Leweston School in Sherborne has marked its 135th anniversary by announcing a new strategic alliance with Concept Education and the Catholic Schools’ Trust, a move intended to secure the school’s long-term stability and strengthen its position within the independent Catholic sector.
Founded in 1891, the co-educational school now educates around 550 pupils across its nursery, preparatory, senior and sixth form phases. It will become the first school to join the partnership, which is being developed by Concept Education, a group formed by former independent school headteachers and senior education leaders. Their stated aim is to ‘safeguard independent education for the next generation’, particularly by supporting affordable, well-run Catholic schools. Leweston says this aligns closely with its own strategic direction at a time when many independent schools are navigating financial pressures and policy uncertainty.
Announcing the move, Chair of Governors Ian Lucas said the agreement reflects a pivotal moment for the school. ‘This is an important milestone in our history,’ he said. ‘The partnership with Concept Education marks an exciting new chapter for Leweston enabling the school to build on its reputation for personalised, values-led education while expanding the opportunities available to current and future students. The collaboration will bring additional expertise and investment, ensuring Leweston continues to thrive in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. This allows us to grow while staying true to our values and mission to nurture confident, capable, and compassionate young people.’
Concept Education’s Chief Executive, Hugh Dickinson, emphasised that Leweston’s existing strengths made it a natural starting point for the organisation’s work. ‘Leweston is already a well-established, high-performing school. Our role is twofold: to maintain the school’s excellence and to break new ground. We know that the success of a school depends on the trust of its parents, their children and the staff. We are excited and privileged to be asked to carry on the outstanding work of the current governors and working to strengthen Leweston’s reputation as a unique, caring and high-achieving environment.’
Further detail on how the partnership will operate in practice has not yet been released, but both parties describe the agreement as a foundation for future development rather than a change to Leweston’s core identity.
A recent council get-together to discuss tempted me out the house – it’s a hot topic just now. But what exactly is the deal with ‘super councils’ and devolution? Is it a Rayner pipe-dream? Do we need more mayors? And what’s the cost?
Devolution Rules It’s fairly common knowledge that, following the Labour Government directive to form super councils, Dorset Council is set to merge with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Somerset and Wiltshire for strategic discussions. Already that’s cause for concern – more mayors, and the risk of rural voices drowned out by the conurbations. Less well known is the idea of ‘double devolution’, where services run by a local authority can be passed to town and parish councils. Could they actually do a better job? And what would we (as parish councillors) even want to take on? As I sat listening to the superb work done by Yeovil Town Council in taking on big projects from Somerset Council, I was initially inspired. It’s no mean feat to take over a country park, recreation ground or entertainment services … and it looks as though the town council has made a cracking job of it. They did, however, have to increase the precept – yet few residents complained, perhaps because they could actually see results.
What to devolve? That same call to raise precepts echoed throughout the meeting. Dorset Council was clear: anyone taking on services must also pay to maintain them. The list of potential hand-offs included public toilets, playgrounds, recreation areas and even community transport. There was more crowing about the need to keep people healthy in communities (more of that later). Some of the town councillors looked quite smug. But for many small parishes – mine included – the question is what exactly is there to devolve? We have no public loos or car parks, and we already manage the recreation field. I’ve no plans to go full Rod Stewart and start filling potholes, though I might be partial to buying a few signs which Highways won’t. And I can’t see myself driving a gritter any time soon. Some things are best left to the professionals. However, in some villages there are so many things that have not been maintained for years that it would be like opening Pandora’s Box.
Who does the work? Then there’s another issue around the volunteers, who would no doubt be called upon to deal with all the devolved services as ‘free labour’. Our parish’s volunteer linesmen and grass cutters are in their eighties. It’s not just an issue about stuff the council wants to offload onto parishes, it’s about future plans for when current volunteers are having to call it a day. And it’s also about sharing the workload. Young people don’t generally come forward to help out with village jobs – it may be time for a rethink on how we make volunteering more attractive. I imagine Dorset Council has a massive list of services which they would be happy to pass on to unsuspecting parishes. Ditches that have not been cleared in living memory, leaky toilet blocks, odd bits of land, and dodgy playgrounds created by developers all spring to mind. After being told how Dorset’s aspiration to keep us healthy was paramount, a cholesterol-busting lunch awaited in the bar: chips, sausages, quiche, brie in breadcrumbs … all designed to cause havoc with your coronary arteries. Councillors do love their chips though, and over lunch I mulled things over.
Parish clusters What I’d really like to do is turn the devolution discussion on its head and ignore the fire sale from Dorset Council – because there is very little that interests me there. Everyone keeps asking where the infrastructure is for all these new houses. “It will follow,” we’re told. But it isn’t following. If we want decent infrastructure, we have to fight for it. Maybe now is the time for clusters of parishes to get together and design a service that has never existed, but should. A community bus that runs to local hospitals and operates at weekends. Or a contracted verge-cutting service that operates more than twice a year? Could we work with farmers to get better gritting route coverage? Like Yeovil, we’d need to raise the precept to pay for them – but at least we’d be funding things people actually NEED and USE. It could even mean employing local people to deliver services across several parishes. While devolution got me thinking, it’s more about what is not being said than what is being expressed right now. Devolution, it turns out, isn’t just about what councils hand down. It’s about what communities choose to build. Before we inherit anything, parish councils need the freedom – and the confidence – to design the services that truly serve them.
**The Dorset Insider is a no-holds-barred column pulling back the curtain on local affairs with sharp insight, unfiltered honesty and the occasional raised eyebrow. Written by a seasoned parish councillor who prefers to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons), it cuts through the noise to expose the frustrations of grassroots politics, and say what others won’t. Rest assured, their identity is known – and trusted – by the editorial team. Expect opinion, candour and a healthy dose of exasperation …**
As milk prices crash (again), Tim Gelfs says it’s time for farmers to stop being ‘price-takers’, and to start learning from Coca-Cola
Herd of Dorset cows under a stormy sky Image: Laura Hitchcock
Just when it looked like our dairy farmers were finally getting back into profit, milk prices have come crashing down around their ears – and the outlook for any recovery over the coming winter months isn’t promising. Volatility now seems to be the norm across all agricultural sectors. Boom and bust in the pig industry is almost a given, but have we even asked why the beef and lamb prices have managed to stay firm over the past few years? We are told time and again that we are ‘price takers’. But why? British farmers have some of the strongest selling points in the world. Our husbandry and food safety are second to none. We produce home-grown British food, and our customer base – the consumer – wants to support us. Yet all of this seems to get lost on the shop shelf. The messaging is poor at best, and often confusing.
Just when it looked like our dairy farmers were finally getting back into profit, milk prices have come crashing down around their ears
Our farm assurance schemes are cumbersome and over-complicated, losing sight of their actual purpose – to assure. Their job is to reassure consumers that our produce is reared or grown to high, safe standards, so that when they place it in their trolley they can buy with confidence, knowing it’s been looked after from field to fork. My biggest frustration with all assurance schemes is that none of them do what I call ‘the hard yard’ – actually marketing themselves to the consumer. Yes, I know Red Tractor currently has an advertising campaign celebrating 25 years (though how many non-farmers – i.e. actual consumers – have even seen it?). But when I asked, ‘What are they following it up with?’ I got blank faces, shuffles of paper and a stuttering explanation of how much it all costs. As they say, if you can’t do a job properly, don’t do it at all!
Eggs have been riding high for more than two years.
Caffeine and sugar So, does some of the responsibility lie with us farmers? Of course it does. I’ve always said we’re rubbish – not just at marketing, but at supplying the product at the right price, at the right time, and in the right amount. Take my own industry at the moment. Eggs have been riding high for more than two years. And what have we done as an industry? Invested millions to upgrade and produce even more eggs. We don’t need that many more eggs! We haven’t spent a bean on marketing. We know we can increase consumption – we have a great product. Food inflation is out of control for many reasons, and here we have a superfood that provides a relatively cheap, on-trend protein … and we’ve done nothing. Nothing! At a time when the market is screaming out for it – and when, for once, as an industry we can afford it. Do you think when Coca-Cola was making big profits and selling out, they said, ‘Let’s just up production and enjoy the good times while they last’? Of course not. They invested in their brand and their marketing. They are arguably the best marketeers around – selling carbonated water full of caffeine, sugar and chemicals, and putting a huge margin on it! By comparison, we have products that are healthy and nutritious – things people have to consume every day, or they fall over. It’s not rocket science. Our big problem is that we’re fragmented, and we lack confidence in our industry leaders to manage and lead. We’ve never had to market our products before, because there was always someone to buy them – it’s only the price we didn’t like. That’s why we’re still ‘price takers’. We need to invest not only in our farms, but in our products and our marketing. We really do have a choice: stay the same and hope for different results, or take a long hard look at ourselves – and make the changes that count.
Dorset’s third community-led ‘conference of the parties’ – Dorset COP – was declared a great success, as more than 300 people gathered at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on Saturday 1st November to discuss climate, nature, and community resilience.
Now in its third year, the one-day event continues to grow in reach and impact. Representatives attended from both BCP and Dorset Council, joined by the Mayors of Sturminster Cllr Virginia Edwyn-Jones, Mayor of Shaftesbury, described the day as ‘powerful’ and praised the event for fostering genuine connection. ‘It is always so powerful to hear people speak, rather than just read their ideas,’ she said. ‘It really does provide a far more meaningful understanding.’ The day was opened by Jennifer Morisetti, chair of Sustainable Dorset, who paid tribute to the late Jane Goodall and acknowledged the many pioneering Dorset environmentalists who have shaped the county’s thriving grassroots movement. ‘Dorset continues to lead the country in local COPs,’ Jennifer said. ‘The fact that Dorset’s third COP was oversubscribed shows how seriously people here take the threat posed by a changing climate to our wellbeing and prosperity.’ With 26 speakers and a series of practical workshops, the event covered themes from local food systems and community energy to clean transport and nature recovery.
Highlights included Cllr Carole Jones, founder of the Vale Family Hub, who shared how a community tackling poverty, food waste and isolation in North Dorset had created something genuinely transformative. Howard Johns, founder of People Powered Energy, gave a dynamic call to action, making the case for street-by-street solar and community-owned renewables. River pollution – a pressing concern across the county – was addressed by Tanya Bellows, Julie Leah and Kim Creswell, while transport challenges in rural Dorset were explored in a session opened by Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council. A workshop from the Sustainable Shaftesbury Advisory Committee presented a Nature Recovery blueprint for town design, offering a fresh take on how communities can prioritise biodiversity. Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One audience member said ‘The sheer enthusiasm and positive attitude of the speakers – and the amazing work they are doing – was inspirational. It gave me the motivation to keep working for climate and nature, despite the apathy and resistance I often face.’
The day offered space for hope, action and connection – and a clear reminder that Dorset’s communities are not waiting for permission to lead on environmental change. ‘This was an exciting day for environmental groups and individuals,’ said Jennifer. ‘We know we can combine forces to tackle the biggest challenge of our time. Also, huge thanks to all our speakers, and to everyone who came with energy and commitment. The work continues.’
To follow up on workshop outcomes, volunteer, or stay connected with Sustainable Dorset, email: [email protected]
MP Simon Hoare is calling time on the surprising loophole behind the funeral trade – anyone can set up shop, no licence or training required
Simon Hoare MP
Let me start with some exciting news. The esteemed editor of this august publication, Laura Hitchcock, and I are going into business together – we’re setting up a new commercial venture. In the absence of any other idea, we have decided to become funeral directors. We will offer the full service, aas well as administering a prepaid funeral plan for those who wish to pay for their funerals in instalments and in advance. Now, I think I hear one or two of you saying, ‘Interesting, but what experience have you got in this area?’ (They’re not alone – Ed) The answer, dear reader, is none. And guess what? We don’t need any. All we need are the formalities of setting up a limited company and some advertising. In a society and economy where business – and most areas of our daily lives – are regulated, inspected or licensed, the undertaking business has no such burdens or obligations. We have rules governing pubs, burger bars, tattoo parlours, cafés … but absolutely nothing about how we deal with our dead. The only legislation covering the deceased is the Burials Act 1857, which mostly deals with the exhumation of a body. Common law has expectations about a decent burial, but that’s about it. There is a greater requirement on a farmer moving livestock than there is on an undertaker moving a body.
An expectation I knew none of the above until I was a Minister, when a very bad case of undertaker-failure occurred in Hull. Alongside the Ministry of Justice, we looked into the situation and were appalled to find that there is simply no statutory, licensing or qualification requirement to set up as an undertaker. However, before panic sets in, the vast majority of funeral directors know what they are doing – and do it well. There are several standard-setting voluntary trade bodies that around 80 per cent of operators belong to. They do inspect and help to set operating standards. But that still means around 20 per cent are not members of any such body. Even if they are, and are found to fall below expected standards and are expelled from their trade association, they can still continue to trade. The sector has grown up under a societal expectation that our dead will be treated with dignity and respect in the period between death and funeral. But it is just that – an expectation. An assumption. There is nothing to back it up or enforce it.
They want red tape Ministerial colleagues and I were working up detailed plans to rectify this when the 2024 election was called: new Government – same old issue. It was after receiving a rather underwhelming ‘in the fullness of time’ response to a Written Parliamentary Question that I secured an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons to get the issue in public and on the record. Usually, when one seeks to introduce a new tier of paperwork and regulation, there is kickback from operators and their representative bodies. Not so in this case. The trade bodies want licensing, inspection and statutory regulation – I was at pains to stress this to the Government. The operators of excellent businesses do not want the limited but existing rotten apples to poison the barrel and erode public trust. I was buoyed by the fact that there was strong interest from other MPs in the Commons and a united and clear message to Government that doing nothing is not an option. The Minister clearly got this. The issue is that it affects several Government departments – the Department of Health & Social Care if it is to be the Human Tissue Authority that has an inspection role; the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities if local councils are to have a role in licensing (this is my preferred option); the Treasury and Financial Conduct Authority regarding the selling of pre-paid plans; the Department for Business in terms of commercial issues; and the Ministry of Justice, which covers the Burial Act and registration of deaths … My first task will be to establish which department is taking the lead and co-ordinating across Government. The second will be, alongside other colleagues, pressing for legislation that will drive out the cowboys, protect the good operators and ensure public confidence in this sensitive but vital area.
If you’ve never been to a point-to-point before, you’re in for a treat. It’s a great countryside day out where horses and riders take on a series of steeplechase fences in this much-loved amateur sport. It’s as social as it is sporting – a chance to meet friends, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy rural Dorset at its best.
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The Portman Point-to-Point is on 16th November at Badbury Rings – an Iron Age hillfort between Wimborne and Blandford, which offers sweeping views and a superb four-fence home straight which allows you to watch the horses thunder to the line. Gates open at 10.30am, with Family Dog Racing at 11am – bring your dog of any size and have a go, you (they?) may win a prize! The first race starts at 12.30pm, with six races through the afternoon. Whether you’re studying the form like a pro or simply picking your favourite horse name and cheering from the rails, the excitement builds with every race. All the racing can be followed on the big screen located near the paddock, and of course, no self-respecting race meeting is complete without a bookie for you to have a flutter! Between races, explore the trade stands selling artisan food, drink and country clothing, or visit the Silent Auction in a marquee near the paddock. There’s always a superb selection of lots – websiye goes live on Wednesday 12th here. Wheelbarrow Raffle – a barrow piled high with alcoholic delights that could be yours if your ticket comes up trumps. Tickets £15 from gopointing.com or on the gate. Hospitality tickets available from Susie Old at £40 – a steal for a base in the main marquee with all-day complimentary food and drink.
Leweston School has marked an exceptional summer in the performing arts, with pupils from Prep 3 through to Year 13 achieving record numbers of top grades in their LAMDA, ABRSM and Trinity College London examinations.
The school’s focus on creativity as an integral part of education was clearly reflected in this year’s results, which saw the majority of candidates awarded Distinctions across a wide range of disciplines – from acting and public speaking to instrumental performance.
Leweston pupils take exams with three of the country’s most respected awarding bodies: – LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art), which assesses drama, communication and performance, and offers qualifications recognised for their equivalence to GCSEs and A Levels, adding UCAS points for university entry. – ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), a global authority in music education that encourages strong technical skill and musical understanding. – Trinity College London, whose broad suite of qualifications in music, drama and communication focuses on creativity, expressiveness and transferable life skills.
The higher-level certifications available through these boards contribute directly to UCAS applications, supporting students who go on to study at leading universities, conservatoires and drama schools.
Staff in Leweston’s Drama and Music departments said the outcomes reflect the “collaboration, dedication and hard work” that define the school’s approach. They praised both pupils and teachers for their commitment throughout the year, describing the achievements as a true team effort.
Leweston said the results demonstrate its continuing commitment to nurturing confidence and imagination through the arts – qualities that, it says, prepare young people as much for life as for the stage.
Meet Squish, the yearling giving Tamsin Doar a masterclass in patience, groundwork and prosecco-powered perseverance – one leg at a time
Squish when she arrived – still very much a baby and relatively unhandled All images: Tamsin Doar
While The Sass Queen loves to hog the limelight, she has, surprisingly readily, accepted that she has a young pretender who has to share the attention. Squirrel, a sport horse yearling – ‘Squish’ to her friends – joined our herd in April. While I by no means claim to be a professional, after many years – more than I care to admit – riding and working with horses, I thought of myself as a relatively experienced horsewoman … but I was quickly reminded there is nothing more humbling than dealing with an equine toddler. With horse prices still sky-high, many equestrians are turning to youngsters. They’re wonderful and rewarding – but also hard work. Squish was still very much a baby, relatively unhandled when I bought her. I kept her in a postage-stamp corner of the field to start building a bond – and, frankly, to work out how to catch her. She quickly made it clear that she disapproved of this decision. She escaped on day two, joining The Sass Queen and my friend’s gelding – now dubbed the ‘grumpy uncle’ for tolerating babysitting duties. She regularly escaped over the first few weeks which caused me to question my sanity – what on earth had I done buying a yearling?
‘I bought her for her kind face and the inquisitive look in her eye.’ – Tamsin introducing Squish to her ‘postage-stamp corner’ of the field
The no-touching zone Squish quickly reminded me, however, how rewarding teaching the basics can be. Initially I could barely get a headcollar on her, but over the next few weeks I’d spend a bit of time just being in the field with them; grooming The Sass Queen, giving her attention and pottering around. Eventually Squish’s curiosity got the better of her and she started wanting to spend more time near me to see what was going on. I bought her for her kind face and the inquisitive look in her eye – something I hope will make her a confident horse who thinks for herself (though, hopefully, she’ll not be quite as opinionated as The Sass Queen). Once we’d established the basics of being caught, we began working on Squish accepting me touching her all over. I strongly believe that youngsters should have time to be babies, but I also believe in the importance of them understanding the basics (being caught, being touched and having their feet picked up), in case of emergency situations where they might need a vet or a farrier. It makes it safer and less emotionally taxing for everyone. Squish was happy for her neck and shoulders to be touched, but not her mane, ears, legs … basically anywhere else. If she could see me in her peripheral field of vision that was fine, but anywhere else was out of bounds. I quickly realised how much we take for granted with our horses –and how much they trust us. For a flight animal, it’s a wonder they will happily stand while we poke, prod, groom and lift their legs up is a wonder. We’d start off with where Squish was happiest being touched, and just gently move around her body. The second she relaxed she’d get a scratch in her favourite spot (on her neck) and I’d turn her back out. Little and often was the key. Now, six months on, she’ll happily let me groom her all over and will stand there half-asleep with the droopiest bottom lip I’ve ever seen.
Now, Squish will happily let Tamsin groom her all over, standing half-asleep … with the droopiest of bottom lips
Doing the leg work Next on the list of ‘basic education 101’ was allowing me to pick her legs up. Surprisingly, once she’d understood what I was asking, she readily accepted me picking up her front feet. Again, rewarding the good behaviour was key – not only would I pick them up but I was able to gently move her legs in different directions, much as my farrier would do. Her back legs, however, were a different story: she’d kick out or try to run through whoever was holding her. This made me re-assess: I needed to be able to pick up all of her feet without drama, but I didn’t want to lose the trust we’d started to build. I also needed to keep myself safe! I tried using a lead rope around her hoof – she would let me run my hand down her leg and pick it up using the rope, and if she kicked out I was already out of harm’s way. Once again, immediate rewards, and as soon as she relaxed, she was turned back out to process what I’d asked.
Double trouble – it took just two days for Squish to escape her own perfectly-designed area and break into The Sass Queen’s field: The Sass Queen has been a willing nanny ever since (the less-willing Grumpy Uncle can be seen in the background)
We continued to work on this until she was happy for me to pick up her feet just as I would any other horse. The key was always to go at her pace, and not to rush through. Learning and understanding what the humans are asking is mentally taxing for a young horse, so allowing them time to process everything is so important. Being flexible and adaptable is crucial: what works for one horse won’t necessarily work for another. Finally, my biggest help has been having a good support system. An experienced extra pair of hands makes it safer and calmer for both horse and human. There’s no doubt in my mind that Squish would not have learned everything as well as she has without my friend (Grumpy Uncle’s owner) holding and re-assuring her. But it’s not just Squish who benefitted – my friend has also helped me pick up the pieces when things didn’t go to plan and I felt like we’d taken one step forward and two steps back. She formulated alternative methods with me … and provided equal amounts of prosecco and shoulder-to-cry-on when I questioned my sanity.
Next month: Squish graduates from the field to the big wide world – with a little help from The Sass Queen.
Once a jungle-themed youth centre and now a bright and welcoming Sixth Form hub – a tired old building at The Blandford School has been completely transformed thanks to teamwork, community spirit … and a lot of hands-on graft. Tucked between the school and the leisure centre, the new Sixth Form Centre opened at the start of the autumn term, giving students their own dedicated social and study space for the first time.
The ribbon cutting. From left: chair of governors Jens Bertelsen, site team member Mark Rendell who dedicated countless hours of his spare time renovating the space, and headteacher Alan Jones. All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
‘It’s about giving them somewhere to call their own,’ says site team member Mark Rendell, who was heavily involved in the transformation and dedicated countless hours of his spare time to renovating the space. ‘Before this, they had the Well and their study area, but this is the sixth formers’ own place – a home-from-home inside the school.’ The building – once home to the Blandford Youth Centre – had long been unused and unloved. ‘There were fake brick walls, polystyrene murals, concrete wire … it was all very “jungle” themed,’ Mark says. ‘We gutted the whole place.’
Inside the new sixth form centre
Everything except the carpet was done in-house by the school’s site team – including painting, furniture, and fitting out the kitchen. The sixth form team had long wanted to offer their students a more grown-up, collegiate atmosphere – and this project finally made it possible. Inside, the new space offers a mix of chill-out and light study areas, with bar-style seating and plenty of plug sockets for laptops. There’s full WiFi access, a dedicated kitchen (including a coffee machine on monthly hire), and secure access via swipe card.
The new space offers a mix of chill-out and light study areas, with bar-style seating and plenty of plug sockets for laptops
‘It’s already working well,’ says Mark. ‘Sometimes you walk in and they’re all chatting together, other times they’re working on laptops with a hot chocolate in hand. That’s exactly what we wanted.’ Much of the furniture and kitchen equipment was donated or repurposed – and local support has played a huge part in the project’s success. ‘We asked for a shopping list from the school,’ says John Dalston from Blandford and Stour Rotary Club. ‘Using a grant we gave, we went out and bought everything on it – chairs, kitchen stuff, all sorts.’ The club has a long-standing relationship with the school and is planning more support in the months ahead, including a fundraiser at the Blandford Yuletide Festival in December. There’s still more to come, says Mark: ‘Phase two is upstairs. We haven’t touched that yet. It’ll be the same process – gut it, re-do it all and hopefully make a quiet study area or a social space with little rooms for things like computer work.’
The sixth formers cheered as the ribbon was cut and they were allowed access to their new dedicated social and study space
The school is still hoping for support from the community, too – with wish-list items including a bag rack system, wall art and homely touches to soften the space. ‘It’s not just about making something that looks nice,’ Mark says. ‘It’s about giving our sixth formers a bit of independence – a space that feels like theirs. ‘Somewhere that teaches a bit of life stuff, too: how to make a coffee, load the dishwasher, clear up after yourself – you know … the good stuff.’
