local Students at Moyles Court School near Ringwood celebrated examination success last month. GCSE Art at the school achieved an outstanding 100% A* performance. The school’s first GCSE photography results were rewarding with all students entered gaining 100% A*-C grades. 82% of Learning Support pupils gained 5 or more GCSEs, as did 100% of all other Year 11 pupils. Scholarship student Daisy Webb gained an impressive 9 GCSEs at A/A* and one B grade. Headmaster, Greg Meakin, said,
GCSE
celebrations! “It is accepted that grades across the country were affected adversely by stricter marking criteria in English, Mathematics and Science this year. This effect is naturally magnified for Learning Support pupils at Moyles Court. “Starting this September, the school is moving to IGCSEs in order to protect all our students from
the disruptive effects of on-going examination reform. To give them the best chance of success, our GCSE classes average 15 pupils for core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science and ICT) and just 10 pupils per class for GCSE option subjects.” Year 9 pupils at Moyles Court School recently learned they passed the FCSE examinations in French and Spanish, with 79% of all passes awarded a Merit or Distinction. Moyles Court has a 100% success rate over the last 5 years for securing all leavers their first or second choice post-16 destination.
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Viewpoint September 2013
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What lies ahead for Purple Haze? The future of land known as Purple Haze on the Hampshire border near Verwood provoked a public outcry when Hampshire County Council produced its 20year Minerals and Waste Plan. The 70 hectare site became a hotbed of controversy when it was designated for sand and gravel extraction followed by non-hazardous landfill. Verwood people maintained they hadn’t been properly consulted and quickly set up an action group to fight the proposals. The Friends of Ringwood Forest (FoRF) chaired by Sarah Jane Sumner spearheaded the campaign. Despite their arguments against extraction, which will devastate part of Moors Valley forest and involve the daily movement of heavy traffic along one of the main routes into Verwood, the plan still includes Purple Haze and is reaching its final stages. Following publication of the Inspector’s report finding the Hampshire Minerals & Waste Plan sound, it is now intended that the plan will go forward for adoption by member authorities. The full council meeting of Hampshire County Council is on 19 September. Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset County Council and county councillor for Verwood and Three Legged Cross, said, “Once the council [Hampshire County] has adopted the Minerals and Waste Plan, it will be for operators to bring forward scheme seeking planning permission. “There will be many environmental considerations to take into account at the socalled Purple Haze site, due to the potential for serious and lasting damage to Ebblake Bog. The applicant will need to demonstrate beyond all doubt, by the application of the Precautionary Principle, that no environmental damage will be done to Ebblake Bog should they be permitted to extract minerals and fill with inert waste. “In my view there is still a very long way to go at the Purple Haze site as I remain firmly of the opinion that the environmental damage caused by mineral extraction cannot be mitigated.” Sarah Sumner says there may have been confusion over whether the water table runs above or below the aggregates and she says the FoRF are hoping for a lastminute reprieve. If all efforts fail, extraction at the site could start in five years. A copy of the draft changes is at consult.hants.gov.uk/ file/2297277