Author: Rhys Gregory

OVER 130 teachers and education practitioners from across Wales joined the British Council at Cardiff City Stadium yesterday (Tuesday, 23 May) to learn more about Community Focused Schools. The conference, which concentrated on three areas – multi-agency partnerships, parental and family engagement, and links with the community, aimed to share best practices and innovative approaches in building strong partnerships between schools, families, and their local community. One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to learn from Community School experts from the United States, where over the last 20 years, they have successfully transformed educational institutions into hubs…

With just days to go until the foodie favourite that is the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival which will take place across this Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (May 28-29th), site plans are well underway to make sure this is an event not to be missed this year. With something to suit all diets, ages and interests – moreish meats, vegan varieties, curries, cheeses, chutneys; scrumptious ciders, great gins, sweet treats and so much more at the main Arthur John site, the Old Hall Cowbridge Gardens will also have so much for visitors to enjoy. A full site in itself but…

The Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University has announced her decision to retire at the end of the year. Professor Elizabeth Treasure will leave the University earlier than planned following ongoing medical treatment. Professor Treasure was appointed Vice-Chancellor at Aberystwyth in 2017. Since then, she has led on academic developments such as nursing education at the University for the first time, and the opening of Wales’ only School of Veterinary Science. While implementing plans to ensure financial sustainability, Professor Treasure also led projects to revamp some of the institution’s iconic buildings such as Neuadd Pantycelyn halls of residence, and the ongoing Old…

Acorn by Synergie has been recognised for its commitment to supporting the emotional wellbeing of its employees as a winner at this year’s Wales Business Awards. The leading UK recruiter took home the Wellbeing at Work award at the 2023 ceremony, which took place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales this week (May 18th). Judges were looking for businesses that support their employees to succeed by demonstrating their commitment to health, safety and wellbeing and found what they were looking for at Acorn by Synergie, a company signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment pledge, among other…

Plans to relocate Bridgend College to the heart of the town centre have made significant progress with the demolition of the old police station now being close to completion. The demolition contractors are now entering the final stages of the works, which are due to be completed in the coming weeks. The site at Cheapside, forms a key part of the council’s regeneration plans for the town centre and represents an investment of around £60 million into the skills and training of both young people and members of the community who need opportunities to retrain and gain valuable employability skills. …

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Graham Hinchey will be stepping down from his role as Lord Mayor this Thursday as well as his Deputy, Cllr Abdul Sattar at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at City Hall. Over the last year, Cllr Hinchey has carried out approximately 300 events at schools, care homes and other events across the city, raising more than £75,000 forGuide Dogs Cymru, the charity he and his wife Anne, the Lady Mayoress, nominated. Cllr Hinchey, 64, represents the Heath ward and was first elected as a local councillor to South Glamorgan Council from…

A comprehensive school in Swansea is the first in the region to earn a gold award for encouraging pupils, staff and the wider community to speak Welsh more often both inside and outside the classroom. Gowerton Comprehensive has achieved the gold Siarter Iaith award which has just been presented to the school. It is a Welsh Government initiative to inspire children and young people to use Welsh in all aspects of their lives. But it is not just for pupils with all members of the school community having a part to play, the school council, learners, workforce, parents, carers, governors…

Donna Forkin has paid a heavy price for littering the street in High Street, Glynneath, unaware a Neath Port Talbot Council Waste Enforcement Officer was nearby. The incident happened in October 2022 while the officer was conducting a dog fouling / littering patrol in the Glynneath area. Ms Forkin did not attend the trial, which proceeded in her absence.  The officer told Swansea Magistrates on May 18th, 2023, that he saw Ms Forkin, 47, of Heathfield Avenue, Glynneath, smoking on High Street, Glynneath. He added that after a short time he witnessed Ms Forkin throw the cigarette she had been…

Haverfordwest High VC School pupils have left a gift for future generations at the town’s Western Quayside regeneration scheme. The Year 7 students filled a time capsule with items to show what their life is like in 2023 before a group came along to the former Ocky White store to bury it on site. The time capsule project, spearheaded by development contractors John Weaver (Contractors) Ltd, allowed learners to focus on their town as well as the exciting archeologically finds unearthed during the build. Victoria Hooper, Humanities Teacher at Haverfordwest High VC School said: “Pupils at Haverfordwest High VC School…

CB Refrigeration has been in business for over 50 years and in 2016 relocated their main office to Caerphilly. Since then, owner Andrew Hall has seen the business grow from strength to strength with turnover now more than £4.3 million and increasing by 25% this year alone. They specialise, throughout the UK, in supplying, maintaining and fitting refrigeration and air conditioning for Retail, Hospitality and Distributor sectors, with some of the major blue-chip companies in hospitality among their clients. Despite the aftereffects of the pandemic, 2022 saw an expansion of the company with a further 18 new staff being taken…