schools

Devon schools above national average on exams

Pupils in Devon schools are doing better than their colleagues in tests right through their primary and secondary careers.

New figures released by Devon County Council show that local children are beating the national and regional averages in tests in every single phase of compulsory education.

In Early Years, 68 per cent of children in Devon are achieving a good level of development compared to 60 per cent nationally and 62 per cent regionally.

This places Devon in the top ten of local authorities throughout the country, according to research by University College...

Devon schools save energy thanks to behaviour change programme

Forty-three Devon schools have recently completed an energy education scheme, organised by Devon County Council in partnership with Resource Futures, resulting in some impressive savings.

Since September 2012, 1,757 pupils and 133 staff from schools across the county have undertaken whole school campaigns.

For the schools that completed the project in the spring and summer terms, 2014, eight schools have seen reductions of at least 15% on their energy use during the campaign. A further six schools lowered electricity consumption by 5 -15% during the campaign.

The...

Grants available for Devon schools

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 10/06/2014 - 10:52am

Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available for schools in Devon to develop creative and engaging learning experiences that will develop students skills in enterprise and innovation.

Devon County Council's Enterprise in Schools Grant (EiSG) programme is open to state funded and primary schools benefitting Year 6 pupils and above.

The grant scheme follows on from a pilot scheme launched at the beginning of the year which saw five Devon schools receive a programme of entrepreneurial learning activities.

Applications must focus on entrepreneurship and enterprise...

Schoolchildren flock back to Farm Wise event

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 10/06/2014 - 10:41am

Based on the enormous success of last years ‘Farm wise’, Devon County Council farm tenants and primary school children will once again come together for an event designed to take children on the food journey from field to plate.

Approximately 1,400 children from nearly 30 primary and special schools from across Devon will attend the event on Tuesday 14 October, at the Westpoint Arena near Exeter.

The County Council-arranged event, ‘Farm Wise Devon’, will show young people how food and drink is produced on Devon’s farms, with practical demonstrations from 12 council tenant...

Expansion plan for city primary

A £1.8 million expansion plan for an Exeter primary school is set to be given the go ahead next week.

The plan is for St Leonard’s C of E Primary School to expand from 420 children to 630 places by September next year.

This would entail the construction of a new single-storey, six classroom teaching block on the school site off Topsham Road.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet meets next Wednesday (8 October) to discuss the project which it is being recommended to approve.

Devon’s Cabinet member for schools, James McInnes, said: “We have already invested £9...

Record breaking results for Exeter School

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:00pm

Exeter School pupils, parents and staff are celebrating a record year for A Level results with an overall pass rate of 100% for the eleventh year in a row.

24% of all grades were A*, a record 66% of grades were either A* or A and a record 89% of all grades were A*, A or B.

41 pupils - almost half of Exeter School's Upper Sixth - achieved more than three A*/A grades this summer.

Among the high achievers, there were five who secured four A* grades each.

These top scorers are Jonty Bradley-Thrush (Maths at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge), Gwyneth Everson...

Success for Rokk Media at Big Bang South West 2014

Authored by RokkMedia
Posted: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:15pm

The South West’s leading scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians were recently brought together for the Big Bang South West 2014 Fair, held at the University of Exeter on Thursday the 26th June 2014.

Designed to provide an innovative careers event, the fair aimed to introduce young students to the wide variety of careers available across Scientific, Engineering and Mathematical disciplines. The young technologists and scientists of the future were treated to an enjoyable day featuring elements of theatre blended with immersive learning experiences.

The fair...

Teacher who was drunk in school can return

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Wed, 06/04/2014 - 3:33pm

A Devon teacher who was drunk on school premises is free to return to the classroom after a professional conduct panel decided a teaching ban would not be “appropriate”.

In May a Professional Conduct Panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) found that while Gillian Mary Brunt, a former teacher at Tavistock College, "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession" they believed a prohibition order banning her from teaching “would not be an appropriate and proportionate response.”

The incident occured on 12 July 2013 when 52–year-...

Trust closure concerns for Devon Schools

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 05/20/2014 - 4:02pm

Three Devon academies will need new financial sponsorship after the Department of Education (DfE) confirmed the closue of the Prospects Academy Trust. The DfE has confirmed that the government are seeking new sponsors for six schools including three in Devon after the Prospects Academy Trust will became the first academies chain to close its doors. In total the chain operates six schools including Paignton Community & Sports Academy (PCSA) as well as the Curledge Street and King's Ash primary schools both also in Paignton In a letter to parents the principal of PCSA, Jane English...

Exeter School cadet wins Jack Sadler award

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 05/06/2014 - 3:10pm

An Exeter School Senior Royal Navy cadet has been awarded the Jack Sadler Award for outstanding contribution to the combined cadet force contingent (CCF).

Cox'n and Deputy Head Girl Tilly Gilbert was presented with the brass trophy of an artillery shell case and an engraved medal during the biennial inspection by Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, who is Commandant of all Air Cadets in UK.

The trophy is a permanent memorial to former Exeter School pupil and senior cadet Jack Sadler, who was killed in Afghanistan on 4 December 2007, halfway through a six-month tour as a trooper...

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