A CALL for an impartial investigation into the contentious closure of Manorbier school, along with an apology from a senior councillor in connection with that closure, are to be heard next week.

Back in June, the final decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school was given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which, amongst other recommendations, included a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

The formal consultation for the discontinuation of Manorbier closed last December.

However, many of the council’s figures, especially on the level of surplus places at the school, were disputed.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members were asked to consider a report on a summary of 62 objections received in respect of the proposal to discontinue Manorbier VC school, which included options to end that discontinuation or to launch a fresh consultation.

However, it was recommended, in a report presented by deputy leader Cllr Paul Miller, who now also has responsibility for education, for the discontinuation be proceeded with.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of the keeping the school open, thanked the campaigners and staff.

“We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

He said the wording of the consultation had seen more mentions of St Florence [ the alternative school for pupils in the event of a discontinuation] than Manorbier, describing it as “like a brochure for St Florence”.

He also warned the Diocese of St Davids, which had always pressed for the school to be rebuilt, would not allow the council to “walk away from our liabilities lightly”.

Members later heard the diocese had, in a letter received by councillors, made “damning accusations the council is being biased against voluntary controlled schools,” with Cllr Jamie Adams saying the council administration should be “ashamed of this debacle”.

Cllr Miller said his only consideration was “the future welfare of the children,” adding: “I do not think 20 children educated in a welfare centre in Jameston is the best for them.”

Members, by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions, supported the final steps to close the school.

Following that decision, issues around the contentious closure will be heard at the forthcoming meeting of the council, taking place on July 16.

In a notice of motion before councillors, Cllr Kidney proposes: “That council considers a full impartial investigation into the process of closing Manorbier school, specifically the time it has taken, broken promises, inadequate insurance, and the involvement of HR department.”

A supporting statement for his motion says: “The review should be carried out by someone not employed by the authority, with powers to recommend disciplinary action if they deem necessary.

“A full impartial review should hopefully stop another school being treated so appallingly.”

Cllr Kidney is also, in a submitted question, seeking an apology from the deputy leader, who now has responsibility for education: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education like to apologise to the staff and parents of Manorbier School for his comments at the last council meeting, where he stated children would get a better education in St Florence and children in Manorbier were being taught in one room?

“This is both factually wrong and insulting to staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide teaching of an excellent standard, and if he had taken the time to read the last Estyn report, he may not have made these derogatory comments.”

Both the motion and question will be heard by councillors next week.

WELSH Government funding choices are forcing headteachers to make “difficult decisions” about the support they can provide to vulnerable pupils, opposition leaders have warned.

During First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday July 7, interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates called on Plaid Cymru’s First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to avoid “abdicating responsibility for the most vulnerable children in Wales”.

Recent extra funding for additional learning needs (ALN) in England mean £340 million is available to Wales in consequential funding.

This is not ring-fenced – meaning the Welsh Government can use the extra cash as it sees fit.

Mr Skates noted Plaid Cymru’s 2024 acknowledgment that schools are forced to make difficult decisions about the support they can provide – quoting Mr ap Iorwerth as saying: “Wales can do better than this. Under Plaid Cymru, the pupils who need support will receive it.”

Mr Skates therefore called on the First Minister to reveal why not “a single extra penny” was allocated towards ALN in the supplementary budget, which was announced last month.

Describing creating a “sustainable” ALN framework as a “priority” for his government, Mr ap Iorwerth told the Labour leader that he is as “keen” as he is to work on ALN.

However, the First Minister also acknowledged the “tight constraints” within which his government must work, noting the “hundreds of millions of pounds of overspend” that his government “inherited from the last”.

Mr Skates called for the First Minister to avoid “abdicating responsibility for the most vulnerable children in Wales”.

In response, the First Minister said: “The problems that we face in ALN have been caused by 27 years of Labour education ministers. We want to work with this current group and anybody else to make sure that we build up sustainability for the future.

“The plans that we have in the supplementary budget stick with the previous government’s spending plans, whilst making allocations in areas I know the member’s party supports.

“I hope we can make positive progress on this, because we owe it to the people who are quite right in pointing out that we have a depth of problem in ALN in Wales and in England that deserves to be resolved. But it’s not going to be resolved by a one-off payment.”

It is not the first time the First Minister has faced questions over additional ALN funding, with the Welsh Conservatives and Reform UK raising the issue in previous sessions of First Minister’s Questions.

Mr Skates’ call for extra funding has echoed that of Caerphilly Council leader Jamie Pritchard and the local authority’s Labour group.

Cllr Pritchard said: “The Labour group on Caerphilly Council are calling on the Welsh Government to allocate consequential funding from the UK Labour Government to support children and young people with additional learning needs in Wales.

“There can be no raid on much needed additional learning needs provision.”

More than 3,500 school pupils across Caerphilly County Borough have ALN.

The council’s Labour group has said its “preparing in advance” for a Welsh Government U-turn.

Cllr Carol Andrews, Caerphilly Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “All of our schools have experienced increasing pressures in supporting learners with ALN. We feel that this funding consequential has to come to schools to the direct benefit of pupils with ALN.

“In addition to the specialist resource bases already approved by cabinet, we continue to experience significant growth in demand for ALN support. Should Welsh Government make additional this funding available, we already have plans of what will be done.”

Cllr Pritchard added: “I think the Welsh Government will be forced to U-Turn, and a U-Turn is no bad thing when it is the right thing to do.

“Our job as leaders of the 22 local authorities, is to ensure the voice of those local authorities are represented to Welsh Government. We are absolutely united in calling for the consequential funding to go straight to support our most vulnerable learners”.

The Welsh Local Government Association, which represents Wales’ 22 councils, has also expressed concern that funding for ALN support is not keeping up with the demand.

It says ALN costs are rising sharply, accounting for more than a quarter of all school budget pressures.

Councils say the growing complexity of need, alongside learner transport and workforce costs, is creating unsustainable financial strain.

According to a report by ITV Wales, the Welsh Government are in talks with Labour over ALN funding as it seeks support to pass its supplementary budget.

The Senedd is set to debate and vote on the budget on Tuesday July 14.

Local school placements helped Millie Brace gain the experience and connections needed to begin her career at Templeton Primary School

A SAUNDERSFOOT student is celebrating after graduating from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and securing a teaching job in Pembrokeshire before completing her degree.

Millie Brace graduated this week with a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.

She will begin her first teaching post at Templeton Primary School in September.

Millie said the opportunity to remain close to home and complete placements in Pembrokeshire schools had been a major factor in her decision to study at UWTSD.

“I chose UWTSD because it allowed me to stay close to my family and continue living at home while studying, which was important to me,” she said.

“Another key reason was the opportunity to complete local teaching placements.

“I knew how competitive teaching jobs can be in Pembrokeshire, so gaining experience in local schools was a great way to build professional connections and develop an understanding of the schools and communities I want to work in.”

Her placements allowed her to gain experience in a range of classrooms and helped her develop the confidence needed to apply for teaching roles.

“Before graduating, I was delighted to secure a teaching position at an amazing primary school in my local area,” she said.

Millie praised the support she received from university staff, school mentors and teachers during her final placement at Lamphey Primary School.

“Although I had not previously taught that particular year group, I received fantastic support from my class mentors and staff at Lamphey Primary School,” she said.

“Their knowledge and experience, combined with the research and understanding I developed through my course and assignments, greatly increased my confidence.”

Millie said the flexibility of the degree allowed her to explore subjects linked directly to her classroom experience and professional development.

“My favourite thing about the course was the flexibility of the assignments,” she said.

“They allowed me to explore topics that genuinely interested me and focus on areas that reflected my personal development targets from placements.

“This made the work feel relevant to my experiences in the classroom and helped me connect theory with practice.”

She also valued the sense of community at the Carmarthen campus and the friendships she formed with other student teachers.

“One of the biggest challenges during my studies was adapting to different placement schools and managing the increasing expectations placed on me as I progressed,” she said.

“Each school had its own routines, approaches and learning environments.

“What helped me most was the support of other student teachers. We shared resources, exchanged ideas and helped each other with lesson planning and preparation.”

Outside her studies, Millie continued to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coastline, spending her spare time paddleboarding, walking her dog and learning to surf.

She said she would recommend UWTSD to anyone considering a career in teaching.

“The course provided excellent placement opportunities, allowing me to gain valuable experience in local schools and build professional connections that helped me secure a teaching job before graduating,” she said.

“I have also made friends for life, and the relationships I built have been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience.”

Millie will now take the next step in her career when she joins Templeton Primary School at the beginning of the new academic year.