Secondary school bans all homework

staff reporter(wp/es):
A secondary school has taken the controversial step of banning homework to give their teachers more time to plan lessons.
Phillip Morant School and College in Colchester, Essex, has abolished all homework set by teachers in favour of pupils selecting their own extra learning through the school’s website.
A letter sent to parents from the Teaching and Learning Team stated the new system would give pupils a “greater responsibility for their own learning”.
The letter reads: “We are changing our approach to homework and moving away from the traditional style towards a more independent model.”

“Students will be expected to select appropriate tasks based on guidance from their teachers, their own targets and their own interests.”
Principal Catherine Hutley told the Daily Gazette that she expected the new system would be controversial but she was convinced that students would benefit from it.
She said: “The job of a teacher is impossible. There are not enough hours in the day for a teacher to teach, set homework, mark homework, and plan their lessons.

“We have the most dedicated and committed staff you could possibly ask for.
“They are working every hour God sends but planning lessons can fall by the wayside.
“We want it to be the number one priority so teachers can plan for students’ individual needs and keep on top of their progress on a daily basis.”
Ms Hutley added that homework will now be completed in lessons and that tasks on the school website for students were still encouraging independent learning.
Students taking part in out of class learning on the school website will be offered rewards for completing tasks.
Phillip Morant has 1,650 students and was given a “good” rating in its last Ofsted report.
 The school has also banned students from using mobile phones on the premises and removed academic banding.

Alton Towers owner Merlin fined £5million

staff reporter(wp/es):
Alton Towers operator Merlin Attractions has been fined £5million for health and safety breaches over the Smiler rollercoaster crash.
Teenagers Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each lost a leg in the tragic incident in June last year.
Stafford Crown Court heard the victims watched with "disbelief and horror" before ploughing into an empty carriage on the track, with the impact likened to a 90mph car crash.
Merlin was fined after the court heard an engineer "felt pressure" to get Smiler back into service after it developed a fault shortly before the devastating crash.

An expert witness report, compiled by consultant Stephen Flanagan, also said Alton Towers management linked bonuses to "acceptably low levels of downtime" on their rollercoasters.
Judge Michael Chambers QC called the accident a "catastrophic failure" by the company involving basic health and safety measures.
He also said the “absolute shambles of what occurred” could have been easily avoided” by a suitable system to deal with ride faults and a proper risk assessment.

He added: "This was a needless and avoidable accident in which those injured were fortunate not to have been killed or bled to death."
According to Judge Chambers, the victims “endured great pain and distress” while waiting for medical help, with the first 999 call not made until 17 minutes after the crash.

It took up to five hours for them to be freed from the wreckage, with those at the front of the rollercoaster having their legs crushed in the tangled steel.
All 16 people aboard the carriage suffered injuries to various degrees.

Judge Chambers added that the relatives and the injured had shown "great courage and fortitude" in the aftermath.
Beginning the sentencing, He said: "Human error was not the cause as was suggested by the defendant in an early press release.

"The defendant now accepts the prosecution case that the underlying fault was an absence of a structured and considered system not that of individuals' efforts, doing their best within a flawed system.
"Members of the public have been exposed to serious risk of one train colliding with another with a computer control system was reset, having been overridden to address a fault."

Woman raped by stranger

Crime reporter(es/wp):
A woman was raped in a "shocking" attack by a stranger who had climbed over a fence and into a back garden, police said.
Detectives said the woman, in her 30s, was dragged to the ground as she tried to flee her attacker in Dagenham
She was then allegedly raped by a man who ran away after the attack.
Police today released an e-fit image of a man wanted in connection with the rape in the early hours of Monday, August 1.
The suspect is described as a "very dark-skinned black man, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins in height, of medium build and aged in his early to mid 20s."

He is said to have smelled "unwashed" and had a poor, spotty complexion.
DC Jay Gardner, from the Met's sexual offences unit, said: "This is a shocking attack which has left the victim very distressed.
"We are now issuing this e-fit image and urging the public to help us identify this man. If you think you may know the man depicted in the e-fit, please do call us.
"Substantial enquiries have been conducted with the local community but we urge anyone who may have been in the area at this time to come forward."
There have been no arrests.

Labour plan to raise minimum wage to £10 an hour

political correspondent(wp/es):
A major increase in the minimum wage to £10 was pledged by Labour today as Jeremy Corbyn’s party tried to turn from infighting to policies for the next general election.
The flagship announcement was made by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who said it was “the level needed for a decent life”.
In a move that would strengthen trade unions, he also vowed Labour would bring back national wage bargaining, arguing this would “end the race to the bottom”.
Mr McDonnell told conference that the Living Wage — currently £7.20 per hour for workers aged over 25, £6.70 per hour for those aged 21 to 24, and £5.30 per hour for ages 18 to 20 — was too low.
Although it is due to rise to more than £9 in 2020, he said Labour would go further if elected and make it £10 an hour.
“Under the next Labour government, everyone will earn enough to live on,” he declared. “When we win the next election we will write a real Living Wage into law.”

He said 200,000 workers were getting less than the legal minimum.
Today’s National Executive Committee backed a  10-point statement of party values drawn  up by Mr Corbyn, including a commitment to a “more equal society”, universal childcare, rent controls and opposing wars.
Earlier, Mr McDonnell had urged Labour MPs who have resigned from the shadow cabinet to return to the party’s front bench, saying: “I’d like to see virtually all of them back.”
He hinted that the next shadow cabinet reshuffle was being postponed until November to allow for a wider look at Labour’s internal democracy.

However, that apparent olive branch only alarmed centrist MPs who believe the leadership is plotting to let grassroots activists — who back Mr Corbyn — choose shadow cabinet members.
Mr McDonnell also set out plans to borrow £100 billion to support industry, saying Labour would offer an “interventionist government” ready to protect key home-grown businesses against global market pressures.
“We are setting up a national investment bank,” he said. “We are putting into that bank £100 billion. Yes, that will be borrowed, but it will be  borrowed at the cheapest rates in our history.”
Shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis announced that Labour would build three new ships to be deployed in support of aircraft carriers. He presented the move as a boost for members of trade unions Unite and the GMB, saying: “Your members help defend us and we will help defend them.”

Man, 29, charged with murder of London businessman

 
Pic: Zdenek maker
Crime reporter(wp/es):
A 29-year-old man was today charged with the murder of a London businessman who was allegedly killed after a row at a chicken shop.
Raymond Sculley, of Sherman House, is accused of killing Zdenek Makar, 31, who died after he was attacked in the street in Poplar, east London.
Mr Makar, a Czech national, was pronounced dead at the scene near to All Saints DLR station, late on Wednesday.
Sculley is set to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Two others arrested on Friday – a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy – have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Both are due to return to an east London police station on dates in early October.

Mr Makar had enjoyed an evening at the pub and stopped off at the Perfect Fried Chicken shop in East India Dock Road on his way home before he was killed.
Close friends have paid tribute to him as “a great man with a big dreams and a big heart.”

Man die in Dagenham

staff reporter(wp/es):
A man has been killed after a fire ripped through a terraced house in Dagenham.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene after four fire engines and 21 firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze on the residential street.
Another person was treated for smoke inhalation but they have been discharged by paramedics.
Roads are closed off as police investigate the cause of the fire in the first floor flat on Lower Broad Street.
 Fire crews and ambulances were called to the fire at 2:47pm and Barking and Dagenham police tweeted warning people to “avoid the area” due to a “serious investigation”.

Two paramedics cars, and London Ambulance Service  (LAS) Hazardous Area Response Team were called to the scene.
A LAS spokeswoman said: “Sadly we found a person dead at the scene.
"We treated another patient for smoke inhalation and they were discharged.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation by police and London Fire Brigade.

Prince William today said he was delighted to bring his young family to Canada to start their "lifetime of friendship" with the country.

Pic: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Canada with their children
royal correspondent(es/wp):
Prince William today said he was delighted to bring his young family to Canada to start their "lifetime of friendship" with the country.
The future King, who was last in Canada in 2011 just after their wedding, said, "Catherine and I are delighted to be back in Canada.
He said he was delighted Prince George and Princess Charlotte could be with them to start "them on lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country."
The Prince spoke of Canada and its people being "much esteemed for its strong values" - praising its armed services, arts culture and environment.
He went on: "We want to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible."

And he said he hoped to discover how the Canadian people are tackling challenges of the day - including mental health issues of which he is passionate about.
William added he had "Happy memories" of being in British Colombia as a "shy teenager". "A few remember it too well I think," he joked.

Speaking to a huge crowd opposite Victoria's Parliament the prince delivered some of his address in French.
He joked, "It's a little rusty bear with me."
George and Charlotte were not at the official welcome and had been dropped off at Government House where the royals are staying on route.

Canada's Governor General David Johnston spoke of his delight that the royals had come as a family on the royal tour.
He said: "You've come back as a family and we couldn't be happier for you
"We are delighted to welcome Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Canada. May it be the first of many visits.”

The Prince joked that he hoped his children were not "tearing up" the Governor's House in their absence as he met well-wishers.
The prince and his wife made a beeline for fellow parents and accepted gifts for their children.
Kate told one Royal fan, the mother of a six month old girl, that parenthood would "get easier" after she grew older.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister, used his speech to highlight the family feel of the trip, the first overseas tour for the family as a foursome.

"As any parent who has travelled with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your children with you," he said, to cheers.
"Let me caution you from my own experience, if they are anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to the beautiful west coast will really be a challenge."
They were greeted by cheers from thousands of well-wishers as they stepped out of their car, waving before stepping forward to greet Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, Lt-Gov of BC Judith Guichon and Christy Clark, premier of BC.