Category: More News

NEW figures show that Oxfordshire schools are continuing to perform above national and regional averages in tKey Stage two SATS tests.

And once again, the girls are making more progress than the boys.

Results published yesterday show that the percentage of Oxfordshire pupils achieving the benchmark Level 4 in recent tests, is in line with or above the South East averages across the core subjects – English, Maths and Science – as well as the national averages.

At the higher attainment Level five, Oxfordshire schools significantly outperformed their regional and national counterparts in all three subjects.

BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS

81 per cent of pupils achieved the benchmark Level in four English, compared with 80 per cent both nationally and across the South East region

79 per cent achieved Level four in Maths and 88 per cent in Science – both equal to the regional and national average figures

32 per cent of pupils achieved Level five in English, compared with 31 per cent across the South East, and 28 per cent nationally

36 per cent achieved Level five in maths compared with a regional average of 35 and a national figure of 34 per cent

45 per cent attained Level five in Science in comparison with 44 across the South East and 43 per cent nationally

The percentage of pupils achieving Level four in both English and Maths was 72 per cent – in line with both regional and national averages

LONG TERM IMPROVEMENT

Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement today said that yesterday’s results confirm a gradual trend of improvement at Key Stage two over the past five years, with an overall two per cent increase in the numbers of pupils achieving Level four in both English and Maths since 2005.

GIRLS IMPROVING FASTER THAN BOYS

Figures for the last five years also show improvement in the performance of both girls and boys, with a two per cent increase in boys achieving Level four in English and Maths, and an impressive four per cent improvement for girls in the same category.

ON-GOING EFFORTS

Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Children, Young People and Families, Janet Tomlinson, said: “The general picture to emerge from these figures is very pleasing and staff and pupils at Oxfordshire’s schools are to be congratulated for their on-going efforts to raise standards.

“However, as we have said many times, we believe a county such as Oxfordshire should be setting its sights yet higher and we will continue both to support and challenge our schools to help them raise the bar in the coming years. We want to raise the achievement of all pupils across the county and help ensure they get the best possible start in life.”

WOULD you like to know more about what our local police officers have been doing to make Thame a safer place to live in and maintain our relatively low incidences of crime in the town?

ThameNews.Net will be meeting regularly with Thame’s Inspector, Martin Ford to find out, and this is the first of what will be a regular news bulletin of what our local police have been dealing with in the town recently.

If, after reading this bulletin, there are policing matters that you would like to comment on, feel free to email us via editor@thamenews.net.

OPERATION MAGMA

This special opereration was carried out between April and July this year, after a slight increase in ‘acquisitive’ crime in the area, which includes things like thefts from motor vehicles. As a result of a large team of plain-clothed and high-visibility officers patrolling South Oxfordshire, using stop check powers, pursuing known offenders and executing warrants at suspects? addresses, the result was a 5.3% drop in this type of offence compared to the same period last year.

Insp Martin Ford, who led the operation, said: “We are extremely pleased with the results from the operation. Our officers have been working extremely long hours to target prolific offenders and help keep levels of burglaries, robberies and auto crime low in the county.

“Our main aims were to disrupt criminal activity, arrest outstanding offenders and collect important intelligence. We want the small number of people who are responsible for most of the crime in South Oxfordshire to be aware that we are watching them.

“We want to reassure residents that we will pursue these prolific offenders until they are bought to justice. This operation has been specifically aimed to target our priority crime areas and now that the operation has finished our policing of these areas will continue.”

PATROLLING ‘HOT SPOTS’

Officers have increased visibility and patrols at local beauty spots where they have been spates of thefts from vehicles and thefts of vehicles themselves. The warning is not leave vehicles on view in vehicles including coats, which potential thieves may think are concealing valuables

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUPS

Local officers have been working with the Thame Neighbourhood Action Group to tackle local concerns, including speeding which is a top issue. Officers have been out on the local roads catching speeding drivers and those who use mobile phones whilst driving and others not wearing a seat belt. Number plate recognition devices have been used to trace car registration numbers to see if they are linked to know criminals or crimes.

DOMESTIC ABUSE

A new unit has been set up locally (1 in 10 relationships involve domestic abuse at some time). Specially trained officers will meet victims in a cafe or other neutral place and offer mediation and access to support groups and other advice. Call the Helpline 0800 731 0055

COUNTRY WATCH

Our local Community Officer and Wildlife Crime Officer, PC Russell Hounslow, has been involved in threats to local water vole habitats, hare coursing and Plant thefts and is currently organising a conference for local gamekeepers. Russell reports that illegal Traveller incursions are reducing in number in the district.

CCTV

CCTV cameras continue to aid the observation and evidence collecting for crimes and other incidents that occur in the town centre, and often help directly in bringing offenders to court.

FANCY getting fit in the outdoors in Thame? Are you an early riser? Lord Williams School and Nexus Community will be hosting a new health and fitness experience for residents in the Thame area – BootCamp fitness!

The sessions are lead by local personal trainer, George Anderson and his team – www.thamepersonaltraining.co.uk

If you are serious about getting fit and in shape, call the BootCamp Hotline on:
0800 8600 895 to reserve your place.

Beginning Monday August 17, 2009
Where: Outside! Lord Williams School play grounds next to Thame Leisure Centre
When: Mondays and Thursdays 6.30 – 7.30 am

Parking and shower facilities provided by Thame Leisure Centre.

GO Active (Get Oxfordshire Active) is a

FREE entry to Project Timescape, delicious cream teas and family fun and games; Something for everyone, every Sunday this summer! http://www.northmoortrust.co.uk

* Sunday 2nd August: 11am ? 3pm

Northmoor Trust Gifts from Nature

Drop in session – Make gifts with things found in nature. Take them home and give them to someone you love!

TEAM MCQUEEN, not the Disney characters from the film CARS, but local businessmen, Justin Shardlow and Adam Matthews, raised over a thousand pounds more than their original target for charity.

The pair arrived back safely in the UK, after eight gruelling days and 2,743 miles between Haddenham and Barcelona, to raise funds for the Florence Nightingale Hospice charity. Here’s part of their last posting on their website, where supporters were able to follow their progress:-

We made it!
We had a great time and the trip lived up to everything we hoped it would.

Having left Lille at 8am on Friday 3rd July, we made it to Barcelona just after 6pm on Monday 6th July.
Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we have raised a grand total of

ATTENTION Parents! GO Active – GO Cycling!
Join in with social and fun five mile cycle rides this summer?. And bring along your kids 14 years and older!

Three reasons to ride 5 miles:
1. Cycling exercises most of the muscles in your
legs and bum which will help you maintain a
healthy weight.

2. It?s a practical and cheaper way to keep fit ?
no MOT, insurance, fuel or parking costs!
3. 75% of all car journeys are less than five
miles. Switching short journeys from car to
bicycle will benefit your community. You’ll
be helping to reduce noise and air pollution
as well as traffic congestion.

Next dates for Go Active bike rides in Thame, July 29 and August 12, for Mums and Daughters! (14 years and older)
Start: Thame Leisure Centre Car Park

Time:
10am ? Start of bike checks
11am ? The ride will start on completion of bike checks.

Cost:

SPONSORED Tandem Sky Dive ? anytime! Do YOU fancy undertaking the tough challenge of jumping 12,000 feet out of an aeroplane in aid of Oxfordshire Mind?

Once you exit the aeroplane you will accelerate to 120 mph, covering each thousand feet in approximately five seconds! At 5,000 feet the instructor will deploy a square parachute so you can land softly and gently some four minutes later. To participate in this event, individuals need to pay a registration fee of just

A NEW cabinet has been unveiled at Oxfordshire County Council following the recent elections, with Councillor Keith Mitchell remaining as Leader of the authority and aiming to build upon Oxfordshire’s already established reputation as a world-class county and deal with issues on Oxfordshire’s horizon.

Mr Mitchell has appointed eight other people to join him in fulfilling decision-making cabinet roles for the 2009-2013 period. The cabinet is made up largely of people who held similar roles in the 2005-9 cabinet but there are some changes of responsibility.

New roles

Councillor Ian Hudspeth will take on a much wider role than his previous job of Cabinet Member for Transport. He will now be Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure. He will retain responsibility for high level transport issues such as Transform Oxford but will add sustainable development issues to his portfolio – including waste disposal.

Councillor Mitchell explained: “Future months will see Oxfordshire in a position where it is emerging from a period of recession. We need an experienced pair of hands to manage and oversee key issues linked to that and I have no doubt in my mind that Councillor Hudspeth is the man for that job.

Councillor Rodney Rose, who represents the Wychwood division and lives in West Oxfordshire, is the new member of the cabinet. He will take on the role of Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation, taking on other transport and development issues and working closely with Councillor Hudspeth.

Councillor David Robertson remains Deputy Leader of the County Council but will take on responsibilty from Councillor Mitchell for economy, tourism and skills. Councillor Robertson remains Cabinet Member with Responsibility for West Oxfordshire.

Councillor Mitchell will retain his role as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Oxford. He will also have responsibility for issues relating to breaking the cycle of deprivation in Oxfordshire.

He said: “We need to have a strong focus on deprived areas of Oxfordshire. We need to break the cycle of deprivation and reach out to make sure that all areas benefit from this county’s wealth and the underlying strength of its economy, both in the current trying times and in future.”

Councillor Charles Shouler retains the role of Cabinet Member for Finance. He took on the role in 2005 and the county council has recently been given the highest possible rating by the Audit Commission for its management of finance.

Councillor Michael Waine retains the role of Cabinet Member for School Improvement and will have responsibility for continuing the recent upward trend in examination results for the county’s youngsters. Councillor Louise Chapman remains in position as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat has been given a wider role than the one she had in the 2005-09 council. Her job will continue to include responsibility for the fire and rescue service, trading standards, emergeny planning and other community safety roles. However she will also now be responsible for cultural services such as museums, libraries, adult learning and the registration service. She will be Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities.

Councillor Jim Couchman formerly held responsibilities for the cultural services elements that have now been transferred to Councillor Heathcoat. However he retains his responsibility for adult social care and will be able to devote more time to this important area.

Strong team

Councillor Keith Mitchell, Oxfordshire County Council’s Leader, said: “The 2005-09 cabinet was a strong team and I needed very little change in terms of personnel. However I did want to change roles and responsibilities in line with changed circumstances.

“I have every confidence in the capabilities of every person who makes up the new cabinet and would like to welcome Councillor Rodney Rose to the county council’s decision making team. We move forward in to exciting times for Oxfordshire with the aim being to build upon this county’s world class reputation despite the difficult global economic situation.

“Our pledges are to protect the environment, provide opportunities for young people, provide quality facilities for older people, make it easier to get around Oxfordshire, support the local economy and freeze council tax under any new Conservative Government.”

20/07/09

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