·      Contract awarded for construction of the new Willows High School

·      Pino Palladino (and friends) to play Cardiff Music City Festival

·      Ysgol Pen y Pîl; committed to providing a high-quality education and fostering a strong sense of community says Estyn

Cardiff Council can announce the contractor chosen to carry out the main build of the new Willows High School has been awarded to Morgan Sindall Construction.

The education investment worth more than £60m, will provide excellent quality education environments to support and enhance teaching and learning, as well as comprehensive sports facilities, including sports hall, gym, drama studio and grass pitches which will be available for public use outside of school hours.

The latest scheme to be delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Government’s Band B, Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, will see the existing Willows High School relocated and rebuilt to provide capacity for 900 learners aged 11 to 16 years in addition to a 30 place Special Resource Base for pupils with Complex Learning Needs. Enhanced pedestrian facilities to support active travel arrangements at the new school site will also be delivered as part of the scheme.

In May, Cardiff Council’s Planning Committee gave the go-head for the brand-new accommodation to be constructed on land off Lewis Road in Splott and the enabling works associated with the scheme have been carried out by Morgan Sindall Construction since August 2023.

Enabling works include a stopping up order on Lewis Road and relevant highways works to allow development to take place, construction of active travel routes to the eastern perimeter of the site and demolition of existing buildings located on Portmanmor Road and at Splott Market site.

In preparation for the main works to begin, installation of new utilities and relocation of existing services, excavation and groundworks including the removal of contaminated material following disturbance of ground and the installation of secure fencing around site boundary are also being delivered.

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One of the world’s most celebrated bass players, Pino Palladino has graced more than 1,000 recordings by artists including Adele, the Who, D’Angelo, Ed Sheeran, Nine Inch Nails, Eric Clapton, Gary Numan, B.B. King, Bryan Ferry and more.

Now, the Grammy Award winning songwriter, producer and bassist will take to the stage for his first hometown show under his own name in 30 years, as part of the inaugural Cardiff Music City Festival, supported by Welsh Government and Cardiff Council.

Tickets also include the chance to gain a unique insight into a 40-year career in the music industry that has seen him work with everyone from Phil Collins to Perfume Genius and John Mayer to J Dilla, as he’s joined in conversation with 6Music DJ Huw Stephens to discuss all things music – from the songs he loves, to his unique bass style - and how Cardiff shaped his musical influences.

Joining Pino onstage at the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on Monday 14th October will be Houston-born percussionist Chris Dave, who has played with some of the most revered names in jazz and R&B and was once called “the most dangerous drummer alive,” by Questlove from The Roots.

On guitar, blending his background in rock, gospel, jazz, R&B, blues and funk with an unmistakable dose of soul will be Isaiah Sharkey. Hailing from a musical family in Chicago, Sharkey picked up his first guitar when he was just 3 years old. By the age of 14 he was performing in clubs in Chicago and a few short years later he had piqued the interest of music industry giants like The Isley Brothers, John Mayer, Patti LaBelle and many others.

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Ysgol Pen y Pîl, a Welsh-medium primary school in Trowbridge, has been recognised for its commitment to providing a high-quality education and fostering a strong sense of community, following a recent inspection by Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales.

The inspection praised the school’s headteacher and leadership team for their clear direction and effective cooperation, particularly within the Ffederasiwn y Ddraig federation, formed in 2019. This partnership with Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Eirwg has created a thriving learning community that celebrates Welsh culture and provides valuable experiences for pupils.

Inspectors commended the school for its dedication to pupil care and well-being, which positively influences student behaviour and attitudes and the school’s supportive environment that ensures that pupils feel respected and valued.

Teachers at the school were recognised for planning purposeful opportunities that help pupils develop a strong sense of belonging to their local community and to Wales and a range of engaging activities both inside and outside the classroom were noted for broadening pupils’ horizons and enhancing their educational experience.

Despite nearly all pupils entering the school with below-expected Welsh language skills, most make significant progress in both Welsh and English communication, mathematics, and digital skills during their time at the school.

The provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) was described as extremely effective, with most pupils making good progress over time.

Overall, a positive report, Estyn has made one recommendation which the school will address in its action plan; to further support pupils in improving their understanding of texts across all areas of learning.

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Cardiff Council has reached an in-principle agreement with HMRC to settle a tax dispute related to soil and material brought to the former Lamby Way landfill between nine and seven years ago to contour and cap the site.

The dispute involved disagreements over the correct application of complicated, new landfill tax rules introduced in 2015, and discrepancies in how some waste was recorded. Landfill tax is charged at two rates depending on the type of material.

During the periods affected by the dispute, the standard rate of landfill tax was between £82.60 and £86.10 per tonne, while the lower rate was between £2.60 and £2.70 per tonne.

HMRC argued that soil, which was normally charged at the lower rate, should have been charged at the higher rate due to ‘administrative’ failures in how the material was treated when received at site.

HMRC considered that the material was subject to additional compliance testing due to its properties, whereas the Council did not consider that the compliance requirements were applicable.

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