A Welsh Government Minister has come under fire for failing to provide essential equipment and furniture at a new school in Tenby.

Neil Hamilton (pictured), the UKIP leader at the Assembly and Mid & West Wales AM, is furious that the head teacher of newly-built Tenby Church in Wales Primary School is being forced to ask local people, businesses and parents for funding after being left with unfit equipment and furniture since its opening in September.

Mr. Hamilton asked Education Cabinet Secretary, Kirsty Williams, who was due to officially open the school yesterday (Thursday) for an update on the challenges facing the new primary school.

Ms Williams said that she understood that the local authority and the governing body at the school were working together to resolve any concerns.

Neil Hamilton said: “Nearly £8.4 million has been spent investing in Tenby’s primary education and two new schools opened in the town’s Heywood Lane in September. However, this major capital investment programme has left one of the schools, Tenby Church in Wales Primary School, short of essential equipment and furniture and now the head teacher, John Palmer is having to appeal for sponsorship.

“This is scandalous and the Cabinet Secretary has to take the blame. How can anyone run a school without essential equipment and furniture? At least the Minister will be able to see for herself when she visits.

“This is definitely down to bad management and the Cabinet Secretary needs to put this right by making the necessary funds available immediately.”

In his letter, the head teacher said that the facility faced a ‘significant financial challenge’ as it tried to build on the ‘blank canvas’ that had been provided.

He wrote: “We are very lucky to have a purpose-built 21st century school with funding having been provided by the local authority and the Welsh Government for the build. The children are already very happy here and the excellent staff team are determined to develop Tenby Primary into the best school in Pembrokeshire!

“Unfortunately, the budget for the building project was stretched and many important features and items were omitted.”

‘EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT’

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas also called for possible Welsh Government intervention to resolve problems around the new school.

“This is one of the first 21st century schools in Pembrokeshire. People need to learn from the experience that has not been perfect” he said.

“It is up to Pembrokeshire County Council to negotiate with the new school governors regarding the provision of additional facilities, or those facilities that people feel are missing from this 21st century school.

“This issue has already been raised by my Plaid Cymru colleague Councillor Michael Williams with Pembrokeshire County Council in October.

“I called on the Cabinet Secretary Kirsty Williams to speak directly with Pembrokeshire Council to resolve the issue if she believes this is an ongoing matter of concern.”