Teenage carer sat GCSE exam hours after 3am hospital return, Senedd committee hears
A teenage carer sat a GCSE exam only hours after getting home from a hospital at 3am following a family emergency, a Senedd committee has heard. The warning came as witnesses highlighted a “sink-or-swim” reality where children as young as…
Overall School Attendance in Carmarthenshire remains lowest in Wales
Overall school attendance in Carmarthenshire remains the lowest in Wales, a council meeting heard. Across the county, provisional attendance rates in March 2025 were: 88% for secondary schools 92.7% for primary schools Although slightly below the Welsh average, a report…
University cuts ‘affecting student mental health’
Students called for an overhaul to make Welsh universities more financially sustainable amid concerns about the uncertainty of sweeping cuts impacting on mental health. Deio Owen, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Cymru, warned students’ mental health…
Trade Union warns at least one University in Wales could collapse due to cuts and funding shortfall
There is a real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year, a trade union warned. Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru’s higher education forum, told the Senedd’s education committee: “Without change, we will see universities collapsing or…
Physics education in Wales ‘at breaking point’ due to lack of teachers
Physics education is at breaking point in Wales due to a lack of teachers, yet training bursaries are £14,000 higher across the border in England, a committee heard. Eluned Parrott, head of Wales at the Institute of Physics, warned…
Wales recruiting ‘nowhere near enough’ secondary teachers
Wales is only training around a third of the necessary secondary school teachers, with nowhere near enough recruits and no improvement in sight, an education chief warned. Hayden Llewellyn, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) chief executive, gave evidence to…
Propel condemns Cardiff Council’s £10m spending on private schools amid ALN crisis
The grassroots political party Propel has condemned Cardiff Council’s continued subsidy of private school placements for Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision, which was a staggering £10,462,880.85 last year. The party has called for an urgent reassessment of spending priorities, arguing…
Students of Coleg Sir Gâr challenge mandatory enforcement of Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification
In Wales, a growing student-led movement is challenging the mandatory enforcement of the Welsh Baccalaureate, a qualification critics argue is being imposed under questionable funding practices that undermine educational choice and student wellbeing. Ioan Armstrong and Sam Bartlett who are…
Caerphilly Council considering provision expansion for ALN
Caerphilly County Borough Council is considering proposals to expand the provision of specialist resource bases for children with additional learning needs (ALN). Members of the Council’s Education and Social Services Scrutiny Committee recently endorsed recommendations to carry out consultation on…
Newport’s new £9million primary school will move forward following general community support
Plans for a new £9 million primary school in Newport will move forward following general support from the community. Housing developer Redrow is planning to build the new school at its Great Milton Park development off Cot Hill, where up…