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Kingsbridge College head calls smartphone ban ‘transformatory’

Kingsbridge College head calls smartphone ban ‘transformatory’

A college principal has said a smartphone ban introduced in September had been "fantastic".Tina Graham at Kingsbridge Community College said teachers had pushed for change after noticing a growing dependence on smartphones among pupils and rising issues around safeguarding and inappropriate online content.Parents were consulted in April, and the Ms Graham said she decided "quite quickly" to move to an outright ban on smartphones while still allowing simple "brick" phones so students could contact their families in emergencies.She…

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Car decked out in Christmas lights in Poole prompts police warning

Car decked out in Christmas lights in Poole prompts police warning

Police have warned drivers not to let festive sparkle blind them to road safety after pulling over a car decked out with Christmas lights.Officers from Poole in Dorset spotted the vehicle while out on patrol and posted a warning to motorists on Facebook. "The driver was stopped and given words of advice about the traffic offences he was committing and also reminded about the seriousness of celebrating Christmas before December," the post said. "Displaying red light to the…

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Chile snowstorm deaths ‘deeply regrettable’, park bosses say

Chile snowstorm deaths ‘deeply regrettable’, park bosses say

Visit Isles of ScillyVictoria Bond was killed along with four others in the stormThe deaths of five tourists in a snowstorm in Patagonia have been described as a "deeply regrettable tragedy" by national park bosses.Victoria Bond, 40, a public relations consultant from Cornwall, was named by Chilean authorities as among those killed in the tourist hotspot of Torres del Paine National Park.Two German and two Mexican citizens also died in the snowstorm, according to Jose Antonio Ruiz -…

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‘Shivering’ rare corncrake bird rescued on cruise ship

‘Shivering’ rare corncrake bird rescued on cruise ship

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of EnglandCharlene HalseyThe little bird was spotted sheltering from the rain on the 16th deck of the shipA rare bird endangered across the UK has been rescued after taking shelter from heavy rain on a cruise ship. The corncrake, an RSPB red-listed bird, was spotted on the 16th deck of Sky Princess by passenger Charlene Halsey and her daughters "shivering" under the step of a hot tub as it travelled to Portland, Dorset.After regularly checking on…

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Christchurch School warns parents of anti-social behaviour

Christchurch School warns parents of anti-social behaviour

A school has warned parents about a group of young people causing disruption, threatening members of the public and allegations of dealing drugs.Twynham School in Christchurch, Dorset, is encouraging parents to "keep a close eye for any changes in behaviour or routine" in their children.The individuals gathering outside the school are not students and have been seen wearing hoods and facemasks, the school said.Dorset Police said it was aware of reports, as well as others in the wider…

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‘Worms in space’ experiment aims to investigate the biological effects of spaceflight

Universities of Exeter and Leicester collaborate on mission to send nematode worms to the International Space Station A crew of tiny worms will be heading on a mission to the International Space Station in 2026 that will help scientists understand how humans can travel through space safely, using a Leicester-built space pod. The experiment is based upon a concept and early development by the University of Exeter over more than 8 years A team of scientists and engineers…

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‘Clifton Suspension Bridge’ and ’emergency choir’

‘Clifton Suspension Bridge’ and ’emergency choir’

PA MediaThe Clifton Suspension Bridge has been undergoing restoration for the last two yearsHere's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesOur top three from yesterdayWhat to watch on social media Source link

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Petition launched after flooded Tarka Line issues

Petition launched after flooded Tarka Line issues

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceDavid SmithNorth Devon MP, Ian Roome, launched the petitionA petition has been launched after commuters faced more than a week of train cancellations due to flooding. North Devon MP, Ian Roome, who launched the petition, said ongoing problems on the Tarka Line, in Devon, were "totally unacceptable" and residents had been left with "a second class service".Earlier in November, rail passengers and campaigners called for change on the line due to delays, cancellations, flooding,…

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Education and health care plans for Send children explained

Education and health care plans for Send children explained

As campaigners call on ministers not to cut care plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), BBC Politics South looks at what extra help is currently available - and how it is funded.Reforms to the system in England have been delayed by the government until next year.It comes as the number of children and young people in England with an education, health and care plans (EHCP) has increased to 638,745, the highest number since they…

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Snowfall and icy roads in parts of Devon and Cornwall

Snowfall and icy roads in parts of Devon and Cornwall

Snow has fallen across parts of Devon and Cornwall, with icy roads and heavy hail showers reported.A Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in force across Cornwall and parts of Devon until 23:59.Icy road conditions have been reported on the A30 in the Temple area, and heavy hail showers have caused tricky conditions in Fraddon.Snow has been reported in Bodmin, Camelford, Tavistock, Princetown, Okehampton and Plympton.Councils sent gritters out overnight, and drivers have been…

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Plymouth factory could help defend UK says cabinet minister

Plymouth factory could help defend UK says cabinet minister

Technology being developed at a factory in Plymouth could play a "big part" in defending the UK, a cabinet minister has said.Defence Secretary John Healey formally opened German firm Helsing's Plymouth Resilience Factory which will be used to produce unmanned submarine gliders.The factory's opening comes after it was confirmed by the government a Russian spy ship Yantar, which is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables, was spotted near the UK coast for the second time this…

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Surviving cancer should not mean debt, Cornish family says

Surviving cancer should not mean debt, Cornish family says

BBCJonah underwent a major operation after being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastomaA family who spent months living away from home for their son's specialist cancer treatment says others should not face going into debt to ensure their child survives.Three-year-old Jonah was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma but his parents could not work while he underwent life-saving treatment in Bristol, about 170 miles (274km) from their home in Camborne, Cornwall.Young Lives vs Cancer, which housed the Rowes near the…

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