Author: Rhys Gregory

A LEADING school is helping to shape education in Wales after unveiling a new curriculum and bright vision for the future. Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay was among a group of ‘Pioneer Schools’ focused on teaching methods and staff development and training, having applied to Welsh Government to be part of the process of improving the education system. As part of that movement, the school has introduced a new curriculum for Year 7 pupils in past weeks – ahead of a national rollout in 2023 – and having embraced technological advances during the Covid-19 pandemic is well placed to support…

Swansea Building Society has been named as winner of the Medium to Large Business category at this year’s Swansea Bay Business Awards. The award was presented to Swansea Building Society’s CEO, Alun Williams, at the prestigious annual awards ceremony held at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on the evening of Thursday, September 15, 2022. The Swansea Bay Business Awards cover the Swansea Bay City Region, incorporating the local authority areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire. They celebrate the achievements of the talented and successful individuals, companies and entrepreneurs that work across the region. The awards feature 11…

A senior Aberystwyth University academic has been recognised for his exceptional contribution to engineering and technology on becoming a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Professor Qiang Shen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences and a Professor in the Computer Science department, joins an illustrious group of 59 other new Fellows. Professor Shen is admitted this year alongside the mathematician Professor Hannah Fry and UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who were both appointed Honorary Fellows. Each of the Fellows was elected for their landmark contributions to their own sector, pioneering new innovations,…

Wales’ top site managers gathered to celebrate their achievements at NHBC’s Pride in the Job 2022 Awards which were held at City Hall in Cardiff earlier this month. Organised by NHBC, the UK’s leading new homes warranty and insurance provider, Pride in the Job celebrates site managers who have achieved the very highest standards in house building. It is the most highly regarded competition in the house-building industry and a prestigious benchmark for exceptional site managers. A series of regional events are taking place throughout the autumn, to announce the Seal of Excellence and Regional Award winners and celebrate the…

Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School is the chosen name for abrand newprimary school to serve parts of north-west Cardiff. Located at the Plasdŵr development on land South of Llantrisant Road, ‘Groes-wen’ is namedafter a small hamlet, and a Whitecross, which existed at the junction of Llantrisant Road and Radyr as part of the Penrhys pilgrimage. The exciting news follows the announcement that Richard Carbis has been appointed by the schools temporary governing body, as the new headteacher for the school.An experienced Headteacher having previously led Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James and Ysgol Pencae (his present…

Inspectors have praised a Cardiff primary school as ‘welcoming and friendly’ and commended pupils for their ‘compassion, empathy, honesty and fairness’. The report, into Glyncoed Primary in Pentwyn, said a strength of the school is the sense of co-operation and collaboration pupils show and how they value each other’s differences and celebrate the cultural diversity of the community. The school has 370 pupils, with almost a third (29.4%) eligible for free school meals, more than a quarter (26.8%) for whom English is not their first language and 18.5% with additional learning needs (ALN). “Overall, pupils enjoy attending school,” said the…

The Council has begun important highway drainage improvements at Abertonllwyd Street and Dunraven Street in Treherbert – to reduce the risk of flooding to local properties during heavy rainfall. The Resilient Roads scheme started in the week commencing Monday, September 12, and will be carried out over the next six weeks – due for completion by the end of October 2022, subject to fair weather. The scheme is being completed by the Council’s Streetcare team. It is split into two main locations, with works taking place at A4061 Abertonllwyd Street and the adjacent B4522 Dunraven Street. At Abertonllwyd Street, three existing…

Newport City Council has committed £100,000 to assist community food groups dedicated to helping residents as the cost-of-living continues to spiral. A new scheme to help these organisations is now open for applications after being launched by the council in partnership with voluntary support organisation GAVO. Food banks, and other groups that help residents who are struggling financially, will be able to apply for grants to assist with day-to-day costs such as buying groceries to replenish their stocks. An earlier scheme, also run with GAVO, gave financial assistance for initiatives such as growing projects or upgrading of equipment to help…

The Little Cheese Festival descended on Caerphilly Town Centre on 3rd & 4th September and welcomed a staggering 33,000 visitors through Castle Court Shopping Centre and over 10,000 people through the town centre. The annual Big Cheese Festival was unable to take place this year due to development works taking place in Caerphilly Castle, but the fun continued with entertainment to amuse everyone. The event hosted three live music areas along with a main stage in Twyn Car Park, bringing a new lease of live to the town for the weekend. There was an array of food, drink, and craft…

The Winding House Museum in New Tredegar has successfully been granted the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education 2022. Part of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Museum and Heritage Service, the Winding House has been granted the award in recognition of its work in developing and delivering education programmes for local schools. Over 200 sites in the UK currently hold the Sandford Award, including museums and galleries, historic buildings and gardens, archives and libraries, places of worship, and zoos. To achieve the rigorous assessment criteria, organisations must demonstrate the delivery of high-quality heritage education. Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the Council’s Deputy Leader,…