Author: Rhys Gregory

A Bridgend secondary school is marking its 60th anniversary with a major academic achievement after being named among the top 10% of schools in England and Wales for its GCSE results. Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School in Brackla, which first opened its doors to pupils in September 1965, has consistently been among the top performing schools at GCSE when compared to similar schools in recent years. Now, the school has received the ALPS Platinum Award, a national measure recognising exceptional GCSE value-added performance, ranking in the top 10% of schools for pupil progress. The ALPS Platinum Award is given to…

Around 80 pupils aged 16–18 from nine schools across south Wales stepped into the shoes of politicians, journalists and lobbyists yesterday (Tuesday, 18 November) to debate the future of the planet. Taking part in a COP30 Climate Simulation Negotiation at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, the students experienced what it’s really like to negotiate a global climate deal. The event, which was delivered by British Council Wales and the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, was held in parallel with COP30 in Belém, Brazil – used cutting-edge simulation software developed by MIT to recreate the pressures, compromises, and diplomacy that shape…

A yellow weather warning has been issued for large parts of Wales as wintry conditions continue to move across the country this week. The Met Office says rain and hill snow from Tuesday night into Wednesday will clear southwards, leaving icy stretches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. Some slushy snow is possible on higher ground, although any more noticeable accumulations are expected only above roughly three hundred metres. Wednesday will feel cold with brisk northerly winds. Wintry showers will continue in western areas while the east sees brighter skies. Temperatures are expected to reach six degrees. Overnight, the…

A man from Splott has been fined more than one thousand pounds and banned from driving for a year after being found guilty of fly tipping waste in Rumney. Cardiff Magistrates Court heard how beds, sofas and several bags of household and building waste were discovered dumped on Spring Meadows Road on 4 May 2023. Waste enforcement officers from Cardiff Council visited the scene after reports from the public and began an investigation. Evidence found among the rubbish linked the waste back to Antonio Borg, aged 63, who had been removing items from a property in Barry. He was later…

Independent cafés, craft shops and fitness businesses across Swansea are among those thriving thanks to grant support. Run by Swansea Council and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a new wave of both pre-start and business growth grants have supported small businesses on high streets throughout the city – from Gorseinon and Gowerton to Morriston, Mumbles and the city centre. Among the local success stories is White Rabbit Wools on High Street in Gorseinon, set up by former teacher Nicola Briggs, who used a pre-start grant to buy stock and equipment for her new wool…

If you use Kingsway or Park Square car parks regularly, then you need to know about changes Newport Council are making to the way you access and use these car parks. From this week drivers looking to park at Kingsway car park will no longer receive a paper ticket when they stop at the entry barriers. Instead, your vehicle’s number plate will be read by our new automatic number plate recognition system upon entry. You will then need to enter your number plate at the pay machines before you exit. Two pay machines are located in the foyer next to…

Mae’r stori hon hefyd ar gael yn Saesneg – cliciwch yma i’w darllen. Roedd naw deg wyth y cant o’r dyfroedd ymdrochi dynodedig yng Nghymru yn bodloni safonau cydymffurfio llym eleni – gyda’r mwyafrif llethol yn sicrhau statws ‘ardderchog’. Mae dosbarthiadau 2025, a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, yn dilyn gwaith monitro ansawdd dŵr a wnaed gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ystod y tymor ymdrochi rhwng mis Mai a mis Medi. Mae 78 o’r 112 o ddyfroedd ymdrochi dynodedig ledled Cymru wedi’u dosbarthu fel rhai ‘ardderchog’ – cynnydd o dri safle o’i gymharu â 2024. Sicrhaodd 26 safle arall statws ‘da’ a 6 statws ‘boddhaol’.…

This story is also available in Welsh – click here to read it. Ninety-eight percent of designated bathing waters in Wales met stringent compliance standards this year – with the vast majority achieving ‘excellent’ status. The 2025 classifications, released today, follow water quality monitoring conducted by Natural Resources Wales during the bathing season from May-September. 78 of the 112 designated bathing waters across Wales have been classified as ‘excellent’ – an increase of three sites when compared with 2024. A further 26 sites achieved ‘good’ status and 6 ‘satisfactory’. Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “Our commitment…

Public bodies will be legally bound to consider the long-term health implications of their decisions following a vote this week in the Senedd. From 2027, local authorities, NHS organisations, national parks and cultural organisations like the National Museum and National Library will need to carry out health impact assessments when making decisions of a strategic nature. The world-leading regulations, which introduce health impact assessments (HIAs) for a wide range of public bodies, will help to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived parts of Wales. HIAs will make sure physical and mental health impacts…

A North Wales engineering firm is launching a major recruitment push with 30 jobs up for grabs as it expands to meet surging global demand. Twenty-year-old apprentice Stephanie Hughes-Jones is the face of the drive at Continental Diamond Tool’s new factory in Kinmel Bay as the company builds up its workforce. The precision toolmaker, whose clients include blue chip names like Rolls Royce and Tenneco, designs and develops custom diamond-encrusted rotary dressers and ultra-high precision grinding wheels used in aerospace, automotive and other advanced sectors. The operation has just moved into a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility on the Tir…