Complaint over ‘insufficient assessment’

Cymdeithas yr Iaith says it submitted a formal complaint arguing that the council failed to produce a sufficiently detailed assessment of how the closure could affect Welsh-medium education and the wider Welsh-speaking community.

The group claims the authority selectively used data to support closure rather than examining all available evidence objectively.

Two key concerns were raised.

Firstly, campaigners argue there may not be enough places in neighbouring Welsh-medium schools to accommodate pupils from Llansteffan and nearby housing developments, potentially forcing some families into English-medium provision.

Secondly, they say the assessment did not meaningfully consider the school’s role as a community hub or explore ways the site could generate income and support local Welsh-language activities.

On behalf of local members, Ffred Ffransis said: “There will not be places for all the Llansteffan children, nor for the children of the new housing estates, in other Welsh-medium schools in the area.

“The most cost-effective way of providing sufficient places locally in Welsh-medium education is by keeping open Ysgol Llansteffan and making better use of the buildings, including environmental education and community use.”

Formal investigation

In a letter to the group, the commissioner confirmed an investigation will be held under Section 71 of the Welsh Language Measure to determine whether the council complied with Welsh language standards.

The probe could take up to three months.

Campaigners believe this may delay implementation of the closure and could require the council to revisit its assessment and potentially carry out a fresh statutory consultation.

Ffransis said: “Even if the council now decided to make a full and meaningful assessment, there would likely have to be a new consultation. The original decision may have been taken on a faulty basis.”

He added that similar concerns had been raised about language impact assessments connected to other proposed school closures in the county.

Council position

The council has previously said that school reorganisation proposals are driven by falling pupil numbers, financial pressures and the need to ensure sustainable, high-quality education.

Authorities across Wales have faced difficult decisions in recent years as rural rolls decline and building maintenance costs rise.

It is expected the council will respond formally to the commissioner’s investigation in due course.

What happens next

If the commissioner finds that language standards were not properly followed, enforcement steps could be taken and the process delayed or revisited.

For families in Llansteffan, the outcome may determine whether their local Welsh-medium school remains open beyond the summer term.

The Herald has contacted Carmarthenshire County Council for comment.

Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.

Community

Cilgerran Church in Wales school petition to be heard

Published

2 days ago

February 3, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PETITION opposing proposed changes for a north Pembrokeshire school is to be heard by councillors later this week.

At last May’s meeting, Pembrokeshire County Council considered a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which outlined the findings of a review of education provision in the Preseli area.

A later July meeting backed a general consultation to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to establish it as a 3-11 community school.

“In particular, the review considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population,” the council in its consultation has said.

The consultation closed on January 30.

Hundreds have opposed the proposed changes, with a petition, on the council’s own website opposing the changes recently closing after gaining 391 signatures.

Any petition of more than 100 signatures triggers a debate at one of the council’s scrutiny committees, in the case of Cilgerran that debate taking place at Pembrokeshire County Council’s February 5 schools and learning overview and scrutiny committee.

The Cilgerran e-petition, created by Louise Williams, raised concerns including the school could become part of a federation, a loss of permanent head teacher on site, a shared head teacher would have to oversee several schools, loss of funding control and the ability to maintain the school’s current healthy and stable funding, and a loss of commitment to the church, in turn could impact on the school’s and pupils values, beliefs and cultural beliefs.

It said: “Ysgol Cilgerran VC school has strong links with the Church community in Cilgerran and we believe this will have a negative impact on the children who attend the school, the community of Cilgerran and the links between the two.
“We are proud of our school ethos and values which are strengthened by our links with the church. The school has close and strong relationships with our Church in Wales federation governors one of which is also our safeguarding governor.

“Our Church Federation governors work closely with the school and are regular visitors to the school and the children. They provide vital support and guidance to the school and have a positive impact on the Children’s education. We believe these links will be weakened by this proposal to remove our VC status and we believe this is an un-necessary action.”

The proposals for Cilgerran are part of a wide range of potential education changes in the county.

Two petitions, opposing the potential closures of Manorbier and Ysgol Clydau schools, were recently heard at full council and a further petition opposing the potential closure of Stepaside School has recently been launched, which has generated enough support to be heard at a future council meeting.

Education

Industry insight helps marine cadets chart career course

Published

4 days ago

January 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Shipping professional visits Pembrokeshire College to showcase real-world opportunities on the Milford Haven Waterway

STUDENTS training for careers at sea were given a first-hand look at life in the maritime industry after a leading shipping professional visited Pembrokeshire College to share his experience of operations on the Milford Haven Waterway.

Toby Forester, from Williams Shipping, met with the College’s Enhanced Marine Engineering Pre-Cadets to explain how commercial shipping, marine services and logistics work together to keep one of the UK’s busiest energy ports moving.

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Learners heard about the wide range of activity taking place daily on the estuary, including vessel movements, specialist support craft, safety management and the coordination required to operate safely and efficiently in a working port environment.

Staff said the session gave students valuable real-world context, helping them understand how the engineering skills they develop in workshops and classrooms directly translate into careers within the maritime and energy sectors.

The visit forms part of the College’s wider effort to strengthen links between education and industry, ensuring young people are exposed to employers and career pathways while still in training.

College representatives said experiences like this help build confidence and ambition among learners considering technical roles at sea or ashore.

They thanked Williams Shipping and Mr Forester for supporting the next generation of marine engineers and helping inspire future talent in Pembrokeshire’s coastal economy.

Photo caption: Marine engineering pre-cadets at Pembrokeshire College welcomed an industry talk from Williams Shipping about operations on the Milford Haven Waterway (Pic: Supplied).