Good Schools Guide awards for Exeter School

The co-educational independent school for pupils aged 7-18 is winner of the 2013 Good Schools Guide Award for Excellence for Boys taking AS Level Physics and the 2013 Good Schools Guide Award for Excellence for Girls taking AS Level World Development.

This is the sixth year in a row that Exeter School has received an award for excellence in Science and the fifth award for World Development.

Every year, the Good Schools Guide gives awards to schools to celebrate teaching excellence in individual subjects, basing these awards on WOW Factor calculations which are a combination...

RWC2015 volunteer try outs conclude in Twickenham

The final leg of the Rugby World Cup 2015 volunteer selection events, the Try Outs, concluded in Twickenham yesterday following six months on the road.

The search for the 6,000 volunteers who will make up The Pack launched in February 2014 and England Rugby 2015 was delighted to receive over 20,000 applications. Over 10,000 applicants have since been part of the Try Outs with events held in every Rugby World Cup 2015 Host City. The search for The Pack has spanned 1,320 miles, across 13 venues and included over 3,333 hours of interviews. Prospective volunteers have ranged from age...

Unemployment in Devon continues to fall

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 2:49pm

The number of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants in Devon has fallen again in November, in line with the national trend to the lowest figure on record.

Total claimants now stand at 4,019, representing 99 fewer claimants than in October (a 2.5% fall month on month).

The fall is slightly less than for the UK as a whole, which experienced a 4.7% drop between October and November. However, as a proportion of the working age population Devon’s JSA rate is far lower at 0.9% compared with the UK rate at 2.1%.

At a district level, JSA claimant numbers fell for half of...

Elderly man seriously assaulted in Exminster

Police in Teignbridge are appealing for witnesses to a serious assault on an elderly man in Exminster on Thursday 11 December between 6.15pm and 7pm.

It appears that the victim was approached by a man or group of men who asked him what was in his shopping bag before assaulting him and stealing money from the victim. One of the suspects is described as having a blue tattoo on his hand or forearm.

Sergeant Mark Ruston, Neighbourhood Sergeant for the area said: "The exact circumstances of this assault currently remains unclear as the victim remains in hospital. It is very...

Domestic abuse campaign takes to the streets

This week sees Devon and Cornwall Police’s domestic abuse ‘Shatters Lives’ campaign going out onto the streets targetting Christmas shoppers across the region.

The campaign was launched with domestic abuse partners at the end of November and runs throughout the Christmas period, when incidences of abuse are traditionally higher.

Nineteen dancers, from the Big Dance Company in Cornwall, have devised a special dance theatre routine which highlights the effects of domestic violence on children.

The powerful mix of hip-hop and lyrical dance focuses on the issues of...

Bishop of Exeter 'thrilled' at appointment of first woman bishop

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 12:34pm

THE Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Robert Atwell, said today he was thrilled by the appointment of Revd Libby Lane as the Bishop of Stockport, his previous role.

Bishop Robert left Stockport last year to become the Bishop of Exeter.

He said: “This is a great day for the Church of England. I am thrilled to bits for Libby personally and for the diocese of Chester and for the people of Stockport.”

Bishop Robert worked closely with Libby, who is vicar of Hale with Ashley and also Dean of Women in Ministry for the diocese of Chester.

Provident Financial supports Exeter homeless

For the fourth year in succession, financial services company Provident Financial has made an award to Exeter’s charity for people who are homeless.

“We’re really impressed with the work that St Petrock’s does," said Cathy Atkinson, Community Affairs Executive.

“We are delighted to be in a position where we are able to provide £30,000 this year to support it’s valuable work as part of our community partnership programme."

For St Petrock’s, it’s very welcome news.

Mel Hartley, the charity’s manager said: “We are very grateful to Provident Financial...

Stagecoach launches new bus service

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 11:57am

Stagecoach South West confirmed that from 19 January 2015 its X64 service will feature a new, direct connection between Dartmouth, Totnes, Newton Abbot and Exeter.

From the same date new timetables for Stagecoach Gold and the X46 are also being introduced. These will provide an hourly Sunday service on Stagecoach Gold and improve reliability for those travelling between Torquay and Exeter on the X46.

The X64 extension to Dartmouth will give residents direct, through connections to Totnes, Newton Abbot and Exeter up to every hour from Monday to Saturday. For commuters...

Tesla Motors brings supercharging to Exeter

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 11:53am

Tesla Motors, manufacturer of the award-winning Model S electric saloon, has expanded its Supercharger network with the opening of a Supercharger station in Exeter.

Conveniently located off junction 30 of the M5, the Exeter Supercharger will be an integral component of UK routes and, along with the Bristol Supercharger, allows Model S owners to travel to and around the South West for free with Supercharger-enabled Model S.

Exeter is the latest location to join the world’s largest fast-charging network.

The Supercharger is located in the car park at Darts Farm...

Road repair work to continue into 2015

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 10:02am

The next phase in a major programme of resurfacing will be carried out in the new year as part of Devon County Council’s ongoing road repairs following last winter’s storms.

More than £650,000 of work will be carried out on behalf of the County Council at 11 sites across the county in January and February using funding awarded to Devon from the Department for Transport.

A £16 million programme of improvements is underway using the Government’s Pothole Repair Funding and Severe Weather Recovery Funding, which is restoring around 120 miles of roads in Devon. The cash is not...

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