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

Monday 24th March

Numatic International Ltd in Chard has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties...and more
Friday 21st March

Leonardo in Yeovil is developing a new type of self-flying helicopter. A report into the creation of Somerset Council has found the case for it to be 'weak' and marked by 'poor decision making'. The village of Montecute has been told that it may have one of the country's oldest working clocks...and more.
Thursday 20th March

There has been a further delay to reopening Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Wincanton in which a motorcyclist was killed. A debt advice charity in Somerset is recruiting more volunteers to help with an expected increase in people going into debt...and more.
Wednesday 19th March

A new report says survival rates from ovarian cancer in Somerset are among the best in England. Farmers say it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed due to criminal gangs using farmland for illegal hare coursing. A Victorian chemist shop, originally situated on the High Street in South Petherton, is being moved to a theme park in County Durham...and more
Tuesday 18th March

Police are appealing for witnesses to a ‘hit and run’ in Henstridge in which an 8-year-old boy was knocked off his scooter. People in Somerset wanting to hold street parties to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day won't have to pay for a road closure. Plans have been submitted to open a new farm shop in Sherborne...and more
Monday 17th March

A Yeovil woman, whose disappearance three weeks ago sparked a big police search, has been found safe and well. A new 3.2 million pound programme of flood risk reduction works has been approved by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Sexey’s School in Bruton has been voted Somerset’s happiest secondary school...and more
Friday 14th March

Four Somerset businesses, including one in Yeovil, have been handed a total of £170,000 in civil penalties for employing illegal workers. National garage chain ATS Euromaster has closed its branch in Wincanton. A farmer in Wincanton is being hailed as a hero after rescuing his pigs from a burning barn...and more
Thursday 13th March

A new campaign has been launched to persuade people in Somerset to stop smoking. Four people have been arrested in Chard in connection with the supply of Class A drugs. A dog from Yeovil has won the title of ‘best in breed’ at Crufts...and more.