Newport has achieved the highest-ever rating for a Local Education Authority (LEA) in Wales.Following a recent inspection, Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, Estyn, praised Newport LEA as officially the best in Wales and described pupil performance as “outstanding”. This means that Newport school pupils are benefiting from the best education standards in the country. A team of nine Estyn inspectors visited Newport in January and awarded the highest possible grades for strategic management and support for school improvement. They stated that the LEA support for “numeracy and literacy is outstanding and has a significant impact on raising standards, particularly in primary schools.” The Estyn report follows official National Curriculum assessment figures from the National Assembly last year, which showed that Newport outperforms the majority of other Welsh local authorities in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. In fact, using the Core Subject Indicator, Newport is the top authority in Wales at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and is sixth at Key Stage 3.
SWALEC HQ TO RELOCATE FROM CARDIFF TO NEWPORT
Southern and Scottish Electricity, owner of Swalec, is set to relocate from Cardiff Gate to Celtic Springs in a £20 million move. The company has lodged a planning application with Newport City Council for 140,000 square foot headquarters. According to reports they will also expand their workforce from 800 to 1,600. The news of the relocation from Cardiff is a massive boost to Newport.
POLICE APPEAL OVER MAINDEE ASSAULT
Detectives in Maindee are appealing for information regarding an assault, which occurred sometime between 01.00am and 02.00am on Sunday May 4, 2008 near the cenotaph on East Usk Road, Newport. A man was walking home with a friend from the city centre via the Old Green subway. He was originally on the left hand side pavement walking in the direction of Maindee. He parted company with his friend at the junction of East Usk Road where he crossed over to walk on the right hand side pavement. As he continued to walk, two men approached him and he was pushed to the floor, punched and stamped on. The following morning the victim attended the Royal Gwent Hospital after experiencing difficulties breathing. He sustained injuries to his face and body and has been treated for these. He is due to be discharged from hospital today. In Newport Crown Court yesterday a youth described as the personification of yob Britain has been sent to a youth offenders institution for three years. Joel Herd, 18, from Essex Court, Caerleon was charged following an assault in Caerleon as a couple made their way home from a restaurant. The attack was unprovoked. Judge Roderick Denyer stated: "You are, I am afraid, the personification of yob Britain. You were drunk, you had smoked cannabis and you were out of control."
ANOTHER CANNABIS FIND
Police in Newport have found a cannabis factory in a large six-bedroom house in Coedkernew today. The detached house on Blacksmiths Way, adjacent to the A48, was full of mature cannabis plants that were almost ready for harvesting. The cannabis factory was discovered after detectives gained intelligence suggesting cannabis cultivation at the property. Officers forced entry to the house at 10.30am and found more than 200 plants growing in five rooms spread across three floors. Some of the 'skunk' cannabis plants were nearing full maturity, while others kept in a nursery room were very young. The house's electricity supply had been bypassed to power thousands of pounds worth of hydroponics, lighting and venting equipment. Police estimate the street value of the cannabis seized is around £100,000.
