Tuesday 4th March

Tuesday, 4 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Immigration is a major factor, but new arrivals mostly come from outside Europe. Figures suggest that areas like health and social care particularly depend on foreign-born workers, with a high proportion coming from Asia.

Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ following an Ofsted inspection. The secondary school that has 812 pupils was told it needs to improve in three areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management. however, personal development remained a strength, earning a ‘Good’ rating.

Plans to charge for overnight parking at council-run car parks in Somerset have been dropped. At a meeting of Somerset Council’s Executive Committee it was also agreed not to end free on-street parking. The Council has faced strong opposition over its plans to standardise parking charges across the County, including charging for Sunday parking. The revised proposals will now be put out to public consultation before any final decisions are made.

Somerset Council says 92% of children have been found places at secondary schools of their choice, starting in September. It means that of the 4,743 applications received, 4,384 were given the school requested. 173 applicants were granted a second preference school, with 42 a third preference school. Somerset Council says an announcement about the allocation of places at primary, junior, and middle schools will be made on April 16th.

Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne. The three-panelled altar piece was removed from the Chapel at St John’s Almshouse for safekeeping when renovation work started on the building. The artwork depicts five miracles of Christ with the central panel illustrating the raising of Lazarus. Anyone with information about the painting is asked to please contact St John’s Almshouse in Sherborne.

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