Mothers campaign for cameras in all care homes after ITV News' secret filming
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey declared support for the mothers' campaign after an ITV News investigation exposed poor treatment of their sons.
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Powys County Times
8 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Question marks over level of funding for Powys schools
A SENIOR councillor says work needs to be done to look into schools' funding needs as Powys council looks to recover from a scathing Estyn inspection report and improve exam results. At a meeting of Powys County Council's Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet on Tuesday, June 24, councillors received a received a report on the council's school standards improvement plan. This is partly a response to the scathing Estyn inspection report published in March into the education service. The document includes an integrated business plan (IBP) which explains the steps the council will try and take to improve education in the county over the next five years. The plan had been discussed by council's Learning and Skills scrutiny committee earlier this month and its chairman, Cllr Gwynfor Thomas (Conservative) who presented their views to Cabinet. Cllr Thomas said that the relationship of schools standards and funding needed to be thoroughly researched. Cllr Thomas said: 'I really do think a piece of work needs to be done on whether they have enough resource or are schools running too thin to provide a breadth of curriculum. 'We need to understand that.' Council leader, Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat) said that the Cabinet had agreed to 'fully fund' the schools funding formula this year. Cllr Berriman reminded councillors of the need to provide a 'fair distribution' of resources to 'all areas' of the council. Finance portfolio holder Cllr David Thomas (Labour) said that the 'concern that funding is not meeting education needs' is a theme brought up by the committee 'constantly.' Cllr Thomas said: 'At the end of the day it's the responsibility of the funding formula working group. 'They should be working with scrutiny and the schools budget forum to put recommendations forward. 'If the formula is not fit for purpose, I would like to see some recommendations brought forward so it can be amended.' 'It's a bit unfair really to be saying we're not funding the needs of the curriculum as that's not something that is the responsibility of the finance department.' Earlier on, head of schools improvement and learning Anwen Orrells explained that the report compared how Powys schools perform against similar schools across Wales. This is done in 'families' of up to 10 schools. Mrs Orrells said: 'We've provided detailed data of the performance of Powys secondary and all age schools and highlighted areas that have declined over time. 'Based on Powys' level of free school meals and low level of deprivation it is an expectation that our schools should perform well above the national average, and this is not the case.' She explained that education chiefs have outlined what they intend to do to turn this around in the integrated business plan. Mrs Orrells said: 'These actions are designed to address the underlying factors that have led to the current situation and lay the ground for consistent and sustainable improvement across Powys.'
ITV News
8 hours ago
- ITV News
Mothers campaign for cameras in all care homes after ITV News' secret filming
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey declared support for the mothers' campaign after an ITV News investigation exposed poor treatment of their sons.
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Tributes to ‘legendary' defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths KC
Jamaica-born Dr Griffiths was among the first black lawyers to be awarded the then-Queen's Counsel status and rose to become a most prominent and formidable force at the criminal bar. He defended in many high-profile criminal trials after he was called to the bar in July 1980 and awarded silk in 1998. Notable cases included the Pc Keith Blakelock murder trial, the Brighton bombing and the Damilola Taylor murder trial. In 2007 he represented former Liberia president Charles Taylor in his war crimes trial in The Hague and also sat as a part-time judge. Barrister Laurie-Anne Power KC, of 25 Bedford Row, said: 'He was the single most influential figure in my legal career. 'He epitomised brilliance, intellect and fearlessness in equal measure. 'He considered it his duty to open doors and provide opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them. 'He was unapologetic about changing the landscape of the bar. 'As an advocate, there was simply no-one better. 'He commanded the attention of anyone and everyone in the courtroom. 'He had it all in abundance. 'But behind the advocate was a gentle, kind, and selfless man who loved the law.' Ms Power said she first met Dr Griffiths at a law fair in 1998 and he immediately asked her if she was Jamaican after sharing stories of their mutual love for the island. She added: 'He was my only mentor, in the true sense of the word. 'He hounded me into applying for silk and did not stop until I got it. 'He was a friend first and made me believe that I could achieve anything within the profession.' ITV News senior correspondent Ronke Phillips said: 'To watch Courtenay Griffiths in action at the Old Bailey was compelling. 'He was a skilled advocate. Sharp, clever and when needed, witty. 'Like all great barristers, he treated the courtroom as though he was the leading man in his own drama. 'His exchanges were often devastating for witnesses, but those of us on the press benches were delighted. 'He never failed to deliver the quotes we needed for our copy. 'Courtenay was charm itself. Serious about his work but never too serious to be friendly and always with a twinkle in his eye. RIP' Writing on X, Jacqueline McKenzie, solicitor and partner at law firm Leigh Day, said: 'Through his practice at Garden Court and 25 Bedford Row Chambers, he acted in major criminal and human rights cases, in the UK and overseas, and left an indelible mark of greatness on our profession, and on the world.' Defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths (John Stillwell/PA) Barrister Amina Graham, from 2 Hare Court Chambers, wrote on LinkedIn: 'He demonstrated the importance of representation for me in my pursuit of a career at the Bar. 'I worked with him during my time at the Special Court for Sierra Leona where he represented Charles Taylor … a formidable advocate and an inspiration to so many.' Dr Griffiths was a multi-award-winning barrister who spent the majority of his career between Garden Court Chambers and 25 Bedford Row. In 2020, Dr Griffiths was handed an outstanding achievement award at the Legal 500 Awards and was given a lifetime achievement award at the UK Diversity Legal Awards in 2018. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005.
