THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 539 22nd August 2018 Read by over 40,000 people each week Another successful set of A-level results It has been another Form College, which Somerset, a total of 1,652 The college provides excellent year of A-level draws students from across A-level results were students with 38 different results in our area. Bristol, B&NES, South collected last Thursday A-level courses, and this At St Brendan’s Sixth- Gloucestershire and North and the pass rate was 97%. year 22 of those subjects St Brendan’s students had a 100% pass rate. As well as A-levels, St Brendan’s also offers a diverse range of Applied General courses and 88% of students secured high grades of Distinction and Distinction*. Principal Michael Jaffrain said: “We have had another excellent year of results and I am very proud of my students and staff for all that they have achieved. As well as an excellent overall pass rate, we also saw a rise in the number of students achieving A* - A grades, which is fantastic news.” Wellsway School in Keynsham is celebrating a “significant rise” in results at all grades with 81% at A*-C. Principal Matthew Wood- ville said: "We are extremely proud of the year group and of their achievements. These results Continued on page 3 2 The Week in • Wednesday 22nd August 2018 Another successful set of A-level results Continued from page 1 grades. Most importantly grades.” mean that this talented these results give our Early indications for A-level group of young people will students the opportunity to results suggest that it has go on to pursue their follow their dreams to study also been another successful ambitions in the workplace, at university and on high year for schools across at universities and colleges, quality degree South Gloucestershire. or in apprenticeships and apprenticeships.” Overall, schools in the area other training courses. We Early indications of results are showing improved wish them every success.” across the B&NES area results on last year. The principal of the show a positive increase in And provisional results neighbouring IKB Academy the average grade achieved show a strong performance in Keynsham, Debbie by pupils, suggesting that from Bristol schools with Gibbs, said: “IKB students the average grade achieved 95% of students achieving achieved a 100% pass rate has moved from a C in 2017 at least three A-levels at in all the A-level science to halfway between a C and grade A*- E, despite and maths subjects and a B grade in 2018. significant changes to IKB student Robbie Lovell, who achieved A*AB, and 100% pass rate in all the Paul May, Cabinet Member exams. This is the second will be studying maths at Cardiff, is pictured with Debbie Gibbs Level 3 BTEC for Children & Young year of the new A-level qualifications. People, said: “We are seeing qualifications, which with the remaining subjects assessed mainly by exams at “Over 60% of our students some strong improvements contain refreshed content. being refreshed over the the end of Year 13. gained at least one top grade from local schools, both in Last year more challenging next two years. AS-levels • GCSE results come out (A*/A or equivalent) and the average grade achieved exams were introduced also no longer count tomorrow (23rd) and we’ll impressively 48% gained at and in the proportion of across 13 subjects, with 11 towards the final grades and have a report in next week's least two of these top pupils achieving the highest more following this year students are now also edition. Also in £65m boost for this week’s world-leading issue centre at Concern over Barrs Court Moat Emersons Green . pages 6 & 7 South Gloucestershire’s status as the future for advanced manufacturing has received a £65m boost Councils oppose from the government. latest fracking The funding announced on 10th August, will go to the plans National Composites Centre (NCC) at Emersons Green, . page 9 the world-leading institution for composites research and development, which works with leading manufacturers on research into future industrial Drink drivers materials. named and Its backers read like a who’s-who of engineering shamed excellence and include locally-based aerospace giants . page 14 such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN, along with international groups such as 3M, Shell and Siemens. A New sports centre prime example is the NCC’s role in delivering the for Lyde Green Airbus ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ programme. The NCC, based on the Bristol & Bath Science Park, is . page 23 owned by the University of Bristol. The Week in • Wednesday 22nd August 2018 3 Mangotsfield Bin lorries to temporarily use Yate depot instead of Mangotsfield Essential fire prevention collection vehicles that be a minor interruption from works began at the Sort It normally tip off household 21st September to 6th recycling centre at waste and recycling at the October. During this time Carsons Road in Carsons Road transfer the area for recycling Mangotsfield last station will be diverted to hard/rigid plastics will not Thursday and will the facility on Collett Way be available and anyone continue until 5th in Yate. This will mean an bringing them will be October. increase in the number of redirected to the other three To complete the works as vehicles around the Yate sites at Yate, Thornbury or quickly as possible, the depot and there will be Little Stoke, or advised to additional traffic bring it to Mangotsfield management there to once the area is reinstalled. THE WEEK IN minimise disruption. The old concrete barriers Vehicles carrying that are used to separate the Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, commercial and trade waste different waste and Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, will also be diverted to the recyclable materials in the Corston, Downend, Emersons weighbridge at Yate or shed are being replaced with Green, Fishponds, Hanham, advised to use another site new blocks that will Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, licensed to accept improve fire prevention at Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, commercial waste. the site. Some of the walls Marksbury, North Common, Oldland The works are not expected of the shed that have been Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, to affect public access to the damaged will also be Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, centre. However, there will repaired. Willsbridge. 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381 www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767 Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] News Editor Becky Feather 07973 839936 Contributors Christine Rogers Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 [email protected] @theweekineditor No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All rights reserved. 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A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above. 4 The Week in • Wednesday 22nd August 2018 Safety improvements to A420 east of Wick People are being asked to junctions with Freezing Hill have their say on plans to Lane and Gorse Lane with reduce crashes and numerous incidents casualties on the A420 involving right-turn between Wick and the A46 manoeuvres where there is a at Cold Ashton. high proportion of traffic South Gloucestershire trying to cross the A420 at Council says there is a the uncontrolled staggered “continuing trend of crossroads. injuries” resulting from Requests have been Tog Hill vehicles colliding on the received from local road east of Wick. residents and parish 50mph speed limit from the acknowledging there are The deadline for comments The council proposes to councils for reduced speed 40mph on London Road investigations under way by is 6th September. You can make an order to introduce a limits, road maintenance outside Limebrook Farm to the new West of England see the plans on the 50mph speed limit on the and road marking a point between the Combined Authority council's website at A420 London Road, Tog alterations. The proposals junctions and Toghill Barn (WECA) and Highways www.southglos.gov.uk/cons Hill and part of include drawing attention to Farm. The proposals set out England that may produce ultation or at Kingswood Chippenham Road. the Culleysgate Lane in the council’s consultation significant changes to traffic One Stop Shop at Highway officers say of junction with bollards as aim to reduce the frequency patterns in the medium Kingswood Civic Centre particular concern are the well as implementing a of collisions whilst term. and Marshfield Post Office. The Week in • Wednesday 22nd August 2018 5 Efforts under way to save Historic England is sending an regular updates to South austerity measures must be causing the current crisis, he said an expert to inspect Barrs Court Gloucestershire Council, Historic issues for local government, but RSPCA inspector rescued a bird Moat as concerns mount that the England, MP Chris Skidmore and feel the downfall of the Barrs Court trapped in mud but apparently 14th century monument is The Week In. Moat is a combination of this and failed to check to see what fish deteriorating. He has have lived in the area for the way the developments above it, remained alive.