Latest news with #PowysCountyCouncil
Powys County Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Welshpool High School put in special measures by Estyn
Welshpool High School has been put in special measures after its most recent inspection by Estyn. Powys County Council confirmed that senior education officers are working with staff after 'Estyn inspectors were of the opinion that special measures are required for the school'. In their report Estyn inspectors criticised standards at Welshpool High School and said that 'the quality of teaching is too variable'. Inspectors said: 'In half of lessons, shortcomings in teaching result in pupils not making the progress they are capable of. 'Teachers in these lessons often lack high expectations, provide insufficiently challenging activities, and fail to adapt their teaching to support pupils with weaker skills. 'Teachers, in general, do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to develop their Welsh language skills. 'Additionally, written feedback in a minority of cases lacks precision and does not effectively support improvement.' Estyn also raised concerns about the standard of leadership at the school, how it relates to teaching standards and support for lower income families. The report added: 'Despite leaders' commitment to raising the achievement of all pupils, over time leadership has had insufficient impact on important aspects such as the quality of teaching and skills development. 'Whilst whole-school attendance is slowly improving, the attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals in particular, is of concern. 'Senior leaders support the headteacher, but their work is not monitored or evaluated well enough. 'Furthermore, leadership responsibility is not evenly distributed and too often overlaps leading to unclear lines of accountability.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Powys County Council said that staff, pupils and parents will 'be fully supported during the improvement journey'. Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's cabinet member for a learning Powys, said: "Today I share the disappointment that everyone associated with Welshpool High School is experiencing. "This Estyn inspection report provides a clear and honest assessment of the challenges the school is facing and offers vital guidance on the steps needed to bring about meaningful improvement. "We are committed to working closely with the school's senior leadership team to address these challenges. Together, we will focus on the recommendations outlined by Estyn, building on the school's existing strengths while tackling the areas that require urgent attention. "This marks the beginning of a determined improvement journey for the school and its community." Jeff Johnson, Chair of Governors at Welshpool High School, accepted the finding of the report and said: "While being disappointed by some of the content of the Estyn report we recognise this as an opportunity to continue our journey down a road of improvement.
Powys County Times
13 hours ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Llanidloes car park trees to be felled over safety risk
Diseased trees in a Powys town car park are to be felled because of safety concerns. Powys County Council said two lime trees in the Gro car park in Llanidloes have an untreatable fatal fungus infection. The council plans to cut down the trees on August 11 and 12 which will mean a section of the Chapel Street car park will be cordoned off. A Powys County Council spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, we need to remove two infected trees from the Gro car park in Llanidloes. "The decision to fell mature trees is never taken lightly, but the severity of the infection (Kretzschmaria Deusta) and the deterioration of the two lime trees in the car park means that there is a risk of falling branches, or even the whole tree toppling over. "As a result, to ensure the safety of those using the car park, we are left we no other option. "We plan to remove the trees on 11 & 12 August. A section of the car park will be cordoned off for safety reasons during this time. "We thank you for your cooperation and understanding."
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Progress on £14m Montgomery Canal restoration project
Wales Office Minister, Dame Nia Griffith, has been in Welshpool and Llanymynech to see how work is progressing on a major project to restore the Montgomery Canal. The scheme, which is being delivered in partnership by Powys County Council and Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal and River Trust in Wales), has received £13.94 million from the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up programme. Dame Nia viewed improvements that have been made to Y Lanfa, in Welshpool, the home of the town's library and the Powysland Museum, before visiting Wern, near Pool Quay, and then Llanymynech. At Wern, contractors working for Glandŵr Cymru are creating a new pond alongside the canal for protected species of aquatic plants and other wildlife. And at Llanymynech, work has begun on a new bridge which will take Carreghofa Lane over the canal, instead of through it. Wales Office Minister Nia Griffiths said: 'It's fantastic to see the huge progress that's being made to restore the Montgomery Canal and preserving our industrial heritage for generations to come. 'Funding from the UK Government has enabled this ambitious plan to be delivered, creating jobs, supporting the tourist industry, and restoring vital wildlife habitats.' Before seeing work on the canal restoration project, Dame Nia also visited Welshpool-based manufacturer CastAlum, which received a Business Growth Grant through Powys County Council last year worth £25,000. It put the money it received through the grant scheme, which was backed by £1.2 million from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, towards the cost of updating two of its die-cast machines, as part of a wider refurbishment programme. 'It was great having the opportunity to show Dame Nia around two projects in Powys last week which have benefitted from UK Government funding,' said councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys. 'CastAlum was one of 71 Powys companies that we were able to support over the last two years thanks to the Shared Prosperity Fund, while the Levelling Up funding is helping transform the prospects of the Montgomery Canal, its ecology and the communities living alongside it.' Richard Harrison, principal project manager at Glandŵr Cymru added: 'It was fantastic to welcome Dame Nia to the canal to show her the work that's taking place to restore it. "We are making good progress on the restoration as we look to make the improvements that will ensure the sustainable long-term future of the canal so it can continue to benefit both people and nature.' The National Lottery Heritage Fund has also contributed £164,000 towards the cost of the work on Y Lanfa, while the Welsh Government put £140,000 towards the refurbishment of the canalside cottages on the same site, as part of its Transforming Towns programme. Work on Aberbechan Aqueduct, near Newtown, was also backed with a Historic Building Grant from Cadw. SWG Group, based in Welshpool, has almost completed the works on Y Lanfa. The library is expected to reopen in its usual home, on the ground floor, in September, while the Powysland Museum is likely to reopen, on the first floor, towards the end of 2025 or in early 2026. The library is temporarily based in the nearby Canalside Cottages.
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Art show brings slice of city life to Powys Auto Palace
Works by artists from all over the world were on display at an exhibition in Powys which could become an annual event. Last Thursday evening (July 17) saw the private view of Here Be Dragons Central Wales Open Art Exhibition, the first in what looks to become an exciting annual event for the area. The Central Wales Arts Collective, organisers of the exhibition, are keen to enable artists, of all ages, from Wales and beyond, the opportunity to exhibit, whilst offering people in Mid Wales the chance to experience artwork they might only see if they travelled to a bigger town or city. The exhibition, opened with a few words from Councillor Jake Berriman, leader of Powys County Council and cabinet member for people, places and performance, who helped organisers secure the Auto Palace in Llandrindod Wells to host the exhibition. It was well attended by selected artists, those involved in the arts locally, sponsors and supporters, alongside friends and family, with many commenting on the amazing work and wonderful 'buzz'. The space is light and airy and perfect for displaying the amazing array of work. With pieces from as far as China and those more locally, and from sculpture to print, there is truly something for everyone. With a prize for each age category, competition was fierce. The judges, Welsh artist Meinir Mathias, Aberstwyth Arts Centre Curator Ffion Rhys and professor Andre Stitt, had a tough job deliberating but finally awarded the overall prize in the under 16s to Nye Elliott, 16 to 24s to Meg Shuker and over 24s to Gerallt Tawy. Gerallt said: 'It was a great and unexpected surprise, especially at such a beautiful gallery space and curated exhibition.' The exhibition runs until Sunday, July 27, and is open every day 10am–7pm.
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys school is 'thrilled' for award winning teacher
A school teacher has won a prestigious award for preparing pupils for their move to higher education. Powys County Council congratulated Lizzie Tiernan, a secondary school teacher who won the Supporting Progression into Higher Education Award at the Teachers' and Advisers' Awards 2025. Ms Tiernan is Head of Sixth Form at Ysgol Calon Cymru and received the award at the Teachers' and Advisers' Awards ceremony at the University of South Wales in Cardiff, in collaboration with Reaching Wider to celebrate outstanding contributions by teachers and advisers across the UK. Lee Powell, Headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru, said: 'We are thrilled that Lizzie's exceptional work has been recognised on a national stage. Her dedication to our students' academic and personal development is second to none, and this award is richly deserved." Lizzie's recognition comes as a result of her tireless dedication to the sixth form at Ysgol Calon Cymru. Her work has included developing a curriculum tailored to individual learners and organising a wide range of extra- and super-curricular activities that have provided students with valuable experiences to support their next steps into higher education. She was among 150 people from across the UK that had been nominated for the awards, with eight making the final shortlisting. Along with her award, she won £500 towards her continuing professional development or for staff wellbeing initiatives at their school. She was also congratulated by Powys County Council, with Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, saying: 'This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the passion and commitment Lizzie brings to her role.
