Celebrations At Portfield School

Portfield School in Haverfordwest celebrated its 50th anniversary in fine style on Friday (4th November). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Parents, pupils and staff – past and present – and governors were joined by Cllr Tony Brinsden, chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, and Cllrs David Lloyd and Sue Perkins, Cabinet Members for Education and Children and Lifelong Safeguarding respectively. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also attending the celebrations were the Mayor of Haverfordwest Cllr Alan Buckfield and the Mayoress, Mrs Gill Buckfield. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Portfield opened its doors to care for pupils with special needs in 1966 before becoming a school in 1971 when the Education Act included all children in schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The way the broad and balanced curriculum is delivered at the School has changed greatly since then. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Initially there were approximately 45-50 children with just one teacher per class of 10 whereas today there are 155 children and well over 100 staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Dawn McKenzie is the longest serving member of staff at Portfield today, having worked at the school for 33 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school has also grown from five to 17 classes split over two main buildings and now boasts three satellite classes in two Secondary Schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There have been many changes and developments at Portfield over the last 50 years with a significant change in 2009 when the new secondary building was opened, followed shortly by the new purpose built satellite unit ‘Y Porth’ at Ysgol Y Preseli,” said the School’s Headteacher Sue Painter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However some things have not changed, the care and support that is provided to all pupils from a highly dedicated and committed staff,” she added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor David Lloyd said that he was struck by the sense of ownership that the pupils felt for their school as soon as he walked through the door. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is clearly their school of which they are very proud,” he said. “To achieve this in such challenging circumstances is a triumph which reflects on the outstanding work of the staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They are evidently dedicated to providing the best learning environment for the pupils of Portfield, and it’s little wonder that the school has received two excellent inspection reports over the past decade.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Portfield School 50th Birthday
Portfield School Headteacher Sue Painter was joined by the School’s Chair of Governors, Mrs Beryl Thomas-Cleaver and Cllr Tony Brinsden to cut the cake marking the 50th anniversary of the School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​