School plunged into special measures as inspectors uncover ‘serious concerns’ at Ysgol Harri Tudur

Estyn’s hard‑hitting report on Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School in Pembroke, published following a December inspection, warns that around half of pupils are not making enough progress, with many experiencing weak or inconsistent teaching and too few opportunities to develop basic skills.

Inspectors also raised serious concerns about safeguarding, saying staff had not been given the correct guidance on what to do if an allegation is made against a colleague, and lacked training on spotting signs of radicalisation.

The school — one of the largest in Pembrokeshire — must now produce an urgent action plan and will be monitored every four to six months.

‘Shortcomings are not acceptable’

Pembrokeshire County Council said it “fully accepts” the findings and has pledged rapid intervention.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said:

“We take Estyn’s findings extremely seriously. The shortcomings identified – particularly in safeguarding, leadership, pupil progress and the consistency of teaching – are not acceptable for any of our learners and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the school and with the support of the Local Authority.

“We are now putting in place a programme of rapid, decisive improvement at Ysgol Harri Tudur/Henry Tudor School. This will include strong, targeted support alongside firm and sustained challenge.

“Our commitment is clear: we will work relentlessly with the school’s leadership, governors and wider staff to ensure that learners receive the high‑quality education, care and aspiration they deserve.”

The council said it will deploy enhanced school improvement support and leadership capacity, strengthen safeguarding procedures “as a matter of urgency”, and bring in tougher monitoring, accountability and performance systems through a multi‑agency improvement board.

Inspectors highlight weak teaching and poor attendance

Estyn found that while many pupils feel supported and safe, teaching quality varies widely. In around half of lessons, pupils make suitable progress — but in the rest, inspectors say work is undemanding, expectations are low and behaviour is not managed well enough.

The report also highlights poor attendance, especially on Fridays, weak self‑evaluation and improvement planning, underdeveloped literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills across the curriculum, inconsistent behaviour management that leaves some pupils reluctant to report bullying, and a large deficit budget with no agreed recovery plan.

Inspectors concluded that leadership has had “little impact” on key areas of the school’s work.

Some strengths remain, inspectors say

Estyn did highlight a few bright spots in an otherwise tough report. Inspectors said staff work hard to create a caring atmosphere, and many pupils told them they feel supported and safe in school. Vulnerable learners benefit from the Supported Learning Centre, which provides targeted emotional and social help, while the Learning Resource Centre offers a calm, structured space for pupils who need extra support.

The school’s personal and social education programme was also picked out as a strength, giving pupils clear, practical guidance on relationships, identity, sexual health, safety and respect.

Pupils have opportunities to take on leadership roles through the school council and whole‑school Senedd. Inspectors said these roles help pupils feel involved in school life, even though some told them they’re not always convinced their views lead to change.

Six urgent recommendations

Estyn has ordered the school to:

• fix safeguarding issues
• strengthen leadership and accountability
• improve teaching and raise expectations
• boost attendance
• ensure staff are held fully accountable
• provide meaningful opportunities to develop literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills

The school must now draw up an accelerated improvement plan, with Estyn returning every four to six months to check progress.

Team sports are often tribal when they're geographic in nature. Look at the football teams in say, Birmingham, for example.

Let's borrow from the great Tom Lehrer's "National Brotherhood Week" - The Villa fans hate the Blues fans, the Blues fans hate the Villa fans, the West Brom fans hate the Walsall fans and everyone hates the Wolves 😀

County cricket can be just as tribal. And fuelled by passions and conflicts. See Yorkshire CCC throughout the 1970s and 1980s as a prime example.

There are times when supporters of a club and members (where the club is mutually owned( can't make sense of the direction, leadership or governance of that club. Then things can go from being polite to nasty very quickly.

At Sussex CCC something like this happened in 1997, when members and former players ousted the incumbent board. Which led to some years of success and Sussex gaining a reputation as a place where players go to rediscover and improve their game.

Good Old Sussex By The Sea and all that. A friendly, family club with a nice seaside ground and a shark mascot with a sense of humour.

Recent events has caused the sport's governing body to put the club into special measures. Whatever sector you may operate in or be part of, that is a horrible phrase, loaded with fearmongering.

(Context: I was recruited to work for an organisation in "special measures". Did my bit to help pull them out of that state. I'm proud of that. Wasn't a nice atmosphere to come into though.)

It has come with financial restrictions which may endanger the club's position in Division 1.

The list of signatories to the Open Letter reported below is significant - many are Sussex legends, others are current club sponsors.

Revolution may be coming again. I hope that constructive diplomacy and a peaceful solution will prevail. Cricket here doesn't need to go Full Yorkshire again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cvgdg1z2z4ko

#Cricket #SussexCCC #SpecialMeasures

Four Carmarthenshire schools face closure under modernisation plans

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday (14 October) to examine proposals affecting Ysgol Llansteffan, Ysgol Y Fro, Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol Pontiets.

The reports, published ahead of the meeting, recommend issuing a Statutory Notice to close Ysgol Llansteffan from August 2026, while launching formal consultations on the future of Ysgol Y Fro, Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol Pontiets.

Schools identified as “no longer viable”

Council officers say the four schools have been assessed against viability criteria including pupil numbers, budget position and educational standards. Ysgol Llansteffan, for example, has just eight pupils on roll, with projections showing only 18 by 2030. Its cost per pupil is more than three times the county average.

Ysgol Y Fro in Llangyndeyrn currently has 15 pupils and was placed in Special Measures by Estyn earlier this year. Ysgol Meidrim, with 31 pupils, is also in Special Measures following an inspection in 2024. Meanwhile Ysgol Pontiets has 24 pupils and more than 70% surplus places, with projections showing numbers continuing to fall.

The council argues that such small cohorts mean pupils are taught in mixed‑age classes, making delivery of the new Curriculum for Wales increasingly difficult.

At a glance: the four schools under review

Ysgol Llansteffan
8 pupils on roll (PLASC 2025). Estyn: No follow‑up (2024). Proposed closure August 2026, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain.

Ysgol Y Fro, Llangyndeyrn
15 pupils on roll. Estyn: Special Measures (Feb 2025). Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Y Dderwen identified as receiving school.

Ysgol Meidrim
31 pupils on roll. Estyn: Special Measures (Apr 2024). Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Griffith Jones identified as receiving school.

Ysgol Pontiets
24 pupils on roll. Estyn: Not in follow‑up. Consultation on closure, with Ysgol Pum Heol identified as receiving school.

Financial pressures and surplus places

The reports warn that the schools are running unsustainable budgets, with deficits forecast to rise. In some cases, the per‑pupil funding is more than double the county average.

Closing the four schools could save the authority more than £340,000 a year in revenue costs, while the sale of redundant buildings could generate up to £695,000 in capital receipts if no community use is found.

Cllr Glynog Davies, cabinet member for education, said the strategy aimed to ensure a sustainable and balanced provision of education throughout the county.

“These proposals will help to address the challenging circumstances faced by individual schools and the wider school system, which includes schools operating with pupil numbers far below their intended capacity and unsustainable financial situations,” he said.

Local concerns

Cllr Tyssul Evans, whose Llangyndeyrn ward includes Ysgol Y Fro, acknowledged the emotional impact of the proposals.

“Sadly we are as a local authority dependent on funding from central Government and there have been cutbacks. And unfortunately the number of pupils in these schools has fallen drastically over the years.

We are faced with reality. We have to take steps. We have got to live within our means. It is sad, of course it is.”

Previous closures put on hold

This is not the first time Carmarthenshire has faced controversy over school closures. In December 2021, as Swansea Bay News previously reported, plans to shut Ysgol Mynyddygarreg and Ysgol Blaenau were put on hold after an extended review of the Modernising Education Programme. At the time, campaigners celebrated a reprieve, but councillors warned that viability reviews would continue across the county.

What happens next

If scrutiny members back the recommendations, the proposals will go before Cabinet on 17 November 2025. Ysgol Llansteffan would move directly to a Statutory Notice of closure from August 2026, with pupils expected to transfer to Ysgol Llangain. Ysgol Y Fro would enter consultation, with Ysgol Y Dderwen identified as the preferred receiving school. Ysgol Meidrim would also enter consultation, with Ysgol Griffith Jones as the preferred receiving school. Ysgol Pontiets would follow the same process, with Ysgol Pum Heol identified as the likely destination.

Parents would still retain the right to apply for places at other nearby schools under the council’s admissions policy.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Carmarthenshire school closure plans put on hold… for now
Proposals to close Ysgol Mynyddygarreg and Ysgol Blaenau were paused in 2021 after an extended review of the county’s Modernising Education Programme.

Councils clash over Mynyddygarreg school closure plan
Kidwelly Town Council opposed Carmarthenshire’s decision, warning the loss of Ysgol Mynyddygarreg would “decimate” the community.

Llanelli MP and MS voice concern over council’s Mynyddygarreg school closure proposal
Local representatives raised fears about the impact of closing Ysgol Mynyddygarreg on families and the Welsh language.

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrTyssulEvans #education #Estyn #featured #Llangyndeyrn #Llansteffan #Meidrim #Pontyates #ruralCommunities #schoolClosure #smallSchools #specialMeasures #YoungPeopleAndTheWelshLanguageScrutinyCommittee #YsgolLlansteffan #YsgolMeidrim #YsgolPontiets #YsgolYFro

Calls for major rebuild as more than 700 building faults uncovered at Tenby’s Ysgol Greenhill

School faces infrastructure crisis despite academic progress

A report to Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools & Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee this week warns that extensive building improvements — or even a completely new school — may be required at Ysgol Greenhill, Tenby.

The secondary school, which educates around 900 pupils, has been led by headteacher David Haynes since 2021. Under his leadership, the school was removed from special measures in 2024 following significant improvements in teaching and leadership.

But despite the academic turnaround, councillors are being told that the physical condition of the school is now a major concern.

Over 700 faults identified

An inspection by the Schools Scrutiny Panel in July found more than 700 building defects, ranging from structural issues to maintenance failures.

Emergency works began in May 2025, with a contract worth more than £0.5m awarded for urgent repairs. The council has said every effort is being made to minimise disruption to teaching and exams while the work continues.

Concerns raised by pupils and staff

During the panel visit, both staff and pupils highlighted the poor state of the premises, though acknowledged that construction work was underway at the time.

The report also noted:

• Welsh language provision remains limited, with pupils saying they would like to see it more integrated across lessons.
• Attendance continues to be a challenge post‑Covid, with the school working with its cluster to improve figures.
• Reading standards among incoming Year 7 pupils are a concern, with guided reading sessions and assessments being introduced to help pupils catch up.

Praise for leadership but call for long‑term plan

The panel praised Mr Haynes’ “strong leadership” and the school’s strengthened cluster partnerships, particularly with Narberth CP School on Welsh language development.

However, councillors are being advised to prioritise long‑term funding and strategic planning for the site, including the possibility of a new school build.

The report also recommends:

• Expanding partnerships beyond the current cluster
• Providing resources for bilingual signage and Welsh‑language enrichment
• Earlier reading assessments in primary schools to support transition

Background: urgent works already underway

According to Pembrokeshire County Council, urgent structural works began in May 2025 and are expected to continue into the new academic year. Parents were informed directly by the headteacher, with assurances that safety and learning continuity remain the priority.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

£420m school plan for Blaenymaes and Portmead sparks row
Swansea Council approves plans for a new school, but governors at Portmead raise strong objections to amalgamation.

Carway Primary School to remain closed this September
Pupils moved to Gwynfryn School after structural safety concerns force the closure of Carway Community Primary.

Plans unveiled for new pre‑16 Vocational Centre in Port Talbot
Former Victorian school building could be transformed into a bilingual hub offering hands‑on training and career pathways.

More education news
Catch up on the latest school, college and university stories from across South West Wales.

#buildingDefect #education #GreenhillSchool #newSchool #PembrokeshireCouncil #reading #SchoolAttendance #SchoolsLearningOverviewAndScrutinyCommittee #specialMeasures #Tenby #WelshLanguage

What voting for "moderate" Labour gets you.
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RT @StaffordScott_
YOU are their second best friend @MayorofLondon

YOU promised Londons Black community's that you'd hold them to account over #StopAndSearch = #Lies #Lies and #DamnLies

The @metpoliceuk being put into #SpecialMeasures by @HMICFRS IS a reflection on @MOPACLdn

#ClosetRacist https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/1541821916125822978
https://twitter.com/StaffordScott_/status/1541841405865299973