Rhys Williams
@rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social
Swansea-dwelling Wales Reporter for ITV National News
Posting mainly about: Wales, Wrexham AFC, Rugby and Music
Not great at social media but trying to improve #content
Rhys.Williams@itn.co.uk
Posting mainly about: Wales, Wrexham AFC, Rugby and Music
Not great at social media but trying to improve #content
Rhys.Williams@itn.co.uk
Wales' schools watchdog has announced today it will have a three year "enhanced focus on reading" from September 2026.
Read more here:
estyn.gov.wales/reading-for-...
Read more here:
estyn.gov.wales/reading-for-...
Reading: For learners, for Wales. - Estyn
From September 2026, we will have a three-year enhanced focus on reading. We know that too many learners are not fluent, advanced readers by the time they leave school or further education and want t...
estyn.gov.wales
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Wales' schools watchdog has announced today it will have a three year "enhanced focus on reading" from September 2026.
Read more here:
estyn.gov.wales/reading-for-...
Read more here:
estyn.gov.wales/reading-for-...
November 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by Rhys Williams
The latest episode of the Impact Podcast is out now. Episode 211 - "Why I quit". Literacy Expert Panel Member, Elizabeth Nonweiler speaks out about why she has resigned from the Welsh Government panel & what's going wrong.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/show/778EJMB...
Listen here: open.spotify.com/show/778EJMB...
Episode 211: “Why I quit.” Literacy expert speaks out
open.spotify.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:26 AM
The latest episode of the Impact Podcast is out now. Episode 211 - "Why I quit". Literacy Expert Panel Member, Elizabeth Nonweiler speaks out about why she has resigned from the Welsh Government panel & what's going wrong.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/show/778EJMB...
Listen here: open.spotify.com/show/778EJMB...
That was incredible. I wish we could have seen how Alan managed to persuade them.
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
That was incredible. I wish we could have seen how Alan managed to persuade them.
What does an email sent in error by Wales' schools inspectorate tell us about how it believes reading should be taught?
👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
www.itv.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
What does an email sent in error by Wales' schools inspectorate tell us about how it believes reading should be taught?
👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-11...
🚨 UPDATE - Dog attack
Gwent Police have confirmed the dog involved in the attack that killed a 9 month old baby has been put down.
Officers say enquiries to confirm the breed are ongoing.
No arrests have been made, and the family are being supported by specialist officers.
Gwent Police have confirmed the dog involved in the attack that killed a 9 month old baby has been put down.
Officers say enquiries to confirm the breed are ongoing.
No arrests have been made, and the family are being supported by specialist officers.
November 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
🚨 UPDATE - Dog attack
Gwent Police have confirmed the dog involved in the attack that killed a 9 month old baby has been put down.
Officers say enquiries to confirm the breed are ongoing.
No arrests have been made, and the family are being supported by specialist officers.
Gwent Police have confirmed the dog involved in the attack that killed a 9 month old baby has been put down.
Officers say enquiries to confirm the breed are ongoing.
No arrests have been made, and the family are being supported by specialist officers.
Exclusive: A member of the Welsh Government’s expert literacy panel has resigned, warning the new £8.2m national programme to improve reading is “flawed” and “not fit for purpose”.
Full story below
🧵 1/
Full story below
🧵 1/
October 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Exclusive: A member of the Welsh Government’s expert literacy panel has resigned, warning the new £8.2m national programme to improve reading is “flawed” and “not fit for purpose”.
Full story below
🧵 1/
Full story below
🧵 1/
If you've appetite for more Caerphilly content - then there's more coming up shortly on @itvnews.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
If you've appetite for more Caerphilly content - then there's more coming up shortly on @itvnews.bsky.social
“In what the polls show is a growing contest between Plaid Cymru and Reform to wrestle control of Wales away from Labour, Plaid has landed the first punch.”
👇👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
👇👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
www.itv.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
“In what the polls show is a growing contest between Plaid Cymru and Reform to wrestle control of Wales away from Labour, Plaid has landed the first punch.”
👇👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
👇👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Rhys Williams
This is excellent reporting from Rhys on the sorry state of reading standards & guidance for schools in Wales.
It clearly shows Welsh Government saying one thing but doing another 😡 whilst children are being failed.
It clearly shows Welsh Government saying one thing but doing another 😡 whilst children are being failed.
1/
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
£8million Welsh Government Grant awarded to Centre of Excellence for Literacy at Bangor University
The Welsh Government has awarded an £8 million grant to a Bangor University research project to found CAL:ON (Canolfan Addysgu Llythrennedd: Offer tuag at Newid / Centre for the Advancement of Literac...
www.bangor.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This is excellent reporting from Rhys on the sorry state of reading standards & guidance for schools in Wales.
It clearly shows Welsh Government saying one thing but doing another 😡 whilst children are being failed.
It clearly shows Welsh Government saying one thing but doing another 😡 whilst children are being failed.
Reposted by Rhys Williams
Every parent in Wales should be interested in and alarmed by this report from @rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social. Literacy rates among Welsh children should be a far bigger scandal than it is - and with some fixes so readily at hand (phonics work!) it’s a needless crisis www.itv.com/news/2024-09...
www.itv.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Every parent in Wales should be interested in and alarmed by this report from @rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social. Literacy rates among Welsh children should be a far bigger scandal than it is - and with some fixes so readily at hand (phonics work!) it’s a needless crisis www.itv.com/news/2024-09...
On News At Ten tonight on ITV a report from Caerphilly as voters prepare to go to the polls in what could be an historic Senedd by-election.
October 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
On News At Ten tonight on ITV a report from Caerphilly as voters prepare to go to the polls in what could be an historic Senedd by-election.
Report from Swansea today as Rhun ap Iorwerth tells Plaid Cymru Conference says his party stands ready to “replace” Labour in leading the next Welsh Government 👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
www.itv.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Report from Swansea today as Rhun ap Iorwerth tells Plaid Cymru Conference says his party stands ready to “replace” Labour in leading the next Welsh Government 👇
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
www.itv.com/news/2025-10...
1/
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
£8million Welsh Government Grant awarded to Centre of Excellence for Literacy at Bangor University
The Welsh Government has awarded an £8 million grant to a Bangor University research project to found CAL:ON (Canolfan Addysgu Llythrennedd: Offer tuag at Newid / Centre for the Advancement of Literac...
www.bangor.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:59 AM
1/
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
This week the Welsh government announced £8m of funding for a national centre of excellence for literacy teaching - but a year since we raised concerns over reading provision in early reading it's not clear how much has changed in practice👇
www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2025-10...
1/4
Gwlad, an independent Welsh rugby forum, has published the results of a survey of 1,279 fans on the WRU’s consultation. It found that 92% of respondents felt the WRU was not doing a good job in running the game.
gwladrugby.wordpress.com
Gwlad, an independent Welsh rugby forum, has published the results of a survey of 1,279 fans on the WRU’s consultation. It found that 92% of respondents felt the WRU was not doing a good job in running the game.
gwladrugby.wordpress.com
Gwladrugby
Yma o hyd ar nugwlad.freeforums.net
gwladrugby.wordpress.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
1/4
Gwlad, an independent Welsh rugby forum, has published the results of a survey of 1,279 fans on the WRU’s consultation. It found that 92% of respondents felt the WRU was not doing a good job in running the game.
gwladrugby.wordpress.com
Gwlad, an independent Welsh rugby forum, has published the results of a survey of 1,279 fans on the WRU’s consultation. It found that 92% of respondents felt the WRU was not doing a good job in running the game.
gwladrugby.wordpress.com
Too good not to share!
Really special to see my 97 yo grandad honoured this weekend for 60 years of unbroken service for Swansea Male Choir.
He’s been a stalwart in the second tenors since my mum was born and still rehearses twice a week in the hall he built for the choir 👏🏻🏴
Really special to see my 97 yo grandad honoured this weekend for 60 years of unbroken service for Swansea Male Choir.
He’s been a stalwart in the second tenors since my mum was born and still rehearses twice a week in the hall he built for the choir 👏🏻🏴
September 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Too good not to share!
Really special to see my 97 yo grandad honoured this weekend for 60 years of unbroken service for Swansea Male Choir.
He’s been a stalwart in the second tenors since my mum was born and still rehearses twice a week in the hall he built for the choir 👏🏻🏴
Really special to see my 97 yo grandad honoured this weekend for 60 years of unbroken service for Swansea Male Choir.
He’s been a stalwart in the second tenors since my mum was born and still rehearses twice a week in the hall he built for the choir 👏🏻🏴
The Home Secretary was in Cardiff today to announce the expansion of live facial recognition technology.
Is big brother watching you, or your police force protecting you?
Opinions are split - more on ITV News soon
Is big brother watching you, or your police force protecting you?
Opinions are split - more on ITV News soon
August 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The Home Secretary was in Cardiff today to announce the expansion of live facial recognition technology.
Is big brother watching you, or your police force protecting you?
Opinions are split - more on ITV News soon
Is big brother watching you, or your police force protecting you?
Opinions are split - more on ITV News soon
Such is the varied life of a reporter in August I'll have some Taylor Swift business on @itvnews shortly
Taylor Swift GIF
ALT: Taylor Swift GIF
media.tenor.com
August 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Such is the varied life of a reporter in August I'll have some Taylor Swift business on @itvnews shortly
How much would this gaff set me back do you reckon?
May 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
How much would this gaff set me back do you reckon?
I’m at Caernarfon Crown Court where Dean Mears has just been found guilty of the brutal murder of defenceless pensioner Cathy Flynn in Rhyl.
More on @itvnews this evening
'I was hysterical, it just plays over and over': Daughter witnessed mum's murder on doorbell camera www.itv.com/news/2025-05...
More on @itvnews this evening
'I was hysterical, it just plays over and over': Daughter witnessed mum's murder on doorbell camera www.itv.com/news/2025-05...
www.itv.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I’m at Caernarfon Crown Court where Dean Mears has just been found guilty of the brutal murder of defenceless pensioner Cathy Flynn in Rhyl.
More on @itvnews this evening
'I was hysterical, it just plays over and over': Daughter witnessed mum's murder on doorbell camera www.itv.com/news/2025-05...
More on @itvnews this evening
'I was hysterical, it just plays over and over': Daughter witnessed mum's murder on doorbell camera www.itv.com/news/2025-05...
There is hope for the young after all
Young people prefer the pet choice of the stars and think dogs are too high-maintenance 🐱
Cats become Britain’s favourite pet as Gen Z copy Taylor Swift
Young people prefer the pet choice of the stars and think dogs are too high-maintenance
www.thetimes.com
May 8, 2025 at 9:48 PM
There is hope for the young after all
An unexpected stay in Montgomery tonight led to a poignant evening at the town’s war memorial, where a beacon was lit at 21:30 to mark #VEDay
May 8, 2025 at 9:48 PM
An unexpected stay in Montgomery tonight led to a poignant evening at the town’s war memorial, where a beacon was lit at 21:30 to mark #VEDay
Reposted by Rhys Williams
New @ITVWales poll puts Labour in THIRD in Wales, behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.
If Labour don’t win next year’s Welsh elections, it’ll be first time they’ve not won an election there since 1922.
🟢PLAID 30
🌐REFORM 25
🔴LABOUR 18
🔵CONSERVATIVES 13
🟡LIB DEMS 7
🟢GREEN 5
If Labour don’t win next year’s Welsh elections, it’ll be first time they’ve not won an election there since 1922.
🟢PLAID 30
🌐REFORM 25
🔴LABOUR 18
🔵CONSERVATIVES 13
🟡LIB DEMS 7
🟢GREEN 5
May 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
New @ITVWales poll puts Labour in THIRD in Wales, behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.
If Labour don’t win next year’s Welsh elections, it’ll be first time they’ve not won an election there since 1922.
🟢PLAID 30
🌐REFORM 25
🔴LABOUR 18
🔵CONSERVATIVES 13
🟡LIB DEMS 7
🟢GREEN 5
If Labour don’t win next year’s Welsh elections, it’ll be first time they’ve not won an election there since 1922.
🟢PLAID 30
🌐REFORM 25
🔴LABOUR 18
🔵CONSERVATIVES 13
🟡LIB DEMS 7
🟢GREEN 5
Devastated not be at the Cae Ras tonight 🥲
Whatever the result, the atmosphere will be special 🔴
Fingers crossed for an historic occasion 🤞🏻
Ymlaen Wrecsam! #COYR
Whatever the result, the atmosphere will be special 🔴
Fingers crossed for an historic occasion 🤞🏻
Ymlaen Wrecsam! #COYR
April 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Devastated not be at the Cae Ras tonight 🥲
Whatever the result, the atmosphere will be special 🔴
Fingers crossed for an historic occasion 🤞🏻
Ymlaen Wrecsam! #COYR
Whatever the result, the atmosphere will be special 🔴
Fingers crossed for an historic occasion 🤞🏻
Ymlaen Wrecsam! #COYR