Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Welsh Government Minister Leighton Andrews has approved plans for £68 million investment in schools in the Dinefwr area. The project will create three new schools and provide major investment in Amman Valley School. The proposals for the Transformation of Secondary Education in the Dinewfr area include the establishment of two new secondary schools instead of the current four schools at Pantycelyn, Tre-Gib, Maes Yr Yrfa and Gwendraeth. A new secondary school will be built in the Tywi Valley to replace Pantycelyn and Tregib. It is proposed to reorganise the schools from September 2013. Regarding the plans for both Pantycelyn and Tregib, and Maes yr Yrfa and Gwendraeth, the Minister said he had carefully considered the proposals, the statutory objections, Carmarthenshire County Council’s comments and supporting evidence, and education regulations, in reaching his decision. The Minister was satisfied that the proposals were consistent with policy, offered at least the equivalent quality ...

Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Welsh Politics will host a public lecture by the Welsh Government’s Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews, on Monday 14 May. His lecture is entitled ‘Education and the Welsh Public Sphere’, and will be held in the Main Hall of the Department of International Politics at 7.30pm. The evening will be chaired by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, April McMahon, and is open to the public. Dr Anwen Elias, Director of the Institute of Welsh Politics, said that “We look forward to welcoming Leighton Andrews, and to hear his reflections on education in Wales and the challenges for the future. This is a highly relevant topic, and I’m sure his lecture will be interesting and thought-provoking.” Born in Cardiff and brought up in Barry and Dorset, Leighton Andrews holds a BA Honours (English and History) from Bangor University, and an MA in History from the University of Sussex. He was a visiting professor at the University of Westminster fro...

Carmarthenshire is celebrating after receiving another £86 million for investment in schools. The funding was announced by Welsh Government Education Minister Leighton Andrews through the 21st Century schools programme. The programme starts in 2013, and it means Carmarthenshire can fully fund its Modernising Education Programme up until 2020. Further new schools will be built and major refurbishments carried out at a number of locations across the county including Carreg Hirfaen, Seaside, Burry Port, Ammanford, Dyffryn Cothi, Trimsaran and Llandeilo. A number of secondary schools are also in line for improvements. The news was welcomed by leading councillors and officers. Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This is fantastic news for Carmarthenshire and for our schools. It is due to the hard work and efforts of our Chief Executive and officers that we are in this strong position to be able to deliver our schools programme. We are absolutely delighted with this funding which means we will ...

New learning materials exploring human rights have been launched in Welsh primary schools by the Education Minister. Welsh Assembly member Leighton Andrews and Children’s Commissioner Keith Towler unveiled Amnesty International’s new packs at Model Church in Wales Primary School, Carmarthen. The interactive lessons are the first support materials designed for five to 11-year-olds to help teachers explore human rights in primary schools – focusing on fairness and freedom and the rights of young children. The free packs bring basic rights to life and encourage Wales’ children to think about other youngsters around the world and the problems they face. They also include creative suggestions for exploring children’s rights through artistic projects, including quilt making and collages. For older primary children, the resources suggest ways of considering rights of refugees and how young people can take action to help others. Cathy Owens, Amnesty International’s programme director for Wales...