Devon

100% Pass rate for Maynard School

The Maynard School have achieved excellent A-Level results this year, with all of their A2 students passing at A2 level.

60% of students had A* or A Grades, and 85% of students gained A*- B Grades.

A spokesperson for the school said: “This year we are delighted that all of our students have gained a place at their choice of university. Many are going on to study at Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Warwick, York, Durham, Southampton and St Andrews.”

Two students accepted offers from Oxford. Alexandra Sage, from Exeter, gained 4 A*...

Police appeal for witnesses after cyclist killed in road traffic collision in Lifton

Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the old A30 near Lifton in Devon. The incident, which occurred at around 4.11pm on Wednesday 14 August on the old A30 at Sprytown Cross near Lifton, involved a Citroen Saxo motor vehicle and a Giant Revel bicycle. Police report that "The cyclist was emerging from the Give Way line on the northern arm of the crossroads from the direction of Broadwoodwidger with the apparent intention of turning right towards Lifton, and the Citroen Saxo, was heading in a south westerly direction on the main road from Lewdown...

Unemployment down again in Devon and Exeter

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has fallen for the fifth consecutive month, meaning claimant numbers are at the lowest they have been since November 2008.

The claimant count across the county was down by 244 from 7,741 in June to 7,497 in July.

Even though the Devon figures reflect the national trend, the month on month decrease of 3.2% has occurred at a faster rate in Devon compared to the UK (1.5%).

The claimant count in Devon stands at 1.6% of the working age population, which remains below the national figure of 3.5%.

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Police appeal nationally after medieval panels stolen from Devon church

Police investigating the theft of two mid-15th century medieval panels from a Devon church are appealing for information nationally. Police believe the panels (pictured) were taken from The Holy Trinity Church in Torbryan, Newton Abbot sometime between Friday 2 August and Friday 9 August. A third panel was also damaged. According to the Churches Conservation Trust the Torbryan screen is one of the most important examples of its kind in the country and is of national interest. The concern is that the panels could be resold and even exported internationally. Even though some of the panels...

Perseids meteor shower brightens up Exeter's night sky

Last night, stargazers across Devon saw the annual Perseids Meteor Shower glimmer across the sky.

Mankind has been watching the Perseids for over 2,000 years, these are flecks of dust and ice that have fallen off the tail of the Swift-Tuttle Comet in orbit.

The comet orbits the sun every 133 years and each meteor is a falling piece of comet dust vaporising into the atmosphere creating, what are commonly known as, shooting stars.

The meteors travel at approximately 36 miles per second.

Predicted to have 60 meteors per hour, the best "shooting stars" were to...

CrossCountry and Mumsnet users offer top tips for family travel

With the school holidays in full swing, families across Britain will be off on their travels - but it doesn’t have to spell out the beginning of traffic jams, squabbling kids and endless toilet breaks.

Research from leading train company CrossCountry reveals that some parents are opting for train services when travelling with children – with 43% of parents agreeing that they are able to have more stimulating conversations with their children on a train than if they were travelling by car.

Just under half (48%) of Exeter parents say they are able to have more stimulating...

Back to school: Win a celebrity visit at your child’s primary school

It’s not every day you hear your little‘un announce: “I’m off to school to have the best day EVER!”

For the parents of one lucky child, this will be music to the ears if their son or daughter is the winner of the Tesco Back to School Competition. And not just that, they’ll also be the most popular person in their class – as the prize is not just for them, but for all their classmates too! How cool would it be for the kids to have a dance class with JLS boy band member Aston Merrygold? He’s certain to get them all up and on their feet busting a few moves on the dance floor - and if...

Curtain up on Exeter Northcott Theatre’s Summer School

Creative youngsters began their two-week intensive Summer School at the Exeter Northcott Theatre this week. From 12-24 August participants, aged between 13 and 18, will be working with Devon Youth Theatre's Artistic Director Erin Walcon and a skilled team at the Exeter Northcott to develop a professional piece of theatre culminating in two performances at the theatre on Saturday 24 August.

“We spent the first day creating mini devised pieces. Our young participants have looked into notions of trustworthyness, white lies and awkward truths. We’re so excited about what the rest of...

Open Day for largest Roman village ever found in Devon

An opportunity to experience the unfolding excavations at the largest Roman village ever found in Devon is open to members of the public on Sunday 18 August, at the site near Ipplepen in South Devon. The site is of tremendous importance and has produced excitement in the archaeological world and beyond. The systematic excavation of the site originally began in the summer of 2012. Previously unknown, the Romano-British site was discovered as a result of metal detected Roman coin found by Mr. Phillip Wills and Mr Dennis Hewings which was recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. A...

More than half of young people put apprenticeships as 'first choice'

New data from research company ICM reveals that 57% of young people in the South West would choose to do an Apprenticeship if one were available. Nationally, the numbers of young people who would like to do an Apprenticeship rises to 56% of those who are already university students and 66% of those who are already employed, but receiving no training. The increasing popularity of Apprenticeships among young people comes after previous business research, released earlier in 2013, showed that employers find apprentices 15% more employable than young people with other qualifications. In the...

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