The Welsh Government is calling for urgent action to improve education services in Pembrokeshire following two highly critical reports. One identified serious failings in procedures to protect children from abuse, the other criticised the quality of education services. Education Minister Leighton Andrews told Pembrokeshire council it has two months to come up with an action plan. He has launched a crusade against “complacency in the classroom”.
The Welsh Government is sending in a team to monitor Pembrokeshire Council after the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) and school inspections body Estyn identified 25 cases of alleged child abuse in the education services. The investigation was triggered by the case of primary school head teacher David Thorley, who was jailed in 2009 for sex assaults on children in his care. (Details of that case from BBC: Sex assault head teacher jailed). The report criticised the council for its “wholly unacceptable” handling of the child abuse allegations. Continue reading Welsh Government focus on School safeguarding