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BBC News
05-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Meet the man helping fix attendance levels in Nottinghamshire schools
"Attendance is a really serious issue in schools because if pupils aren't in schools, they can't learn."Tom Buckmaster is a consultant currently being paid by four primary schools in Nottinghamshire to improve attendance and punctuality levels. He said using incentives such as day trips and meals out had really helped boost attendance levels in the schools he had worked with."We've found rewards work. I understand the argument that you shouldn't have to [offer incentives], but it's part of a package of things we do," he said. 'Problems worse after Covid' Mr Buckmaster said he helped schools draw up an attendance action plan, which included actions like calls to parents, home visits, assemblies and getting pupils to act as attendance officers, reporting back updates to their peers."We've found these measures have boosted attendance levels by about 2%."What you have to do is have something that is sustainable," he Buckmaster said he believed attendance problems had got worse for schools since Covid."It was a very difficult time. It made parents more wary of illness, so when children get sniffles, they want to keep them off."Some parents found it difficult to teach at home, but some enjoyed having children at home, so some parents want to now home school their children," he added. Carl Jarvis, deputy head teacher at Arnold View Primary School in Arnold, said Mr Buckmaster had helped take attendance levels at the school from below average at 93% to above the national average of 96%.He said: "It's absolutely been worthwhile bringing him in. "He's a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and we're learning from him and his expertise."Mr Jarvis said staff would be upskilled by Mr Buckmaster, and then all attendance plans would eventually be managed in-house."It's quite common for schools to bring in SLEs, not just for attendance but for areas like English and maths," he added. 'Better A-level results' The school has recently taken a group of Year Two pupils for breakfast at the Salvation Army cafe in Arnold as a reward for good Buckmaster said: "The children love it, and it's good to get the community involved."He said how often a child went to school could affect them in later life, adding: "Attendance is really important. "If a child's attendance is good in primary school, we've found that ultimately leads to them getting better A-level results."
BBC News
30-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Skidby Mill repair work delayed after more damage found
Extensive work is needed on a historical windmill before its sails can be reinstated, a council has sails at the Grade II listed Skidby Mill, near Cottingham in East Yorkshire, were removed in 2020 after wet rot was discovered in the oldest Riding of Yorkshire Council approved restoration plans in November 2023 but has said the mill's support beam and the structure that houses the sails, known as the cap, also needed Richard Meredith said the project had been a "real saga from beginning to end" but said the work was due to be carried out this summer. A council spokesperson added: "Skidby Mill requires a lot of maintenance."Warm, wet and windy weather has meant that the site is facing more adverse weather conditions than ever before, therefore damp and mould are continuously affecting the mill's structure."Meredith said it had also been a "herculean task" to find a new company to take on the job after the original firm requested by the council closed down during Covid."When you need expertise, when you need specialist material and equipment, when you need to attract funding, it's like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle inside a Rubik's cube. It's a very difficult journey," he in 1821, the mill was created to harness the power of the wind but natural elements have weathered its is approximately 58ft (17.7m) high and residents said it was a focal point for the community."Everybody in East Yorkshire knows Skidby Mill is here. It was grinding corn up until the 1960s," local businessman Peter Fenwick said."On a good day, I can see the mill from my bedroom window. It's a tourist attraction," added James Tunnicliffe, who often visits the coffee shop adjacent to the mill with his wife."It's quite sad and disheartening to see they've (sails) just been left here." The four carefully crafted sails are stacked on top of each other against a brick wall surrounded by wire fencing at the Griffiths, who has lived in Skidby for almost 30 years and regularly attends the council's public meetings, said the village was disappointed with the length of time it was said: "You come in from Little Weighton over the hill and it's the first thing you see. Now there's nothing."Meredith said he hoped the work would be completed soon."The hope is that by the end of summer the cap will be repaired and the sails will be installed," he explained."That's the hope and I'm one of those without a crystal ball." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sheffield musical casting young men as Take That
A casting call has gone out for men aged 18-25 to appear in a musical about the passionate fans of boyband Take theatre company Sheffield Teachers' Operatic Society (STOS) will stage a production of The Band at the Lyceum Theatre in show features Take That's songs and premiered in Manchester in 2017 before a West End chairman Mark Harris said the group wanted to audition actors to play the five members of the band and added: "We're not necessarily looking for the next Gary Barlow or an imitation Robbie Williams, but boyband members that teenage girls would scream at." The Band tells the story of five female best friends who reunite after 25 years over their mutual love of the boyband they worshipped in their will be held on the evening of 16 May at Charnock Hall Primary Academy in Sheffield. Performers are asked to prepare a one-minute "blast" of a Take That song to showcase their vocal range. Harmonies will also be tested on the Harris added: "It's not full-on dancing. They need rhythm but think of those early Take That videos. High energy, that's the vibe we're going for." STOS formed in the city in 1901, but Mr Harris said it was a challenge to attract and entertain modern audiences."The theatre family is changing, generations are evolving, it's tricky to get people to come now unless it's a celebrity with a star billing."They see our amateur status and it scares them off, but we strive for professional standards and we do a brilliant job, we hire some professional people behind the scenes and a professional orchestra." He said there had also been changes in people's ticket-buying habits since Covid."People don't book online early anymore, they decide three weeks before the show."It definitely gets a bit squeaky bum time."Despite the uncertain environment, Mr Harris is confident that the new production in the autumn will be a hit."We'd love the original Take That fans of Sheffield to come along, perhaps with their daughters or other family members. It would be a wonderful family thing." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
01-04-2025
- BBC News
Thousands paid out in compensation to teaching staff in South East
Councils in the South East have paid out tens of thousands of pounds in compensation to staff who have been injured during school violence, a BBC investigation can 2019/20 and 2023/24, local authorities paid damages of £64,555 for cases linked to assaults on teachers or teaching comes as the latest government figures suggest a rise in pupil suspensions for assaults on Department for Education (DfE) said nobody should face violence or abuse in the workplace, "including our incredible school staff who are vital to improving life chances for all children". BBC South East asked all councils in the region to reveal the level of damages paid out to school staff who had been injured during assaults at school over a five-year County Council (KCC) paid £25,000 to a member of staff who had been injured by a student assaulting County Council paid £10,375 to school workers who sustained injury caused by a pupil assaulting themEast Sussex County Council (ESCC) paid £22,000 to staff for breaking up fights between pupils. Medway Council paid £7,180 for the same reason. One former teaching assistant previously told BBC South East how she quit the profession after being hit, kicked, bitten and sworn at by latest DfE figures show there were 1,997 suspensions across Kent, Surrey and Sussex during the autumn term 2023/24 for physical assault against an adult in school - up from 1,470 during the same term in 2022/23, a 35% increase. Teaching union NASUWT said the increase in the number of pupils being suspended for assaulting school staff reflected feedback from their members that levels of violence and abuse from pupils had increased since the pandemic."These figures represent the tip of the iceberg, as we know that in too many cases schools fail to deal effectively with serious assaults and attacks on teachers," said Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary."Schools too need to respond to the increase in violent and disruptive behaviour by ensuring there are effective behaviour management policies in place to deal with and deter acts of violence and abuse and that sanctions are clearly and consistently enforced."Meanwhile, a poll published last month by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) of more than 1,600 of its members, found 82% had been abused by parents in the past survey said 10% had suffered physical violence. Marie Gentles, an education consultant and behaviour adviser, said: "I think most teachers and school staff would be able to pinpoint the increase in suspensions since Covid."We have a bigger number of dysregulated children and dysregulated adults trying to support the children."We need to be more preventative than reactive by understanding the reasons behind the behaviours."I do think some of it is linked to unmet need around special educational needs and mental health," added the former headteacher. The founder of Oasis Community Learning, an academies trust which runs a number of schools across the country, said there needed to be more investment in children's mental Steve Chalke said: "An investment in the social emotional and mental health of our children is one that will pay for itself time after time."A child that grows up socially, emotionally and mentally healthy will be one that contributes to society throughout their lives. A child who is not invested in will be a cost to society throughout their lifetime." A spokesperson for ESCC said that schools in academies in East Sussex "work hard to support young people to be successful at school"."Any decision to suspend or exclude a child will be taken by the school's headteacher, according to the school's behaviour policy," they added.A KCC spokesperson said: "We support senior school leaders to take the decisions needed to keep staff, pupils and communities safe, while supporting the youngster to still receive the education they are entitled to." 'Breaking down barriers' A DFE spokesperson said: "As part of our Plan for Change, we are committed to turning the tide on poor behaviour, breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring every child can achieve and thrive."Our new regional improvement teams will work with schools to spread the highest standards of behaviour across our classrooms, and we are committed to providing access to a specialist mental health professional in every school. But we know there is more to do and are looking closely at how we can go further to support teachers and drive-up standards for all our children."
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey businesses hope for return of pre-pandemic trade
Businesspeople in Guernsey and Alderney have said they are still feeling the impact of the Covid lockdowns five years and non-essential services were forced to close during the first lockdown, but businesses reported a boost after on-island restrictions were Bailiwick Bubble - which allowed residents to travel between Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm - was also said to have helped boost three business owners the BBC spoke to said trade was yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. 'Business has been low' Chanya Besser, who owns The Looker hairdressers, said she experienced a spike in bookings after the first lockdown but it had been flat said during the pandemic she was always worried about money and losing customers."When I came back to work, I was happy because I was really busy," she said."But after the second lockdown, my business has been really low, and it's still low now."Before, I was in and out working all day, and now it's quiet." Karel Harris, the managing director of Sarnia Hotels which operates Les Rocquettes, Moores and The Havelet hotels, said hospitality was now "a more competitive environment".During the pandemic the hotels kept on their staff to house key workers who lived with vulnerable people and people entering the island to isolate Harris said: "All of us have got used to doing meetings on Teams and Zoom, which is useful."But a lot of businesses have discovered they can do their meetings online, and there's less business travel."Whether that will ever go back to pre-Covid levels, I'm not sure." 'Costs have escalated' Tracey Farquhar-Beck, director of the Blonde Hedgehog Hotel in Alderney, said the Bailiwick Bubble made a huge difference to the hotel, which had only been open since the end of Ms Harris, she said the pandemic saw a "huge shift" in the hospitality Farquhar-Beck said: "Costs have escalated immensely over the last few years and I think a lot of that is a result of Covid."I just think our robustness is not what it was many years ago. You do feel as if you have an axe swinging over your head all the time." States of Alderney President William Tate said the bubble "kept the island going"."The injection that gave to our economy, I don't think we will ever be able to put a true value on," he said."Had it not been for the bailiwick bubble, the financial exposure would have been significantly more."
