Anglican comprehensives in top 30 for GCSEs
THREE Anglican secondary schools are among the 30 comprehensives with the highest GCSE results in England and Wales, tables compiled by The Daily Telegraph showed last week, writes Margaret Holness. They are: Bishop of Llandaff, Cardiff; Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster; and St Aidan’s, Harrogate. St Olave’s C of E School, Orpington, and Wilson’s School, Wallington, were among the most successful selective schools. Seven more Anglican schools were listed among the top ten per cent of all comprehensives.
Survey highlights cost of the return to school
THE cost of preparing a child for the new term at a trust and foundation school is higher than that for any other type of school, new research suggests. A poll this month of 571 people with school-age children, commissioned by Santander, suggests that the average cost of clothes, books, and stationery per child is £236. For foundation/trust schools — which includes church schools — this rose to £375, above private schools (£371), grammar schools (£329), academies (£262), and community schools (£226).
Ecclesiastical toasts record results
RECORD results have been reported by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group in its interim financial report. In the first half of the year, for the first time in its history, net assets exceeded half a billion (£505 million). Pre-tax profit stood at £35.3 million and underwriting profit at £14.3 million, compared with £18.4 million and £3.8 million respectively, in the first half of 2014. This has enabled a payment of £15 million to charity this year. The group’s Chief Executive, Mark Hews, described the results as proof that an ethical financial-services group could be commercially successful.
St Davids offers support to farmers in need
A NEW helpline for farmers and their families in St Davids diocese was launched at the Pembrokeshire Show last week. The Bishop, the Rt Revd Wyn Evans, who came up with the idea with the diocesan rural-affairs Adviser, Canon Eileen Davies, said: “Acting together is the only way we can reach the most vulnerable and together find a positive resolution to the problems facing those who farm Tir Dewi, Dewi’s land.” http://stdavids.churchinwales.org.uk/tirdewi
Teacher who pocketed trip money pleads guilty
A TEACHER has pleaded guilty to fraud after taking £16,000 from running school trips. Thomas Bissett, aged 47, of Durham Street, Hartlepool, over-charged parents and overstated the number of children he took on the trips, Teesside Crown Court heard last week. He is no longer employed at St Hild’s Church of England Secondary School, Hartlepool. Sentencing is due to take place on 16 September.