YSGOL Casblaidd has been described as a “happy and friendly community’ by inspectors.

Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, visited Ysgol Casblaidd in Wolfscastle in February, and has released its findings following a full inspection of the school.  

The report noted:

• The school has a strong culture of safeguarding pupils. 

• Wolfscastle school is a happy and friendly community. 

• A strong feature is the school’s relationship with its local community. 

• During their time at the school, many pupils, including those with additional learning needs, make sound progress from their starting points. 

• Pupils enjoy coming to school and feel very happy within the homely and inclusive environment. This is reflected in the schools high attendance rate. 

• Most pupils have very positive attitudes to learning. They enjoy and apply themselves to their tasks with excitement and enthusiasm. 

• Staff have very warm relationships with the pupils. They treat them with kindness and respect and this creates an inclusive environment where the happiness, well being and progress of all pupils is a priority. 

• The school and staff know their pupils, their families and the local community very well. They place a high priority on pupils’ well being and respond to their emotional and social needs with sensitivity. 

• The school has a clear vision based on creating a happy and caring learning environment to provide a firm foundation for pupils to develop their core skills. 
• An ethos of working as a productive team among teachers and assistants is a notable element of the school. 
• The school’s relationship with parents is a strength and the continuous co-operation and communication promotes the school in its community highly effectively. 
• The headteacher leads the school highly effectively and encourages pupils to develop their skills and talents in an inclusive learning environment.

Headteacher, Sasha Edwards, said: “I am delighted with this report. Ysgol Casblaidd is an exceptional school and I am immensely proud to be its Headteacher. 

“I would like to commend the outstanding staff and governors who have worked relentlessly to ensure that every pupil is valued and that their wellbeing and progress in their learning is paramount.

“Ysgol Casblaidd is a school that our pupils, families and wider community can be very proud of.” 

Chair of the Governing Body, Lisa Thomas, added: “I am extremely proud of the pupils, staff, parents and Governors of Ysgol Casblaidd. It was a pleasure to welcome the inspection team, and I was pleased that they were able to see what is so wonderful about our school – in particular their comments on the politeness of pupils  enthusiasm for learning that they have. 

“The schools work with the local community was also commented on, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community of Wolfscastle for their unwavering support – we can all be extremely proud of this report.” 

The full report is available online

Paul Butterworth, the CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, has been appointed as the new Vice Chair of the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP) for south-west Wales.

Covering Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea, the RLSP is dedicated to bridging the gap between education, skills, and regeneration. It aims to ensure that the skills provision is aligned with the economic priorities and opportunities of the region, as well as tackling the new skills landscape that is happening within the energy, construction, manufacturing and digital sectors.

As CEO of Chambers Wales, Paul brings a wealth of experience and a passion for the economic and skills development of Welsh businesses with him to the board.

As the voice of the business community with policymakers, Paul will advocate for enhanced skills training, infrastructure improvements and the creation of skilled jobs, all aimed at creating local economic growth.

Upon his appointment, Paul said: “I am determined to create a better and fairer business landscape for West Wales to ensure that the local economy has the best available skills development for future project development and the transition into the green economy and energy sector to ensure West Wales thrives.”

Jane Lewis, Regional Partnerships Manager at RLSP, said: “We are delighted to have Paul on the board. He will be instrumental in achieving our goals and look forward to the positive impact his appointment will have on the region.”

PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE says it is proud to announce the success of its innovative Destination Design Thinking Programme, launched as a pilot last September. This ground-breaking initiative targets Level 3 Creative Media learners, offering them a unique opportunity to engage in design thinking while developing critical employability skills.

The Destination Design Thinking Programme runs alongside learners’ main qualifications, aiming to cultivate a 21st-century mindset that blends creativity, idea generation, and entrepreneurial concepts. By integrating these elements, the programme prepares learners for various career paths, whether they aspire to start their own business or pursue other ventures.

Throughout the programme, participants have benefited from direct engagement with top entrepreneurs and industry leaders from across the UK. Notable guests have included professionals from Afanti Media, Spotify, and most recently, Blue Bolt, a renowned visual effects studio. Blue Bolt’s
co-founder, Lucy Ainsworth Taylor, along with her colleague Nik Birmingham, served as inspiring role models for the learners.

Drawing from their experiences, they shared valuable insights into creativity, innovation, and business acumen. Lucy Ainsworth Taylor emphasised the importance of tenacity and perseverance in the industry, encouraging learners to build knowledge and experience before pursuing their entrepreneurial endeavours.

In addition to mentorship opportunities, participants have gained valuable work experience, including involvement in an international extreme sports magazine and as runners on Katherine Jenkins’ Christmas Special, thanks to Emyr Afan from Afanti.

Creative Media Production learner Dylan shared his thoughts on the programme so far, “Working on the Christmas special as a runner was exciting. I did have imposter syndrome and it was crazy to be given the opportunity. In turn I feel more motivated, and it has opened my mind to more career opportunities and career directions.”

By engaging with such industry leaders and their stories, participants in the Destination Design Thinking Programme are not only developing their creative skills but also learning how to transform their ideas into successful ventures.

“With Wales’s booming screen industry, it’s fitting that Pembrokeshire College has designed a programme to equip learners with the mindset and tools necessary to nurture a new generation of creative, social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs,” Hayley, Pembrokeshire College.

For more information about the Destination Design Thinking Programme at Pembrokeshire College, please visit www.pembrokeshire.ac.uk