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Powys County Times
20-07-2025
- 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.
Powys County Times
13-07-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Ysgol Calon Cymru teachers leaving after 117 years' service
A POWYS high school is bidding a fond farewell at the end of term to four teachers who, between them, have given well over 100 years of service to the school. Ysgol Calon Cymru will say goodbye to four valued members of staff this summer, as they prepare to leave the school ahead of the new academic year in September. Penny Hourahane, Meinir Jones, Nia MacMillan and Judith Sharp have each all taught at the school's Builth campus for well over 20 years. Each of them has made a lasting contribution to the school and its learners over many years. Between them, they have given 117 years of service to education and the life of the school. As they now move on – some to retirement, others to new ventures – the school has paid tribute to their impact. 'On behalf of our learners, staff, governors and wider school community, I'd like to offer our heartfelt thanks to each of these colleagues,' said Lee Powell, headteacher at Ysgol Calon Cymru. 'They have given so much to the life of the school – not just through their teaching, but through the values they've modelled, the care they've shown and the opportunities they've provided to learners in and out of the classroom. 'We wish them all the very best for whatever comes next and thank them sincerely for their service to Ysgol Calon Cymru.' Ms Hourahane is the longest-serving member of staff who is leaving. She started at Builth High School as a PE teacher in 1986, and has taken on a variety of roles in the last 39 years. She has taught several subjects including history, IT, maths and food, and supported students across a range of subjects. History teacher Ms Jones has taught in Powys since 1996 when she joined Ysgol Trefonnen in Llandrindod, moving to Builth High School in 1998. She has inspired many young historians across the school and supported their love for the subject with inspiring school trips. English teacher Mrs Sharp has worked at the school for 27 years, playing a key role in the development of literacy and literature teaching. Ms MacMillan, a passionate teacher of Welsh also based at the Builth Campus, has worked at the school for 23 years. Her love of the Welsh language and culture has helped to inspire pupils and she has supported the school's wider work in promoting Cymraeg across the community.
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Builth and Llandrindod: Views sought on education changes
Plans for a huge transformation affecting the future of education in Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells have been put to the public. A consultation has begun on the changes at Ysgol Calon Cymru – which currently operates over two campuses, in Builth and Llandrindod. Plans could see a new Welsh-medium all-age school established in Builth, as well as significant investment in two school buildings – the Llandrindod campus, as well as Builth Wells Primary School. As part of its 'Transforming Education' programme, Powys County Council (PCC) has been considering options on how to move forward. Now the council is asking for views from the public on the proposals, who have until Wednesday, July 2, to submit their views. RECOMMENDED READING: The proposals, which would be delivered in two phases, are: Phase 1 (September 2027): • To establish a new Welsh-medium all-age school (4-18) on the current Builth campus of Ysgol Calon Cymru • Initially, the school would share the Builth campus with Ysgol Calon Cymru, using part of its building and sharing some facilities • This would be a temporary arrangement until there has been investment in the Llandrindod site. • To change the language category of Builth Wells Primary School to English-medium. • Pupils in the Welsh-medium stream here would move to the new Welsh-medium all-age school. • To change the language category of Ysgol Calon Cymru from dual stream to English-medium. • Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 in the Welsh-medium stream of Ysgol Calon Cymru in September 2027 would transfer to the new Welsh-medium all-age school. The Welsh-medium stream of Ysgol Calon Cymru would be phased out by September 2029. Phase 2 (September 2029 at the earliest): • Following capital investment on the Llandrindod campus to accommodate all Ysgol Calon Cymru pupils and improve existing facilities, Ysgol Calon Cymru would close its Builth campus and operate solely from the Llandrindod campus • Pupils from the school's Builth campus would move to Llandrindod • The Welsh-medium all-age school would take over the whole of the Builth campus. Councillor Pete Roberts, cabinet member for a Learning Powys, said: 'This exciting proposal represents the next stage in the delivery of our strategic plans for education in Powys. 'They will move us one step closer to delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys and Welsh in Education Strategic Plan. 'The proposals would see a new Welsh-medium all-age school established in central Powys which would provide an improved Welsh-medium experience for our learners while a broader curriculum could be provided to English-medium learners who would all be on one campus, eliminating the need to duplicate English-medium provision across two sites. 'As part of our proposals, we would invest in both campuses to ensure that all learners are taught in 21st Century facilities that will enable them to thrive and reach their full potential. 'However, it is important that the people living in the Ysgol Calon Cymru catchment and the wider area have they say on these proposals and I would urge them to send their views so that they can be considered.' To respond to the consultation, visit and follow the links to give your views online. Alternatively, you can respond in writing by emailing or via post to: Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG. PCC says these proposals would help it meet its aspirations outlined in its 'Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for 2022-32' as well as aligning with its 'Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys'.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Builth Wells: Welsh language school plans get go-ahead
Plans to establish a Welsh-medium only school have been approved amid concerns that Welsh-language pupils at mixed language schools are being let councillors approved the plan after a report concluded that establishing the school at the Builth Wells campus of Ysgol Calon Cymru, a bilingual secondary comprehensive, would improve secondary school provision in noted there were "significant concerns about the level of provision available to Welsh-medium learners in the area".Under the plans, the campus would be Welsh language only from 2029, with pupils who learn in English moving to the school's redeveloped Llandrindod Wells campus eight miles away. Over decades many pupils have travelled out of Powys to go to Welsh schools and the report to the council's cabinet said the range of subjects available in Welsh "varies significantly" and the curriculum offer was "increasingly limited" for Welsh Price from Llanwrtyd Wells used to have an 80-mile (128 km) round trip to go to a Welsh school, Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa in Carmarthenshire, because of the lack of a Welsh-medium secondary school in south Powys."Sadly, 37 years to this day, we are still waiting for a Welsh-medium high school in Brecon and Radnor," Iwan said. He said his parents drove him to and from school every day as "both of them are Welsh speaking and they wanted us to have the opportunity to study through the medium of Welsh".Iwan now has two children and he welcomed the decision, saying the school - which would cater for pupils from primary school age up to Year 9 - would "give them more benefits, being fluent in both languages". But the prospect of sending children from Builth Wells to Llandrindod to learn in English "makes no sense" according to Rhys Field, a butcher in the town."Nobody speaks Welsh around here anymore, nobody is calling for a new Welsh school," he added."And what about the additional costs of buses to take kids to Llandrindod and back?"The council's Plaid Cymru group leader Elwyn Vaughan said there had been "a desire for years to ensure Welsh-medium education provision in this part of Powys".He added that this would mean fewer children having to travel vast distances to get their education in Welsh out of the county.
