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.

More from News

Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more