
Powys Estyn response will not be just a 'tick the box' exercise
Head of school improvement and learning Anwen Orrells said: 'Since April 2022 when inspections restarted after Covid-19, every Powys secondary and all through school has been inspected and either placed in an Estyn review category or follow up category of significant improvement or special measures.

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Powys County Times
14 hours ago
- Powys County Times
UK-wide 2021 census data published for first time
A full set of UK-wide data collected for the 2021 census has been made available for the first time. Many details from the census have already been released, revealing a wealth of population information about the country's nations, regions and local areas. But a complete picture for the whole of the UK has only now been published. The delay in producing a set of UK-wide statistics is due to the unusual circumstances in which the 2021 survey took place. A census of the population has been held regularly since 1801, typically every 10 years and on the same day across the UK. The 2021 survey was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, however. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the census occurred as planned on March 21 2021. But in Scotland it was postponed for 12 months because of the impact of the pandemic, eventually taking place on March 20 2022. This meant that, unlike for previous censuses, data had not been collected on the same date across the whole of the UK – and therefore Scotland's data was not directly comparable with that for the other nations. To solve this problem, the UK's statistical agencies have come together to create a full set of census numbers with a shared point in time of March 21 2021. Scotland's 2022 census data has been adjusted to create notional estimates for 2021, which have then been combined with the actual 2021 totals for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The three agencies involved – the Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – describe it as 'a solution that is conceptually simple, pragmatic, and creates numbers for a consistent time point'. The new figures show for the first time how key population trends such as religion, ethnicity and marital status compare in the four parts of the UK. For example, while 80% of the population of Northern Ireland on census day identified as Christian, the equivalent figures for the rest of the country are much lower, at 46% in England, 44% in Wales and 40% in Scotland. Some 17% of people in Northern Ireland said they had no religion, rising to 37% in England, 47% in Wales and 50% in Scotland. The proportion of people identifying as white was highest in Northern Ireland (97%), followed by Wales (94%), Scotland (93%) and England (81%). England has the highest proportion of people identifying as Asian (10%), then Scotland (4%), Wales (3%) and Northern Ireland (2%), while the figures for people identifying as black were 4% for England and 1% for the other three countries. There is less variation in the proportion of people who were married or in a civil partnership on census day, with 44% for Scotland and Wales, 45% for England and 46% for Northern Ireland. The figures for people who are divorced or who have had a civil partnership dissolved range from 6% in Northern Ireland to 10% in Wales, with 8% for Scotland and 9% for England. Census results are used by a variety of organisations including governments, councils and businesses, and underpin everything from the calculation of economic growth and unemployment to helping plan schools, health services and transport links. Planning is already under way for the next UK census, which is due to take place in 2031. The newly published data also covers topics such as health, accommodation and central heating. Some 50% of people in Northern Ireland told the census they were in very good health, slightly higher than England and Scotland (both 48%) and Wales (46%). Northern Ireland had a higher proportion of households living in detached properties (38%) than Wales (29%), Scotland (24%) and England (23%), while Wales had the highest proportion of households in terraces (27%), ahead of England (23%), Northern Ireland (22%) and Scotland (18%). Around three-quarters of households in England (75%), Scotland (75%) and Wales (74%) on census day relied on gas for central heating, compared with just under a third (32%) in Northern Ireland. Oil-powered central heating was far more prevalent in Northern Ireland, where it was the sole form of heating in 49% of households, than Wales (8%), Scotland (5%) or England (3%).


Powys County Times
16 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Powys: Acting head appointed at Ysgol Bro Caereinion
A senior education officer from Powys County Council has been appointed to take over at a school after the head and deputy both resigned. Anwen Orrells has been appointed as acting headteacher of Ysgol Bro Caereinion following "an extensive recruitment process" overseen by the school's governing body. Mrs Orrells, is a fluent Welsh speaker with over 30 years' experience in education, including more than 16 years in educational leadership, curriculum design, and school improvement. Her previous roles have included Service Manager for the Education Support Service and Secondary School Challenge Adviser with the council as well as senior leadership positions at Caereinion High School and as a teacher at Builth Wells High School. Mrs Orells is currently Head of School Improvement and Learning at Powys County Council and Strategic Lead for the Mid Wales Education Partnership. The school released a statement saying it was overjoyed that she had accepted their offer for her to fill in the role after the resignation of headteacher Huw Lloyd-Jones and deputy Edward Baldwin from their positions. 'I'm delighted to announce that we have offered the post of Acting Headteacher to Mrs Anwen Orrells and she has accepted the offer,' said Ysgol Bro Caereinion's chair of governors, Myfanwy Alexander. 'A familiar face to many in the school community, Mrs Orrells combines strategic knowledge, leadership skills and unrivalled talents as a teacher. The Governing Body has the utmost faith in her and we are certain that she is the headteacher replete with experience and vision who can lead the school to an exciting and successful future.' Mrs Orrells said she was delighted to take on the role and will be joined by Miss Laura Jones as Deputy Head whose appointment was announced last week 'I am delighted to begin my role as Headteacher and to work in close partnership with pupils, staff, parents, and governors,' said Mrs Orrells. 'Together, we will build on the school's many strengths to ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive. 'I am committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and ambitious learning environment for all, as we continue our journey along the language continuum towards becoming a truly bilingual school.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's cabinet member for a learning Powys, hailed Mrs Orrells 'wealth of experience and a strong track record in educational leadership to her new role'. He added: 'Her deep understanding of the local education landscape will be a valuable asset to the school community. 'I'm excited to continue working alongside Anwen and the entire Ysgol Bro Caereinion community as we strive to improve educational outcomes for all learners. Together, we are committed to advancing the school's journey along the language continuum and fulfilling the goals set out in our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.'

Leader Live
17 hours ago
- Leader Live
UK-wide 2021 census data published for first time
Many details from the census have already been released, revealing a wealth of population information about the country's nations, regions and local areas. But a complete picture for the whole of the UK has only now been published. The delay in producing a set of UK-wide statistics is due to the unusual circumstances in which the 2021 survey took place. A census of the population has been held regularly since 1801, typically every 10 years and on the same day across the UK. The 2021 survey was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, however. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the census occurred as planned on March 21 2021. But in Scotland it was postponed for 12 months because of the impact of the pandemic, eventually taking place on March 20 2022. This meant that, unlike for previous censuses, data had not been collected on the same date across the whole of the UK – and therefore Scotland's data was not directly comparable with that for the other nations. To solve this problem, the UK's statistical agencies have come together to create a full set of census numbers with a shared point in time of March 21 2021. Scotland's 2022 census data has been adjusted to create notional estimates for 2021, which have then been combined with the actual 2021 totals for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The three agencies involved – the Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – describe it as 'a solution that is conceptually simple, pragmatic, and creates numbers for a consistent time point'. The new figures show for the first time how key population trends such as religion, ethnicity and marital status compare in the four parts of the UK. For example, while 80% of the population of Northern Ireland on census day identified as Christian, the equivalent figures for the rest of the country are much lower, at 46% in England, 44% in Wales and 40% in Scotland. Some 17% of people in Northern Ireland said they had no religion, rising to 37% in England, 47% in Wales and 50% in Scotland. The proportion of people identifying as white was highest in Northern Ireland (97%), followed by Wales (94%), Scotland (93%) and England (81%). England has the highest proportion of people identifying as Asian (10%), then Scotland (4%), Wales (3%) and Northern Ireland (2%), while the figures for people identifying as black were 4% for England and 1% for the other three countries. There is less variation in the proportion of people who were married or in a civil partnership on census day, with 44% for Scotland and Wales, 45% for England and 46% for Northern Ireland. The figures for people who are divorced or who have had a civil partnership dissolved range from 6% in Northern Ireland to 10% in Wales, with 8% for Scotland and 9% for England. Census results are used by a variety of organisations including governments, councils and businesses, and underpin everything from the calculation of economic growth and unemployment to helping plan schools, health services and transport links. Planning is already under way for the next UK census, which is due to take place in 2031. The newly published data also covers topics such as health, accommodation and central heating. Some 50% of people in Northern Ireland told the census they were in very good health, slightly higher than England and Scotland (both 48%) and Wales (46%). Northern Ireland had a higher proportion of households living in detached properties (38%) than Wales (29%), Scotland (24%) and England (23%), while Wales had the highest proportion of households in terraces (27%), ahead of England (23%), Northern Ireland (22%) and Scotland (18%). Around three-quarters of households in England (75%), Scotland (75%) and Wales (74%) on census day relied on gas for central heating, compared with just under a third (32%) in Northern Ireland. Oil-powered central heating was far more prevalent in Northern Ireland, where it was the sole form of heating in 49% of households, than Wales (8%), Scotland (5%) or England (3%).