Devon

Independent schools could be held to a higher standard of education by regulator Ofsted from next September onwards.

In new plans unveiled today ‘good’ will become the only acceptable standard for independent schools inspected by Ofsted.

Currently, the Ofsted framework for schools has the judgements, outstanding, good, adequate and inadequate. This consultation now seeks views...

Developed by Plymouth City Council and its highways contractor Amey in partnership with First Great Western and Network Rail, the scheme aims to better connect the train station with the city centre and has been part-funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Sustrans, the national walking and cycling charity.

Improvements include new footways between North Road East and the...

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has risen for the first time since February 2013, with figures increasing by 66 claimants over the past month. Claimants in Devon have gone up from 6,513 in October to 6,579 in November meaning a 1% increase from last month.

The news comes the same day as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) report reveals that the...

National Apprenticeship Week is back for the seventh year running, and 2014 will offer even more ways for employers to show their support of apprentices.

National Apprenticeship Week, which will run between 3 and 7 March 2014, will see hundreds of events taking place across the South of England.

The week aims to show the postive impact apprentices have on individuals,...

Luke Friend is preparing for stardom, despite failing to reach the X Factor final.

The 17-year-pld from Teignmouth failed to secure enogh votes to go through to last night's sing off but despite that he is still being tipped for the top.

And among those singing his praises have been a number of celebrities.

Elli Goulding, who dueted with Luke, from Teignmouth, on...

A fairer share of central government funding, the cost of alcohol related crime and mental health provision were on the agenda when Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg and Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer met south west members of Parliament at Westminster on Tuesday (10 December).

A cross party group of eight of the regions MPs joined Mr Hogg and Mr Sawyer to look at the issues they...

Devon and Cornwall Police have tasered a teenage boy with special learning needs at Chelfham Senior School in Bere Alston, near Tavistock.

Police were called to the school grounds around 9pm on December 1 after an alleged assault on a teacher involving three teenage boys.

Two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy were involved in the incident.Devon and Cornwall police have...

Young people with learning disabilities are being given a taste of life after school at event aimed as inspiring decisions and providing choice.

"Aspire" is an event for parents, carers and, most importantly, young people with learning disabilities to find out more about the options open to them after they turn 16.

This type of support is known as ‘transition’ and aims to make...

Judges have ruled that the Devon-based marine who shot and killed an injured prisoner will be publicly named as Sgt Alexander Blackman.

Three of the UK's most senior judges made the ruling this morning and say that the two acquitted marines should also be named.

Lawyers defending the five servicemen involved in the case have argued that naming the defendants will put their...

Coalition of UK environmental organisations urges UK Government to enforce bee-harming pesticide bans.

Thirteen leading UK environmental organisations are today calling for the UK Government to show its commitment to reversing bee declines by fully enforcing the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.

From Monday 2 December 2014, the EU-wide ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides...