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Simon Lebus CBE

A new chapter for Exeter based Sparx Learning: Chair Simon Lebus CBE steps down as Sir Charlie Mayfield appointed

Sparx Learning , the Exeter-based education technology company, has announced that Sir Charlie Mayfield will become Chair in October 2025. He will succeed Simon Lebus CBE who is stepping down after six years of transformative leadership.

Since becoming Chair in 2019, Simon Lebus has overseen a period of remarkable growth and strategic progress at Sparx. At the start of his tenure, the company served just 14 schools in Devon. Today, Sparx’s platforms support over 2.4 million students in 2,600 schools, including almost 50 in Devon, across mathematics, literacy and science.

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£1.5m to train tomorrow’s scientists and engineers

The Government is investing £1.5 million in the University of Exeter, to train the next generation of innovators in physical science subjects.

The cash boost will contribute towards funding up to 22 additional PhD studentships, offering sector-leading training and development alongside Exeter’s outstanding facilities and resources. The studentships will be within the key discipline areas of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

The money has come via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and is part of a £167 million investment...

Saving and sharing surplus food in Exeter

Exeter Food Action (EFA) is the city’s project for the Devon and Cornwall Food Association, which aims to prevent good food from going to waste.

Through volunteers it collects or receives produce from retailers and suppliers and then redistributes this to local charities and communities in the Exeter area.

In 2015 over 25,000 kilos of surplus food was diverted from landfill or incineration and benefitted community groups to the sum of £71,000. In addition, it saved 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Recipient groups in the city include St. Petrock’s Centre, St....

M5 crashes cause traffic chaos

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:29pm

Motorists faced delays on the M5 in Devon this morning (2 March), following a number of crashes.

The road was gridlocked on the north-bound carriageway between Junction 29, A30 (Exeter) and Junction 28, A373 (Cullompton).

Witness Drew Aspinwall told the Daily a number of emergency vehicles were in attendance and that the scene was chaotic.

The crashes happened as Exeter was lashed by heavy rain, hail and strong winds.

There were no injuries reported and traffic flow had returned to normal by noon.

Gusts of more than 45mph are forecast for later today...

More Devon children get their first choice secondary

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/02/2016 - 12:20pm

More Devon children have been offered a place at their first choice secondary school for this September.

97.6 per cent of the families who applied to Devon County Council have been offered their first choice school compared to 94 per cent for last year.

It means Devon County Council has bucked the downward trend in many parts of the country.

In all, 99.5 per cent of applicants were offered one of their three preferences compared with 97 per cent in 2015.

The county council received 6,706 applicants from Devon pupils for a place at secondary school in...

Record demand for South Devon Visitor guide

Visit South Devon’s newly available 2016 visitor’s guide is flying off the shelves following record levels of requests from visitors across the country. Figures released today reveal that demand up to the end of January alone was up 36% on the same period of 2015, and requests levels remain strong in February.

Jammed full of information on places to stay, events to attend, things to do, beaches, walks, festivals and guides to every major town and tourism destination in South Devon, the free guide has been designed to encourage visitor numbers year-round.

Available...

Multi-vehicle accident on the M5

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/02/2016 - 10:02am

The M5 is currently gridlocked on the north-bound carriageway between Junction 29, A30 (Exeter) and Junction 28, A373 (Cullompton) because of a multi-vehicle accident.

Witness Drew Aspinwall told the Daily a number of emergency vehicles were in attendance and that the scene was chaotic.

The crash happened as Exeter was lashed by heavy rain, hail and strong winds.

Gusts of more than 45mph are forecast for later today and with more wet weather also expected. Drivers are being warned to take extra caution.

A spokesman for the AA said: " Driving in wet...

Review into complicated T&Cs

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/02/2016 - 8:28am

Complicated and extensive Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) that customers face, or all too often choose to ignore, are being reviewed by the government.

In September 2015, Which? carried out research that looked at the terms and conditions for car and travel insurance. Some of the longest were over 38,000 words, longer than Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is asking consumers who have experienced issues when consulting their terms and conditions to respond to the Call for Evidence.

In addition to this,...

Nominate your Stagecoach customer service champion

Stagecoach Group has launched its 2016 Champions Awards for employees – and is inviting bus and coach passengers in the South West to nominate their favourite member of staff for the Customer Service Champions Award.

This is the seventh year of the company’s Group-wide Champions Awards which recognise staff achievements in a number of categories including safety, environment, health, innovation, community and customer service.

The awards are open to employees across Stagecoach’s bus and rail operations in the UK and North America.and around 120 staff members have been...

Cranbrook wins NHS 'Healthy New Town' bid

Cranbrook in Devon has won a bid to be an NHS “healthy new town” to help residents lead healthier lives.

One of 10 across the country, the developing eco-town will test creative solutions for the physical and mental health challenges of the 21st century, including obesity, dementia and community cohesion.

NHS England is bringing together renowned clinicians, designers and technology experts to join-up design of the built environment with modern health and care services.

Initiatives being considered for Cranbrook, which will eventually have 8,000 homes, include:...

Citizens Advice Exeter provides first class service

An audit by national Citizens Advice says that the independent Exeter charity is providing very good advice to its diverse range of clients.

The audit, in November 2015, rated the quality of advice provided by the charity as ‘very good’. In addition, the charity passed an organisational audit in January with flying colours.

Dennis Mardon, Chairman of Citizens Advice Exeter, said: “This is a real endorsement of the work that we do and we are very pleased with the result. It shows that you can be confident of getting good advice from Citizens Advice Exeter. I would like to...

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