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One-word Ofsted grades for schools to to be scrapped immediately

David Bratton
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One-word Ofsted grades for schools to to be scrapped immediately

One-word Ofsted judgements for state schools are being scrapped with immediate effect, the government has announced today.

They said the reductive single headline grades fail to provide a fair and accurate assessment of overall school performance across a range of areas.

For inspections this academic year, parents will see four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership & management.

This reform paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025, which will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement.

Recent data shows that reports cards are supported by 77% of parents across the UK.

The government said it will continue to intervene in poorly performing schools to ensure high school standards for children.

Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear. The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.

“Single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools. Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will provide.

“This government will make inspection a more powerful, more transparent tool for driving school improvement. We promised change, and now we are delivering.”

Today’s announcement follows work with the sector and family of headteacher Ruth Perry, after a coroner’s inquest found the Ofsted inspection process had contributed to her death.

The government said it will work closely with Ofsted and schools to ensure that the removal of headline grades is implemented smoothly.

New bus service to Calverton launched

Gedling Eye
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New bus service to Calverton launched

A new bus service was launched to serve residents in Calverton and surrounding villages over the weekend.

The new service is just one of a number of changes to services that were introduced over the weekend across Nottingham City Transport’s (NCT) network.

As well as a extended bus service, several bus numbers have also been changed across the borough.

Here are the changes impacting passengers across the borough.

Sky Blue 45

Sky Blue 45 will become Sky Blue 60.

There is no change to the route, but some early morning journeys on Mondays to Saturdays are re-timed.

NCT Said the renumbering of the service helps free up service numbers for future network opportunities.

Sky Blue 46, 47

Sky Blue 46 and 47 are replaced by new Sky Blue 61

Sky Blue 61

New Sky Blue 61 replaces Sky Blue 46, 47, which will also serve Calverton.

NCT said the current circular services have been prone to reliability issues and apologised to customers for the inconvenience and delays they’ve experienced.

New Sky Blue 61 will follow the same route in both directions, replacing the current circular arrangement that was in place. This simplifies the service in Woodborough, Lambley and along Spring Lane with buses to Nottingham picking up from the same stop all the time, instead of being on different sides of the road depending on the time of the day.

The new 60 and 61 route

All buses will operate from City to Mapperley, Mapperley Plains, Spring Lane, Gedling Country Park, Lambley, Woodborough and then to Calverton.

The extension to Calverton follows discussions with Nottinghamshire County Council and responds to customer requests for improved daily links between Lambley and Woodborough with Calverton.

Buses will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 90 minutes in the evenings and on Sunday daytimes.

In Calverton, buses will use Bonner Hill, right Bonner Lane, left Park Road, left Crookdole Lane, left Mansfield Lane to terminate at St Wilfrid’s Square. Buses will then return to Nottingham along left Main Street, right Bonner Hill.

Calverton will be covered by the £2 Single Fare cap and will also be in NCT’s Outer Zone, with Easyrider Further passes offering unlimited travel on Sky Blue 61 and all NCT buses in Nottingham for £28.30 a week or £102.50 a month (31 days).

The poorly used section of route along Bank Hill and Mapperley Plains (Travellers Rest, Coppice Road Top) will no longer be served.

David Astill, NCT’s Managing Director said: “Passenger numbers have bounced back to levels similar to pre-pandemic, and we are pleased to announce these further improvements which we hope will maintain the momentum in ridership growth that has occurred over the last three years.

“With these enhancements to the West Bridgford, Mapperley and Ilkeston Road services, we are again able to offer ‘turn up & go’ frequencies which we know our customers love. Our fantastic team of drivers on these routes look forward to welcoming aboard many new faces as well as our valued and familiar ones“ 

Zombie-style blades discovered by police at Carlton property

Emily Sanchez
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Zombie-style blades discovered by police at Carlton property

Two suspected ‘zombie-style’ blades have been discovered by police during a house visit in Carlton.

A sword and dagger with serrated edges were among a collection of weapons found in the property by police.

Both were believed to be so-called ‘zombie-style’ blades, which are set to become illegal in the UK later next month.  

These weapons are over eight inches long and have either a serrated edge, multiple holes in the blade, spikes, or more than two sharp points.

Response officers discovered the weapons – along with a samurai sword – while attending a house in Corsham Gardens around 5am on Thursday (29).

Police also seized a samurai sword from the same address which they were visiting in connection with reports of criminal damage.

Samurai swords are on the existing list of weapons that are illegal to be kept in private, under the Offensive Weapons Act.

The knives were found during a police visit to a property in Carlton (PHOTO: Adobe Stock)

Following the sword’s discovery, a 47-year-old man was subsequently charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

He was also charged with assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage, and using abusive language.  

The suspect is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on September 13.

Under the Offensive Weapons Act, zombie-style weapons will soon become illegal for anyone to keep in their homes or in another private place in the UK.

Amnesty

Ahead of the September 24 law change, a national initiative is currently underway to encourage people to hand these weapons in to the police.

Under the scheme, owners of these blades could receive financial compensation if they hand them in at one of five chosen police stations in Nottinghamshire.

After uncovering two weapons that could potentially qualify, police have now urged owners to take advantage of the initiative ahead of the law change.

Sergeant Joe Hunt, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “While they’re not currently illegal, it is now only a matter of time before some of the weapons we found in this incident are outlawed.  

“It is really important that owners of these ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes know that it will be a criminal offence to store them in private from 24 September.

“We would therefore encourage anyone who has these weapons to hand them in and make the most of the national scheme that is currently ongoing.

“As well as avoiding getting into trouble with the law, there is also the opportunity to be financially compensated in the process, so it really does seem like a no-brainer.

“Anyone wanting to take advantage of the initiative and hand these weapons over to the police should rest assured that this isn’t a trick, and they won’t get into trouble if they do so.”

‘God-send’ pavement dining licenses for bars and cafés to be made permanent across Gedling borough

Joe Locker (LDR Reporter)
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‘God-send’ pavement dining licenses for bars and cafés to be made permanent across Gedling borough

A Mapperley bar manager says pavement dining has been a “God-send” after the Government made it a permanent feature for high street businesses.

In July 2020 a law was created by the Government so businesses selling food and drink could apply to local councils for pavement licences.

The permission was originally granted to allow customers to safely dine outdoors at the height of the Covid pandemic.

The temporary measures were made under Business and Planning Act and were extended annually aftrer 2020 to continue to support food and drink businesses affected by the pandemic and later to help them diversify during the cost of living crisis.

These measures were made permanent as of March this year, under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Gedling Borough Council has now drawn up a policy under the law to make sure bars and cafés can effectively use pavements for al fresco dining and do so in a safe way.

Thomas Kitchingman, bar manager at the Wine Room and Nine Six Two in Mapperley, said the company had used a large area of the pavement in Woodborough Road for outdoor dining during the pandemic.

While the area they can use has since decreased in size, owing to nearby businesses also using the pavement, he described the rule as a “God-send”.

PICTURED: Gedling Borough Council civic centre in Arnot Hill Park

“It definitely helped,” Mr Kitchingman added.

“In the summer especially up in Mapperley it was a God-send to have that presence. Having that extra space was a good thing.”

Under the new law and Gedling Borough Council’s new policy, businesses may now be given permission to use pavements for al fresco (outdoor) dining for up to two years at a time.

Councils also have new powers to enforce any unlicensed or unsafe use.

At an Environment and Licensing Committee meeting on September 3 the council will approve the pavement licence policy, setting out charges for licences and how it will enforce breaches.

“Local authorities have been given new powers of enforcement and guidance as to how to implement these powers was published by the Government on April 2, 2024,” council documents say.

“These powers include revoking a licence for breach of conditions or the terms of the licence, misleading statements in an application or if it comes to light that there was a failure to display a notice of application on the premises.

“They also include amending licence conditions where there have been changes to the highway around the licensed area or if any health and safety issues have been raised during the period of the licence.

“The council can also refuse a licence if the area is not considered a suitable
area for a pavement licence for reasons such as accessibility and health and safety.”

The policy states the council will give a notice requiring any problem businesses to remove the furniture within a time frame, and if this is not complied with it can remove and store the furniture.

Any costs from storage will be charged to the business, and the council can refuse to return the furniture until the costs are paid.

If within three months the costs are not paid the council can dispose of the
furniture and retain the proceeds.

A new two-year licence will cost a business £290, a one-year licence will cost £260 and a renewal for two years will cost £118.

There will be a 14-day consultation period on any new licence, followed by a further 14-day determination period.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says: “This will provide much needed income for businesses and protect as many hospitality jobs as possible, particularly during times of increasing living costs.”

Stores buying stolen goods from serial shoplifters who ‘thieve to order’, say retail groups

Gedling Eye
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Stores buying stolen goods from serial shoplifters who ‘thieve to order’, say retail groups

Retail groups have claimed that UK stores are purchasing stolen goods from professional shop thieves who are stealing “to feed their addiction problems.”

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said its members were reporting a ‘high volume’ and ‘very brazen’ incidents of shoplifting over recent months.

The said it was mainly meat, cheese and alcohol items being taken from shelves.

Retailers have reported seeing their stolen products being sold via Facebook or Whatsapp groups, or locally.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said that other businesses, particularly smaller stores, were purchasing stolen items, and that shoplifters were stealing to order, with buyers turning a blind eye as to the origin of the goods.

He said: “What we are seeing is a higher volume of theft from the same people who are professional shop thieves, often doing it to feed addiction problems.

“What we are seeing is a higher volume of theft from the same people who are professional shop thieves, often doing it to feed addiction problems. “

“And how do they do that? Well, they re-sell the products. And so we think there probably is a stronger market for those resold products.

“And that is something that we have been observing and talking about for the last couple of years.”

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) said he is aware of criminal gangs getting involved in improving shoplifters ability to steal and dispose of the goods.

He also described hearing more cases in the past year of other stores buying the goods once they are stolen.

The ACS said 5.6 million incidents of shop theft were reported by its members over the past year, with half of the shoplifters being repeat offenders.

In the last year, convenience stores spent £339 million on crime prevention, such as CCTV, alarms and tagging, the ACS told PA.

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) spokesman said stolen goods were ending up in “unscrupulous” restaurants, on market stalls and online marketplaces.

They said: “It’s tough for retailers because they do report these crimes and there are processes they go through.

“But the police response is so low at the moment that unfortunately these crimes, aren’t treated with enough seriousness at the moment.

“These gangs realise they can get away with it.”

Stephanie Karte from Retailers Against Crime, added: “You’ll have your local offender who, unfortunately, nine times out of 10 has an addiction, whether that be alcohol, drugs and, at the end of the day, they’re stealing to feed their habit.

“Basically the items that they do steal, they’re getting money from that and then where’s the money going? It’s going to the drug dealer.

“So at the end of the day, when you think about it and all of these little things, it’s all really funding a more serious crime.”

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service share dramatic photos showing them tackling Colwick waste plant blaze

Gedling Eye
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Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service share dramatic photos showing them tackling Colwick waste plant blaze

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has shared a number of dramatic pictures showing them tackling a blaze at a waste management plant on Colwick Industrial Estate.

Crews were called to the Enva site, off Private Road Four, on the Colwick Industrial Estate at around 2am on Friday, August 30.

The incident has since been scaled down, with some crews having left the scene.

A firefighter damps down the blaze at the Enva site on Colwick Industrial Estate (PIC: Notts Fire & Rescue)
(PIC: Notts Fire & Rescue)
(PIC: Notts Fire & Rescue)
The Enva site on Colwick Industrial Estate was engulfed in flames overnight (IMAGE: Google)

Fire crews have been on the scene at the Enva site since 5 am.

A spokesman said: We have now scaled down this incident. A couple of appliances remain at the scene damping down and they will continue to do so for the next couple of hours.

Thank you for your patience whilst we have been dealing with this incident over night.’

MATCH REPORT: Garforth Town 3-1 Carlton Town

Gedling Eye
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MATCH REPORT: Garforth Town 3-1 Carlton Town

Report by JONATHAN HAND

A goal from Nat Watson was a mere consolation as Carlton Town went down 3-1 at Garforth Town.

As bad omens go – crashing the coach before you’ve left for the match is probably up there with the best or worst of them.  Carlton’s match day coach was involved in a minor collision with a very expensive looking range rover as the driver reversed into the Millers Barn car park to collect the players on Bank Holiday Monday.  Thankfully, no one was hurt and the rest of the sixty-eight-mile journey up to Yorkshire passed without further incident.

Carlton went into the game on the back of a thumping  5-1 home win on Saturday against Bishop Auckland while Garforth were boasting an unbeaten start to their league season.  Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey made one change to the team that thrashed the Bishops with Alex Howes replacing Niall Hylton who was unavailable.  The ever-popular Greg Tempest made an unexpected return to the match day squad, much to the delight of the Millers Faithful.

This was Carlton’s first trip to Garforth since Dean Gent’s last gasp winner on the final day of the season secured promotion to step 4 back in 2007.  But the second bad omen of the day came within a minute of kick off when the versatile Khyle Sargent limped off with a hamstring strain following an innocuous challenge.  Jonny Gilbert was the early replacement.

Carlton probably had the better of the early exchanges and had a decent chance when Lamin Manneh poked the ball through for Jack Newall but the covering defender did well to clear the ball for a corner as the on-loan striker bared down on goal. Unfortunately, no one could get on the end of Manneh’s dangerous delivery from the resultant corner.

As the first half progressed it became apparent that Garforth’s game plan was to get the ball out wide left whenever possible to Mo Fadera and both Dean Freeman and Michael Ford were booked in close succession for fouls on the tricky winger.

The home side took the lead in the 20th minute in fortuitous circumstances. An attempted clearance by Lewis Durow struck the midriff of an opposition player and fell perfectly for Charlie Marshall who tucked his goal away confidently despite the best efforts of the on-rushing Felix Annan.  While the Millers may have felt unfortunate to find themselves a goal behind at that point in the game they probably went in at half-time glad that they were only one nil down. The home side were clearly buoyed to have taken the lead and could have scored more had it not been for a number of decent defensive blocks by the Carlton Town rearguard.

Carlton found themselves 2-0 down soon after the restart and predictably Fadera was at the heart of things. The youngster picked the ball up on the wide left and produced a pinpoint ball into the centre of the Millers box for Marshall to tuck away his second goal of the day.

Carlton continued to work hard but struggled to create any chances of note with stray passing being a theme of the day.

The home side extended their lead on the 75th minute when another excellent delivery from Fadera found substitute James Burgess on the edge of the box. The striker took a touch before placing the ball into the bottom right-hand post just out of reach of Annan.

Carlton pulled a goal back almost immediately when a long throw into the box by Durow was flicked on by Freeman. Watson scored with the outside of his boot when a Garforth defender failed to make contact with an attempted clearance.  Unfortunately, hopes of a dramatic comeback were all but dashed moments later when Lewis Durow was deservedly red carded for wildly kicking out at Garforth substitute Rinor Ejupi.  While the left back was clearly aggrieved that the referee failed to spot that he had been struck by a stray elbow from the opposition player there is absolutely no excuse for his impetuous behaviour.

Carlton’s 10 men did manage to create another great chance in injury time when substitute Zac Hill put Newall through one on one with the keeper.  However, the young striker’s effort struck the outside of the post before going safely behind.

If this is to be the last time that the Carlton fans get the opportunity to watch Newall representing the Millers all involved with the club would want to thank him for his efforts over the last four weeks.  His three goals in four starts have been invaluable and he looks like a natural goal scorer. Jack is a lovely lad from a lovely family and if he does return to Burton Albion, I’m sure that the Carlton faithful will be keeping a close eye on his career as he makes his way through the football world.

In truth Carlton were well beaten on the day having struggled to deal with the pace, trickery and delivery of Fadera. It therefore came as a surprise to no one that the recipient of the Garforth Town sponsor’s man of the match award was the left back. The Millers will be looking to bounce back on Saturday when they host Stamford in the FA Cup at Stoke Lane.

Carlton Town: F Annan, M Ford (S Thompson-Harris 52), L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, K Sargent (J Gilbert 4 (L Marfo 60)), N Davie (G Tempest 59), N Watson, J Newall, A Howes (Z Hill 70), L Manneh.

Goals: Nat Watson 77; Charlie Marshall 20, 50, James Burgess 75

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOM – Nat Watson

Attendance: 321

Health bosses call for regional crackdown on illegal sale of vapes to under 18s

Gedling Eye
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Health bosses call for regional crackdown on illegal sale of vapes to under 18s

Public health officials from across the East Midlands want a regional crackdown on the “concerning” and “inappropriate” illegal sale and marketing of vapes to under 18s.

An official joint statement on vaping, endorsed by the Association of Directors of Public Health for the East Midlands (including Derby and Derbyshire), along with each council’s tobacco control lead, is clear: “For people who smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape.”

The statement, which is now in the process of being endorsed by each of the East Midlands councils, with Derby City Council to discuss it next week, details: “Though not risk free, vaping is considerably safer than smoking. As such, smokers across the East Midlands are encouraged to switch to vaping to reduce the harm from combustible tobacco. 

“E-cigarettes are an effective stop smoking aid, especially when combined with behavioural support. 

“Smokers who want to switch to vaping (to quit) are encouraged to do so with the help of their local stop smoking service.

“E-cigarettes are an age restricted product, and we are against inappropriate marketing practices that promote them to under 18’s. 

vaper
Health chiefs said Trading Standards should be given the tools necessary to undertake enforcement work and other measures to protect children and young people across the East Midlands

“Trading Standards should be given the tools necessary to undertake enforcement work and other measures to protect children and young people across the East Midlands.

“E-cigarettes are not for children, and their use should be reserved exclusively for adult smokers. 

“The increase in youth vaping is concerning, and public health teams across the East Midlands should continue to monitor the situation. 

“Furthermore, those working in trading standards, and education settings, should be supported in addressing this issue.

“There is currently insufficient evidence to assess whether vaping is safe during pregnancy, however, the harms of tobacco smoking are well known and all pregnant women who smoke should be supported to quit. 

“The current consensus is that pregnant women who want to switch to vaping (to quit) should not be discouraged from doing so providing they understand that e-cigarettes are not medically licensed.”

Dr Robyn Dewis, director of public health at Derby City Council, had said: “It is illegal to sell vapes to children and marketing vapes to young people is totally unacceptable.

“I am very concerned that current disposable vape products, with bright colours and sweet-like flavours, are particularly attractive to young people.

The Association of Directors of Public Health for the East Midlands includes: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland and West Northamptonshire.

Papplewick and Ravenshead to feature in national TV coverage of Tour of Britain bike race

Emily Sanchez
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Papplewick and Ravenshead to feature in national TV coverage of Tour of Britain bike race

ITV4 will broadcast live coverage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain when it visits Gedling borough on September 6th.

All the action from this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men will once again be broadcast live on ITV4, with flag-to-flag coverage of all six stages of Britain’s national tour for the seventh consecutive year.

Joining presenter Matt Barbet will be ITV’s commentary duo of Ned Boulting and David Millar, as ITV4 broadcasts live coverage of the UK’s biggest professional cycle race for the 12th year, and the 16th edition in total that has been televised by the channel.

Coverage gets underway with stage one in Kelso and the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September, going live at 10:15, with the likes of double Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel, double world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe (both Soudal Quick-Step) and Olympic mountain biking star Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) all confirmed to participate.

Stage four of the event sees the cyclists race from Derby to Newark-on-Trent on Friday September 6th with a route that passes through Papplewick and Ravenshead.

In addition to the free-to-air live coverage on ITV4, viewers will also be able to catch a one-hour highlights programme each evening on the same channel, with live coverage and highlights also available on demand via ITVX.

Commenting on the news, Jonathan Day, managing director of British Cycling Events, said: “Bringing the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men to as many people as possible whether at the roadside or at home on television, is of huge importance to us.

“We’re delighted to once again have full live free to air coverage of every stage, and with the riders announced so far we know it will be one to remember so fans can look forward to six exciting days of action.”

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September followed by stages in the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of action-packed racing.

Gedling borough breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, August 29)

Gedling Eye
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Gedling borough breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, August 29)

Hello, and welcome to Gedling Eye’s live blog for Thursday, August 29.

We will be bringing you all of the latest news from across Gedling borough – whether you’re on the move, at home or at work – as well as the latest traffic and travel.

We will also be keeping you informed of major news stories from the UK and overseas. Contribute to the live blog and share the news that’s breaking in your area by posting your comments below.

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