education

It is so sad to hear of the potential demise of St Margaret’s School; sad for the Staff; sad for the pupils; sad for the parents. But, can you balance commercialism with upbringing – financial figures with academic statistics – results with manners? If you cannot, then the future of St Margaret’s has been written in the sand years ago.

As a father of three St Margaret’s daughters who are enjoying successful careers and lives after school and the husband of a former pupil and long standing teacher at the school, I can tell you without fear of contradiction – St Margaret’s stands for...

The governors of West Exe Technology College have appointed acting head Vicki Carah as the school’s permanent new headteacher.

Mrs Carah was one of six candidates for the post who were interviewed in a three-day process. She has been acting head since last summer.

Chair of Governors Peter Scott said: “We were extremely pleased by the quality and calibre of candidates.

“A rigorous and transparent interview process, over three days, culminated in the decision to appoint Vicki by the panel of seven governors.

“The panel had tough and challenging decisions to...

Devon and Cornwall Police have developed a safe internet training course for primary schools in Exeter.

The course guides attendees through the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) ‘think U know?’ suite of activities for children.

Community safety officer Julia Watton says, “With the internet being used for every aspect of our lives, it’s imperative that children are educated in its uses and safeguarded from its dangers”.

Some of Exeter’s primary schools already have specific teachers trained in this area, but the local policing team wants to offer...

A new specialist maths Free School approved by Education Secretary Michael Gove will be a regional centre of excellence preparing students for rigorous degrees.

Equality South West has said it is "unacceptable" for academies to pick and choose pupils.

A report, released today by the Academies Commission, reveals evidence that some academies secretly attempt to select and exclude pupils.

ESW's Colette Bennett said: "If academies are picking and choosing their students , then the potential for discrimination is huge. Even if it is unintentional, things such as unconscious bias may lead to children being excluded on the basis of their or their parents' skin colour, their religion or the fact that they are disabled or gay.

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Staff and pupils at a Newton Abbot primary are beginning the New Year with a double celebration after education inspectors judged that every aspect of school life was good or better.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary was judged satisfactory by education inspectors in 2009. But now every aspect of life at the 120-pupil school is good or better. That improvement has come at a time when school inspectors have been getting tougher with their judgements and they say St Joseph’s is set to get even better.

The school is also celebrating a new partnership with St John the Baptist...

The custom of making resolutions for the New Year goes back to the Medieval period. As the year end approaches, a University of Exeter historian has shed light on how the future was predicted centuries ago.

The research shows how the Christian clergy supported agricultural superstitions but condemned what they perceived as magic rituals. The day of the week on which Christmas or New Year fell was used as an indicator to tell how the year would turn out.

According to one set of predictions, if Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, then Lent would be windy, summer would be dry,...

The systematic creation of new and better apprenticeships was cited as one of the key pillars of a fundamentally better economy and better society by Andrew Adonis, labour peer and former education minister and transport secretary in a visit to a local further education college last week.

Lord Adonis – noted for his controversial support for Michael Gove and academies – was opening Exeter College's new £8.5million pound Technology Centre in front of business and education partners as well as staff and students and he was critical of the role the public sector and his own former...

Playing teams such as Fulham, Tottenham and Chelsea every week sounds like the stuff of footballing dreams - but thanks to an education programme being delivered by Exeter City’s Football in the Community Trust, in partnership with Teignmouth Community School, that’s exactly the sides Exeter City’s Development Squad are meeting each Wednesday.

The Trust created its first Development Squad this season and entered the English Colleges Football Association Premier League/Football League Division. The league includes high-profile teams such as Tottenham, Watford, Birmingham and Chelsea...

For some youngsters, their experience of school can put them off the idea of further education after GCSEs altogether - even if they have the ability to progress their academic studies.

Now Exeter City FC is offering an exciting new opportunity for 16 and 17 year olds - male and female - to pursue a Futsal and Education scholarship with the club, allowing youngsters to study a Level 3 BTEC diploma as well as playing futsal.

The club is aiming to encourage youngsters to remain engaged with education by running this fully accredited Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in...