THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have set out plans to raise standards in education, warning that too many children are being let down by underperformance, poor discipline and funding pressures.

The party says Wales continues to lag behind other parts of the UK in international education rankings, despite the Welsh Government receiving higher levels of funding per head than England.

Leader Darren Millar said a Welsh Conservative Government would increase funding for schools, restore discipline in classrooms and place a renewed focus on academic and vocational achievement.

He said: “After 27 years of Labour, propped up by Plaid Cymru, our education system is failing too many young people.

“Standards have slipped, discipline has broken down and outcomes are simply not good enough.

“The Welsh Conservatives have a clear plan to turn this around. We will restore discipline in our classrooms, back our teachers and bring back academic rigour.

“We will ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.”

The party says its education plan would also strengthen routes into further and higher education, with a focus on helping young people build their futures in Wales.

Welsh Conservative education spokesperson Natasha Asghar said: “Every child in Wales deserves a world-class education, but after 27 years of Labour, propped up by Plaid Cymru, too many are being let down by a system that is underperforming and undervalued.

“We will raise standards, support our teachers and ensure schools are properly resourced, while strengthening opportunities in further and higher education so young people can thrive and build their futures here in Wales.”

A NEW solo exhibition at the Torch Theatre will showcase the work of Pembrokeshire wood carver Anthony Griffiths.

Through a Kaleidoscope opens at the Joanna Field Gallery on Wednesday, May 6, and features a series of circular relief carvings in oak, alongside the drawings that helped shape them.

Anthony, who lives in Stackpole, has taught wood carving for more than twenty years, originally in Somerset, and now from his home workshop in south Pembrokeshire, known as The Carving Room.

The exhibition brings together work influenced by the eroded sedimentary rocks at low tide on Broadhaven South, the carved mouldings of the Norman arches at St Davids Cathedral, and the interlocking patterns found in cathedral rose windows.

Other influences include vaulted cathedral ceilings, the intricate stucco domes of the Alhambra Palace, and the geometric decoration found in Islamic architecture.

Anthony said: “These carvings are not about resemblance to, or imitation of, any specific thing. Someone suggested they have a resemblance to the knotted patterns of crocheted doilies, or even biscuits.

“They may also be analogous with the interior forms of flowers, but none of this is intentional.”

He said the carvings are intended to capture an experience rather than copy a subject.

Anthony added: “They refer to dynamic energy and equilibrium; something we experience viscerally, as a play of energy, as much through our bodies as through our eyes.”

The individual forms, he explained, are designed to create movement, rhythm and motion.

He said: “The intention is to generate speed and motion by their differing alignments. It is not about where they are going, it is that they are going, that they are in constant flux.”

Unlike many relief carvings, Anthony said the finished works do not closely resemble the original drawings, even though the same elements are transferred directly onto the timber.

He added that the final appearance can only emerge through the slow process of carving, as light, shadow and movement develop within the wood itself.

Through a Kaleidoscope can be seen at the Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre, from Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 30.

For more information, visit www.thecarvingroom.com or torchtheatre.co.uk, or contact the Box Office on 01646 695267.

Growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools could lead to costly mistakes, with professionals warning that key tax changes, personal circumstances and market risks may be overlooked without expert guidance

PEOPLE across Wales are being warned not to rely solely on artificial intelligence platforms for financial advice.

Accountancy and advisory firm Azets, which has offices in Cardiff, Swansea and St Asaph, says AI can be a useful starting point for gathering information, but should not replace professional advice when money, tax or investments are involved.

The firm has compared using AI for financial planning to searching health symptoms online instead of seeing a doctor.

AI can miss recent tax changes

The warning comes as rising taxes and a flatlining economy leave more investors looking for efficient ways to manage their money.

Alex Bolton, from Azets Wealth Management, said: “With the tax changes coming into effect from April, it’s natural that more people are seeking information and trying to understand their options.

“Technology, including artificial intelligence, can be a helpful starting point for gathering and summarising information, and it’s a tool we use internally in that context.

“However, AI should never be relied on in isolation. When researching financial matters it’s essential to check sources carefully and ensure information is accurate and up to date.”

Mr Bolton said the quality of AI responses depended heavily on how specific the questions were, adding that some platforms may not fully reflect recent UK tax changes.

He said AI could also confuse accounting standards, such as IFRS and UK GAAP, and may carry bias in the way investment ideas are presented.

Risk of over-confidence

The firm also warned that social media influencers discussing money and investments could lead people to place too much confidence in AI-generated information.

Mr Bolton added: “Some of the most important financial planning details are not publicly available online.

“In-depth financial planning reports, which consider an individual’s full circumstances, cannot be assessed or replaced by AI alone.”

Lewis Aldridge, a partner at Azets, said: “While AI gives a good steer and can be useful for forecasting there are real issues.

“It can be like using the internet for diagnosing health issues. It might be correct but there is a chance it’ll be wrong – especially if it isn’t carefully used.

“In due course the technology might be more reliable but at present we advise caution and that when it comes to money people should always take advice from a reputable financial professional.”

Azets is a UK top ten accountancy and advisory firm, with offices across Wales and the wider UK.