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South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New chief executive announced for education body in Wales
Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, who currently leads Mudiad Meithrin, will take up the role as head of Wales' new professional learning and leadership body for the education sector. The organisation, launching on September 1, 2025, will support the development of teaching staff and education professionals in Wales. Lynne Neagle, cabinet secretary for education, said: "I am pleased to welcome Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies as the new chief executive of the new professional learning and leadership body. "Gwenllian brings with her a wealth of experience and I look forward to working together as we focus on improving professional learning for our education sector. "The professional learning and leadership body will provide a high quality and nationally consistent approach to professional learning across Wales and will include a focus on improving literacy, numeracy and wellbeing, alongside long-term change programmes including support for additional learning needs and improving the teaching of Welsh in our English-medium schools. "I would like to thank Tegwen Ellis for her contribution to educational leadership over recent years, particularly in her role as the chief executive of the National Academy for Educational Leadership. "Her dedication and vision have made a lasting impact on the sector. "The professional learning and leadership body will incorporate some of the functions of the National Academy for Educational Leadership alongside a wider range of national professional learning opportunities." Dr Lansdown Davies said: "Having spent 11 years in the Welsh-language early years, childcare and play sector, I look forward to starting this new role and making a tangible impact by working alongside the education sector and delivering both local and national priorities." The new body will deliver professional learning to support educators and advisors in maintained schools and Pupil Referral Units across Wales.
South Wales Argus
16-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Four in court from Newport, Pontypool, and Newbridge
The four defendants were charges with offences including drug-driving, criminal damage, being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs, and refusing to identify a driver for police. Their cases were heard at Newport Magistrates' Court and Cwmbran Magistrates' Court. Here's a round-up of the cases. DALE PEARCE, 40, of Waunddu in Pontnewynydd, was under the influence of cocaine when in charge of a car on the A4042. Pearce was in charge of a Mercedes E350 on the A4042 at Pontypool on September 16 last year. When tested, he recorded having 24 micrograms of cocaine per litre (µg/L) of blood and 240µg/L of benzoylecgonine - the main metabolite of cocaine. The legal limits – to exclude accidental exposure – are 10µg/L and 50µg/L respectively. He was also accused of possession of amphetamine – a Class B drug – on that date. Pearce pleaded guilty to all three offences, and was ordered to pay a total fine of £200, £300 in costs, and an £80 surcharge. He also had 10 points added to his licence at Newport Magistrates' Court on July 8, and a forfeiture and destruction order was made for the amphetamine. RICHARD ELSEY, 44, of Meredith Terrace in Newbridge, has been banned from the roads after being caught drug-driving in Caerphilly. Elsey was driving a Renault Trafic on Caerphilly Road in Ystrad Mynach on August 20, 2023. When tested, he recorded having 207µg/L of benzoylecgonine in his blood – more than four times the limit. He pleaded guilty on June 30, and was fined £833 at Newport Magistrates' Court on July 8. Elsey must also pay £85 in costs and a £333 surcharge, and he was disqualified from driving for 17 months. A 13-YEAR-OLD from Newport, who cannot be identified due to their age, has admitted criminal damage. The teenager damaged a CCTV camera at Nos Da Bakery in Newport on December 28. They pleaded guilty at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court on July 8, and were sentenced to a four-month Youth Referral Order. They must also pay £150 in compensation. GABRIEL NICULAE, 20, of King Street in Newport, was found to have twice refused to identify a driver when required by police. Niculae was charged with two offences of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required on July 3 and 10 last year. The charges related to the identity of the driver of a Nissan Micra who was suspected of committing motoring offences. Both charges were proved using the single justice procedure on March 18, and Niculae was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £90 in costs, and a £264 surcharge when his case came back to Cwmbran Magistrates' Court for sentence on July 8. Niculae also received six points for each offence, meaning he was banned from driving for six months for accumulating too many points.
Business News Wales
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
South Wales Firm Wins National Award for Excellence in Specialist Cleaning
Matrix Biohazard Services Ltd, a division of the South Wales based Matrix Group, has been nationally recognised by the Business Awards for Excellence in Specialist Cleaning. Operating around the clock, 365 days a year, Matrix has more than 1,000 clients nationwide including multiple UK police forces, the Royal Navy, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs). It offers specialist cleaning services in environments including crime scenes and custodial facilities to hoarding remediation and public health incidents. The award celebrates Matrix's achievements, including 300% year-on-year growth, rigorous national deployment standards, and a commitment to public safety and dignity, the firm said. In the past year alone, the company has responded to nearly 3,000 critical incidents across the UK. 'This recognition is a tribute to the resilience, professionalism, and heart of our entire team,' said Carol Apps, Managing Director of Matrix Biohazard Services Ltd. 'Every day, we are trusted to walk into some of the most difficult situations people can face, and we do so with empathy, skill, and an unshakable commitment to making things better. It's an honour to have that work acknowledged on a national scale.'
