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

Students from QE High School in Carmarthen are making a ‘big bang’ in the world of science and engineering. Staff from the council’s Property Design team have been working with Year 12 pupils on their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects. It is part of the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) which encourages sixth form students to study engineering courses in further or higher education. The students work with local companies and organisations and are given research and development briefs related to real industrial problems. QE High students were asked ‘to create an educational environment fit for the 21st century in Wales, where it will meet the needs of the community and provide the best learning provision for the area’. The brief was developed by the Property Design team to reflect the objectives of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. Officers worked closely with the students on two projects – one to investigate methods of chlorine r...

Review: Burry Port Town Band, A Choired Taste, Sophie McLaughlin in an ‘Audience with Burry Port Town Band’ at QE High School, Carmarthen. It was the night ‘Girl Power’ met the ‘Best of Brass’ at QE High School, Carmarthen. Burry Port Town Band’s status as one of the best brass bands in the UK is well known – and they lived up to top billing in stirring concert which deserved a bigger audience. They shared the stage with the 70 ladies of A Choired Taste, the Carmarthen choir led by one of the winners of the BBC’s Unsung Hero Award for Music, Sarah Kirby. They provided the ‘razzle’ to the band’s ‘dazzle’ – or was it the other way around? Whatever it was, it worked a treat and the razzle-dazzle went down a storm. Band Burry Port Town Band opened up with Men of Harlech, All Through The Night, Myfanwy and a storming Delilah, which was something of a tribute to the winning Welsh football team! A Choired Taste started their set with a Happy Mash-Up (Sarah Kirby loves her Mash-Up medl...

People are being urged to support a grand concert being held in Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre to raise funds for the Canofan Elfed special unit at QE High School. The Show Must Go On is taking place at the county council theatre in King Street on Sunday, April 17, at 2.30pm. Amateur music and theatre groups of Carmarthen are coming together to put on the show which will include West End musical hits. Funds raised will go towards a Tobi eye gaze, which costs around £7,000, and is specialist equipment which allows severely disabled children to communicate. The show is being organised by Andrew Bassett and friends, who have already raised thousands of pounds for the unit. Carmarthenshire’s education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “This promises to be a wonderful event and all money raised will go to a fantastic cause. “I hope people will support it, and also enjoy seeing the multi-talented people we have in our amateur groups here in the Carmarthen area.” Tickets are availa...

Two years ago the future of Carmarthen Athletics Track stand was looking grim after it was deemed unfit for use. Its loss would have left youngsters without training facilities and international events going out of the county to seek better facilities. Now 24 months on in a joint venture between the Carmarthenshire Council, Carmarthen Harriers Atlethics Club , Queen Elizabeth High School and local businessman Ron Mounsey, the spectator stand at Carmarthen Leisure Centre is up and running after undergoing a complete £25k refurbishment. Works include a new roof canopy, floorboards, signage, new seating and a disabled spectator area. Carmarthen Harriers Club Chairman, Hedydd Davies said the facility would not only benefit community clubs and schools, but would continue to host and attract international events. He said: “We’re thrilled to be able to have this facility and everyone who makes use of the track whether for training or spectator purposes will benefit.” Thousands of athletes u...

Carmarthen pupils have been reaching for the stars in their latest art project. Pupils from QE High School’s year seven were set the challenge of recreating Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’. They could choose any materials or way of producing the artwork for the project. The finished result has now been put together as a video compilation which can be viewed on YouTube. Headteacher Pete Spencer said: “This is a film not to be missed. It is an outstanding piece of work from our youngest pupils that will lift your spirits. “Congratulations to all of Year Seven. The efforts, dedication and commitment of the pupils are fantastic and the quality of the work is both exceptional and inspirational.” Carmarthenshire’s education executive board member Cllr Keith Davies said: “This is an inspiring piece of work, well done to all pupils and staff involved in this excellent project.” To view the video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nPCCmuZieY

For an hour a day these two Carmarthen teenagers ditch their school books for dumb-bells. Sixth form students Rhys Jenkins and James Bryan use some of their free lesson time to work out in the gym in a bid to keep fit and healthy. Four times a week the 16-year-old QE High School pupils make the journey to the health club in Carmarthen Leisure Centre. Rhys, who plays for rugby team Carmarthen Quins and James for Carmarthen Athletics, say being active helps them stay in shape, keeps them off the streets and gives them a longer life expectancy. The pair also enjoy to train after school and work up a sweat in fitness classes Kettlebells and Funky Pump. As well as training both follow a healthy eating plan. Rhys said: “Working out gives you the feel good factor and helps you stay fit and healthy. It also gives you a longer life expectancy and helps keeps me motivated having something to work for.” Rhys’s eating plan includes plenty of protein such as chicken, tuna and salmon accompanied b...

Carmarthenshire’s Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme has always been popular and continues to go from strength to strength. The awards ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen. Young people and their parents were invited from across Carmarthenshire for the prestigious evening for successful Duke of Edinburgh participants to receive their awards. This year’s silver and bronze award ceremony was particularly busy and well attended with approximately 579 young people in attendance: 447 receiving bronze awards, 86 receiving silver awards and 46 receiving gold awards. Attendees were given a speech by guest speaker Tori James, from Pembrokeshire, who was the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest. Tori completed her own Duke of Edinburgh award before embarking upon her own career, which took her from expeditions with the Royal Geographical Society through to team races to the Magnetic North Pole in -40oC conditions. Stephanie Price, Director for the Duke of Edin...

A Carmarthen A-level student who is facing deportation to Pakistan has admitted lying about who he really is and his parents' death. There has been a high-profile campaign backing Ahmer Rana's fight to remain in Wales since before Christmas. But he has revealed he is Daniyal Shahzad, who is 19 and not 18, and that he came to the UK to earn money to send back to his family in Pakistan. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12524310

While traditional sports like football, athletics and netball continue to see high participation stats, the battle for girls’ interest continues at a pace. But with changing social trends comes the opportunity for sport and physical activity that appeals to youngsters across the board. At Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth (QE) High School, a popular pastime from across the pond is proving a winner with the pupils. After a request from the pupils themselves, a cheerleading club has been established by the school’s 5x60 officer. Once a week, up to 40 girls join together for a lunchtime coaching session in the activity that has been a staple part of school life in the USA for generations. With 5x60 put in place by Sport Wales to encourage secondary school pupils to do sport and physical activity during break, lunchtime and after school, many activities away from the traditional sports are capturing the imagination of those who wouldn’t have taken part. Cheerleading instructor Helen McLoughlin,...

Cor Meibion Llanelli welcomed some special visitors to their rehearsals last week. The choir staged a ‘master class’ for more than 40 pupils from the Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen. The session was the idea of Cor Meibion’s new assistant accompanist Sarah Thomas (who teaches at QE High) and musical director Eifion Thomas. Mr Thomas explained: “Sarah is thrilled that so many boys at QE High are interested in singing and joining choirs. “So we thought it would be a good idea to stage a ‘master-class’ at one of our rehearsal sessions at Furnace Community Hall. “The boys went along with the idea and more than 40 of them took part in rehearsals and we were able to put them through their paces with a variety of different songs. “It was a hugely rewarding experience for the choir and I hope the youngsters enjoyed the experience and that they will go on to enjoy their singing for many years to come. Who knows? Perhaps some will now be joining Cor Meibion Llanelli?” Meanwhile, Cor Me...

Carmarthenshire County Council has thrown its support behind a school’s bid to fight a deportation order served on one of its pupils. Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth High School is working closely with barristers acting on behalf of student Ahmer Rana, who is due to be deported to Pakistan. Mr Rana was smuggled in to the UK aged 14 by his parents who feared that he was in danger of being killed by enemies of his father. He has sinced been cared for by a foster family in Nantycaws, Carmarthen. The UK Border Agency had told Mr Rana that he must leave the UK following his 18th birthday on Christmas Day. An appeal court judge also agreed that he should leave the UK, saying that Mr Rana had failed to prove that he faces persecution. Now, barristers acting on his behalf have now lodged an extension in the High Court so that a further appeal can be made for him to stay in the UK. As part of this legal challenge, the school, and Mr Rana’s barristers, had asked the county council if it would suppo...

A Carmarthen schoolgirl has won a prize after coming up with a suggestion to tackle litter at her school. Year 8 pupil Phoebe May Roberts wants to see more litter bins in the grounds of QE High School – and detention for pupils that don’t use them! Phoebe took part in a competition organised by Carmarthenshire County Council after a ‘green day’ was held at the school during Wales Sustainability Week. The aim was to encourage pupils to put their litter in the bin and recycle as much of their waste as possible. The day began with a special assembly and a short film on climate change followed by litter-related activities in lessons throughout the day. Council officers also went into the classroom to speak to pupils about litter and its consequences along with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and litter-picks were held within the school grounds. As part of the day, pupils were asked to come up with ideas on how best to tackle litter at the school - with all suggestions entered into a...

Pupils in Carmarthen are going green in a bid to keep their school clean. QE High School took part in a ‘green day’ with Carmarthenshire County Council as part of Wales Sustainability Week. The aim was to encourage pupils to put their litter in the bin and recycle as much of their waste as possible. The day began with a special assembly with the council’s executive board member for education Councillor Gwynne Wooldridge. It included a presentation about litter problems within the county and particularly in secondary school grounds as well as a short film on climate change. Council officers also went into the classroom to speak to pupils about litter and its consequences along with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and litter-picks were held within the school grounds. Finally pupils were asked to come up with ideas on how best to tackle litter at their school with all suggestions entered into a prize draw to win an iPod. The ongoing school campaign will involve litter-related activi...

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