Coventry councillor raises concern over city's archive clear out
Speaking at a Coventry City Council housing and communities meeting Ms Nugent said this type of clear-out was normal. She explained that a review of their collection "had not really been done before". However, Mr Bailey said he wanted to protect "anything with the word Coventry on it."There are reasons why you don't think they are relevant and I get that, but there are a number of plates with the coat of arms on and I think those sorts of things are important," he said. Mr Bailey said it was a "shame" the items would not be used to create a scene of historical Coventry. "If it has the word Coventry on, even if it's not in good condition, I have a problem with it going," he said. "They are hard enough pieces to find, especially bottles and plates."This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
A-level top grades reach record high outside of Covid years
The proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year, remaining above pre-pandemic highs, national figures show. Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their exam results on Thursday, with many finding out if they would progress to university, an apprenticeship or work. More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.5 percentage points on last year, when 27.8% achieved the top grades. This was higher than in 2019, the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic, when 25.4% of entries were awarded A or A* grades. It is the highest proportion of entries scoring top grades outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22, according to the figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Boys have outperformed girls in terms of top grades for the first time in seven years. The proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has also risen, by 0.1 percentage points to 9.4%, compared to 9.3% in 2024, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7% in 2019. The overall pass rate – the proportion of entries graded A* to E – has also risen to 97.5% this year, which is up on last year (97.2%) and the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (97.6%). Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator of Ofqual, England's exams regulator, told the PA news agency that the standard of work required to achieve grades has 'held constant' since 2023. He said any changes were because a 'smaller, smarter cohort' of students had sat their A-level exams this year compared to previous years. In an interview with PA about the A-level results, Sir Ian said: 'Students this year have got the grades they deserve, and their grade will hold its value over time because it represents a stable standard of achievement.' The Covid-19 pandemic led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams. This cohort of school and college leavers received their GCSE results in 2023, the first year that grading was returned to pre-pandemic levels in England. In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators returned to pre-pandemic grading in 2024, a year later than in England. The Ofqual chief said this year's cohort in England was smaller because 'fewer students met the bar' to begin A-level courses two years ago, when GCSE grading was returned to normal. Sir Ian added: 'So it is a smaller cohort and, judged in terms of GCSE attainment, it's a higher-achieving cohort than has been the case for the past few years.' The number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen to a record high, Ucas figures show. For 18-year-olds in the UK, 255,130 applicants have been accepted on to a university or college course – up 4.7% on last year. Overall, 82% of UK 18-year-old applicants awaiting a decision on results day secured their first choice – which was the same proportion as last year. In England, 11,909 students received their T-level results in the fourth year that the qualification has been awarded and 91.4% achieved at least a pass. The number of T-level entries has increased by 61.4% on last year, while the number of A-level entries has fallen by 0.5% compared to 2024. Overall, 28.4% of boys' A-level entries scored an A* or A this summer, compared to 28.2% of their female classmates' entries – a gap of 0.2 percentage points. The last time boys had a lead was in 2018. Last year, girls were ahead with 28.0% of entries scoring at least an A, compared to 27.6% of those from boys, the latest figures show. Students who are receiving their A-level, T-level and Level 3 vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results were in Year 8 when schools closed because of the pandemic. Education leaders have warned of 'stark' divides in results between different regions because of the legacy of Covid-19 and socio-economic factors. The latest Ofqual figures show wide regional differences in outcomes, with the North East the only region in England to see a drop in the proportion of top grades down on last year and 2019. Jill Duffy, chairwoman of JCQ board of directors and chief executive of the OCR exam board, said: 'Regional inequalities are getting worse, not better. 'The gap at top grades (A*-A) has grown again. London is once again the top performing region and is now 9.2 percentage points ahead of the North East.' She added: 'These regional inequalities need more attention.' The statistics show interest in A-level maths has soared in the last decade, with entries for the subject up by more than a fifth (21.7%) in the last 10 years. But there is a clear gender divide, with boys significantly more likely to choose the subject than girls. There were 70,255 boys' entries for A-level maths this year, compared to 41,883 girls' entries – both up on 2024. Ms Duffy added: 'There are still significantly fewer girls taking A-level maths, and proportionally there are fewer girls taking the subject than in 2019.' More than 250,000 Level 3 VTQ results have also been awarded to UK students by the JCQ this year. On the increase in top A-level grades, Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'This is testament to the hard work of teachers and students in often very challenging circumstances. 'However, we continue to see big differences in attainment between regions, reflecting socioeconomic factors which represent a massive challenge, not only for the education sector but our society as a whole. 'We have to stop merely talking about these issues and actually address them with investment in communities suffering from generational disadvantage.' Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said there has been a 'steadying of the ship' after the disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said: 'These are young people who have not had disruption in recent times, but have had the full normal assessment process. 'So, this is a normal year, the kind of year that we would have seen before the pandemic hit.' Scotland has a different qualification system and students received their results on Tuesday last week. Figures released by the Scottish Qualifications Authority showed 78.4% of those sitting National 5 exams passed with grades A to C – up from 77.2% last year. For Highers, 75.9% passed with the top bands, up from 74.9% last year, and for Advanced Highers 76.7% of students achieved A to C grades, up from 75.3% last year.
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ucas Clearing 2025: How it works and what to do if you don't get A-level grades you wanted
Hundreds of thousands of students will get their A-level results today, finding out their final grades after two years of hard work. For those students who have applied for university, these results will determine whether they will secure their preferred university choice, the insurance choice or if they have unfortunately missed out on them. If this is the case, there are many options still available. The most important to know is clearing: the process by which students can still get themselves onto a great university course at short notice. There are over 30,000 courses available through clearing, giving around 74,000 students a space to study last year alone. These courses span across the UK, include many subjects and are available at both Russell Group and non-Russell Group universities. Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers. Students who have changed their minds about what or where they wish to study can also use clearing. Here's everything you need to know about clearing ahead of results day: When do A-level results come out? A-level results day for this year will be on Thursday 14 August. When can I pick up my results? Results can be picked up from schools and further education colleges any time after 8am on results day. However, you'll need to find out the exact times from your school as these may vary. What do I do if I get the grades I did not want? If the grades you received are not what you had in mind, there are plenty of options available for you. The first thing students are advised to do is to speak to a teacher or adviser who will be able to assist with exploring options and next steps. Here are a few other options according to Ucas: Speak to the university or college as they may be flexible especially if you narrowly missed your offer. Appeal your grade. Ucas has said you should discuss this with your school or college but it should not stop you from researching opportunities in clearing. Apply through clearing. Explore apprenticeships. You can find out more on the Ucas apprenticeship hub. Consider other options such as a gap year or going straight into the working world. How does clearing work? Clearing matches applicants to university spots that have not been filled yet and is available to anyone who has applied via the Ucas Undergraduate application and does not yet have any offers. Clearing runs from 8 July to 18 October and you are eligible if: If you are applying after 30 June If you did not receive any offers or none you wanted to accept If you did not meet the conditions of your offer If you've paid the multiple choice application fee of £26.50 If you have declined your firm place using the 'decline my place' option on the application 'Courses in Clearing aren't just the ones nobody wants – there are many reasons why courses are still available. It's an opportunity for those who have missed their conditions, or had a last-minute change of heart about the university or course they want to study,' Ucas says. How do I use clearing? The best place to start would be to check if there are any vacancies available via the Ucas website. In the search tab, you can enter the course of your choice, study level and entry year. After you have found the course you want to apply to, you should give the university of your choice a call to see if you meet its entry requirement and if there are still spots available. If the university gives you an offer and you wish to accept it, you can add the clearing choice to your application. This can be done by clicking 'Add Clearing Choice' and filling in the course details by the date the university gave you on the phone. Applicants can only add one choice at a time, but the Ucas website has said 'If the university/college doesn't confirm your place, you'll be able to add another.' Students that only applied for one choice in their original application will need to pay an additional £4.50 to go through Clearing. How should I contact universities? Guidance from the University of Sussex (UoS) shines some light on the best way students can approach universities when looking for a clearing space: Prepare what you can in advance: Students should have a shortlist and alternatives when browsing university clearing sites. 'If you have a shortlist of alternative universities to contact, it may help you save time on the day,' UoS says. Check entry requirements: For all universities, you should check if you meet the entry requirements. This can be found on each institutions website. Make sure you have important information at hand: You will need your Ucas ID number as it will be the first thing you might be asked for when contacting universities. UoS says you should also 'say the course or subject area you are interested in (if you have the course code, that's even better) and the grades you have achieved. If you're an international student, you may also need your English language qualification.' You will also need to provide your name, date of birth and potentially your email address and phone number. Take notes: It is important to write down any important information given to you. If given an offer, applicants will receive an email that will explain when the offer should be accepted. Be positive: It's important to keep a positive mindset during this process. 'Try to stay calm so that you can listen carefully to what you are being told. If you are feeling upset about your grades, it may be better to wait until you are ready to talk,' UoS says.
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Record gap in A-level top grades between London and north-east England
The gap between the proportion of A-level entries in London awarded the highest grades and those in north-east England is at its widest since the current system of grading was introduced, the 2025 exam figures show. Some 32.1% of entries in the capital were awarded A or A* this year, the highest for any region in England and up from 31.3% in 2024. By contrast, north-east England had the lowest regional percentage this year at 22.9%, down from 23.9% in 2024. The gap between these two regions now stands at 9.2 percentage points, up from 7.4 points last year and the largest since the present system of grading began in 2010, according to analysis by the PA news agency. North-east England is one of just two regions to see a year-on-year drop in entries receiving top grades, the other being West Midlands (down from 24.8% to 24.2%). It is also the only region where the proportion of entries awarded A or A* this year, 22.9%, is lower than the equivalent figure in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (23.0%). For entries receiving the top grade of A*, London again had the highest proportion (11.6%, up from 11.3%) and north-east England the lowest (6.8%, down from 7.8%). The gap here of 4.8 percentage points is wider than in 2024 (3.5 points) but not as large as during the pandemic, when it reached 6.8 points in 2021. North-east England and the West Midlands are the only regions to see a year-on-year fall in entries receiving A*. By contrast, all regions reported a year-on-year increase in the proportion of entries awarded a grade C or higher, with London and south-east England almost tied on the highest percentage (79.54% and 79.45% respectively) and the East Midlands having the lowest (73.6%). At a national level, 30.4% of entries in Northern Ireland received A or A*, higher than the equivalent figure for Wales (29.5%) and England (28.2%). For entries awarded C or above, Northern Ireland was ahead at 85.8%, above England (77.7%) and Wales (77.2%). Here are the percentages of A-level entries awarded the top grade of A* by nation and region in 2025, with the equivalent figures for both 2024 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019: – North-east England 6.8% (2024: 7.8%; 2019: 6.7%)– North-west England 8.3% (2024: 8.0%; 2019: 6.9%)– Yorkshire & the Humber 7.7% (2024: 7.4%; 2019: 6.5%)– West Midlands 7.4% (2024: 7.9%; 2019: 6.3%)– East Midlands 7.4% (2024: 6.8%; 2019: 5.8%)– Eastern England 9.3% (2024: 9.1%; 2019: 7.9%)– South-west England 8.9% (2024: 8.8; 2019: 8.0%)– South-east England 11.0% (2024: 10.9%; 2019: 9.0%)– London 11.6% (2024: 11.3%; 2019: 8.7%)– England 9.4% (2024: 9.3%; 2019: 7.7%)– Wales 10.5% (2024: 10.1%; 2019: 8.9%)– Northern Ireland 8.7% (2024: 8.2%; 2019: 8.0%)– All 9.4% (2024: 9.3%; 2019: 7.7%) Here are the percentages of A-level entries awarded A or A*, by nation and region: – North-east England 22.9% (2024: 23.9%; 2019: 23.0%)– North-west England 26.6% (2024: 25.5%; 2019: 23.5%)– Yorkshire & the Humber 25.3% (2024: 24.6%; 2019: 23.2%)– West Midlands 24.2% (2024: 24.8%; 2019: 22.0%)– East Midlands 23.8% (2024: 22.5%; 2019: 21.0%)– Eastern England 28.0% (2024: 27.5%; 2019: 25.6%)– South-west England 27.0% (2024: 26.9%; 2019: 25.8%)– South-east England 31.2% (2024: 30.8%; 2019: 28.3%)– London 32.1% (2024: 31.3%; 2019: 26.9%)– England 28.2% (2024: 27.6%; 2019: 25.2%)– Wales 29.5% (2024: 29.9%; 2019: 26.5%)– Northern Ireland 30.4% (2024: 30.3%; 2019: 29.4%)– All 28.3% (2024: 27.8%; 2019: 25.4%) Here are the percentages of A-level entries awarded C or above, by nation and region: – North-east England 74.9% (2024: 74.4%; 2019: 76.3%)– North-west England 78.2% (2024: 75.9%; 2019: 75.6%)– Yorkshire & the Humber 76.8% (2024: 74.4%; 2019: 74.7%)– West Midlands 74.2% (2024: 73.4%; 2019: 72.8%)– East Midlands 73.6% (2024: 71.8%; 2019: 73.0%)– Eastern England 77.8% (2024: 76.1%; 2019: 75.7%)– South-west England 77.3% (2024: 76.3%; 2019: 76.0%)– South-east England 79.45% (2024: 78.1%; 2019: 78.0%)– London 79.54% (2024: 77.5%; 2019: 74.8%)– England 77.7% (2024: 76.0%; 2019: 75.5%)– Wales 77.2% (2024: 76.5%; 2019: 76.3%)– Northern Ireland 85.8% (2024: 85.1%; 2019: 85.0%)– All 77.9% (2024: 76.4%; 2019: 75.9%)
