Full speed ahead with community sites set to receive gigabit broadband thanks to Dorset LEP

12 May 2021

Dozens of community buildings across rural north Dorset are to be connected to next generation gigabit-capable broadband.

It’s thanks to a Getting Building Fund allocation from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Left to right: Cllr Peter Wharf, Dorset Council’s Deputy Leader; Cecilia Bufton, Chair of Dorset LEP; Hector Gibson Fleming, Wessex Internet MD, and Nicola Brooke, Headteacher of Durweston School. The school has recently been connected to the latest broadband technology.

Sixty community sites, from Blandford to Sherborne and including schools, community centres, a health centre, council depots, farms and adult social care residential homes, will be connected to gigabit broadband by March 2022.

Following a competitive tender process, Blandford-based Wessex Internet has been awarded the contract to deliver full-fibre to the community buildings.

Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP Director, said: “Digital connectivity has been instrumental in helping our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic and will be vital in our recovery.

“Our Local Industrial Strategy for Dorset states that by 2030 we will lead a digital and cultural transformation across all communities.

“Projects such as this will help fulfil that ambition.

“This investment will bring much-needed improvement to broadband speeds in some of Dorset’s most rural areas, greatly benefitting the local economy.”

Cllr Peter Wharf, Dorset Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “This is fantastic news for the communities in this area.

“It will mean some of our most rural areas, that would never be covered commercially, will be able to access the next generation of gigabit capable broadband.

“This is not only good news for the community organisations, all of which provide vital services, but also to the surrounding residents and business who will now have greater access to full-fibre infrastructure.”

Building the network to the sites will bring many thousands of homes and businesses within reach of the new Wessex Internet network.

Residents and businesses in these areas will be eligible for further subsidy through gigabit vouchers funded by the government, Dorset Council and the Dorset LEP to offset the costs of installing full-fibre.

Hector Gibson Fleming, Managing Director of Wessex Internet, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract from Dorset Council and Dorset LEP.

“Not only to connect these important community sites, but to enable us to rapidly expand our network to the rural communities between Blandford and Sherborne, and connect more homes and businesses.

“We’re passionate about upgrading connectivity in the countryside and have already connected dozens of Dorset villages and hamlets to full fibre broadband.

“This will accelerate our work in this area and continue to expand our rapidly growing workforce in north Dorset.”

By: Andrew Diprose Dorset Biz News

14yr old Stalbridge girl, Ruby ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Else-White, named one of ‘Europe’s top boxing prospects’.

Laura

12 May 2021

Ruby Else-White has been recognised as one of Europe’s top talents at just 14 years old.

“It was mad!” Ruby said of the competition in Sweden early last year. Now aged 14, Ruby was just 12 when she won “I’d competed all weekend, and won all my bouts to get the gold for my weight. It was actually really tough because it was all judged on technical ability. There was no power allowed so I had to just focus on my skills. But I didn’t even think about the overall award. I was so shocked.”

Ruby Else-White, the Pocket Rocket female boxer from north Dorset

“There were 300 girls fighting that weekend” explained her coach, Shaun Weeks of Sturminster Newton ABC “It’s the biggest female amateur championship in Europe. The Indian national team were competing, as were some of the Italians. Ruby was one of the youngest competitors. We were watching the final presentation, and didn’t even think about the top ‘Best Prospect’ award – it’s never left Norway or Sweden before.

There were some great fighters there – but y’know, Ruby’s up there with them. She’s amazing”
Shaun Weeks

Ruby White also defeated the reigning European champion last March, just before the Covid-19 pandemic stalled her attempt to represent England.

For Heidi Else, Ruby’s Mum, it’s been almost an inevitable journey.

“She’s always been a strong, independent person. A ‘free bird’ I call her.
I recently found an old drawing of hers from Primary School – the class had had to colour a rainbow and write their wish underneath. Ruby had written ‘I want to go to the Olympics and win a Gold medal for Boxing’ as her biggest wish. I should have known right then!”

7yr old Ruby Else-White's Olympic Dream Rainbow — Heidi kept Ruby’s 7yr old Olympics dream Rainbow.

Shaun says he knew too, from Ruby’s very first training session.

“She got in the ring as a seven year old, never having worn a pair of gloves before, and I told another coach that night that she’d be a champion by the time she was 12.”

Talking to Ruby over a weekend of a sporting social media boycott raising awareness of online abuse, I wondered if as a young teen girl she had received any nastiness herself.

“It’s something that worries me” said Heidi “It’s bad enough that her sport makes her obsess around her weight – we keep the focus on fitness and health, and never on her looks, but teen girls are vulnerable. It’s a tricky line to walk.
“And then Ruby’s had some issues with unpleasantness on social media – particularly when the article was published on Sky Sports about her. It did upset her for a bit.”

Ruby appeared less concerned than her mum, expressing what I’m quickly learning is her usual dismissive attitude to things she doesn’t like.

“I just tell them if they’ve got a problem with me, they’re welcome to bring it in the ring to settle it.”

Surprisingly, it’s not male commenters that give Ruby a hard time online

“No, whenever I train or spar with boys, it’s always really respectful, and it’s the same online. But other girls can be pretty horrible sometimes. Not all, obviously – I have a lovely group of female boxers I talk to a lot, we support and encourage each other, it’s lovely.

“But others can be a bit much – I don’t know if it’s because that’s how they think they’re expected to be, but Shaun’s really strong on being respectful at all times.

“It’s mad. Especially as girls are starting to break through to mainstream now – it’s a tough sport, and I just feel like we’d all be better if we didn’t knock each other. Outside the ring, obviously…”
Ruby peeled off into reassuringly familiar 14 year old old teen sniggers.

“It’s been a swift learning curve” said Shaun “Social media’s not really my thing, and I didn’t really expect it from other young female fighters. Though I didn’t expect I’d get personal messages from their coaches either!
“But we all sat down together and decided how we would handle any issues online – Ruby’s only going to get more attention, so it was definitely something Ruby, her family and I needed to discuss. Ruby’s close to Heidi, and they talked it through too.”

Does Heidi watch her daughter fight, I wondered?

“I do.” Heidi said “and I’ll admit it’s worrying for a mum. It’s hard to watch. The hardest thing. But I want to be there for her every step of the way.”

So what’s next for the local Pocket Rocket? The world’s best amateur boxers will compete in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics – and Ruby has set herself a target of the 2028 Games (she’ll still be too young in 2024). She has already been training with the best national hopefuls in the GB Pathways Squad in Sheffield, and intends to resume the qualification process later this year.

“Nationals in September, hopefully, then the Box Cup, which I have to win for the third year running to retain my title.”

Unknowingly echoing the story Heidi told me earlier, Ruby finished “I really want to win an Olympic title,” she said.

“I’ve always wanted to get gold at the Olympics.”

Claiming against an uninsured or untraced Driver

Editorial team

12 May 2021

Other driver uninsured or driven off but left you injured? You may still have a claim.

It’s the road user’s worst nightmare – you’re involved in an accident that isn’t your fault, only to find that the other driver isn’t insured or, worse, has driven off without providing their details.

This doesn’t however need to be the problem it may initially appear to be as it is in these circumstances that the Motor Insurer’s Bureau (‘MIB’) may step in. The MIB is a non-profit-making company set up by motor insurers. It enters into agreements with the UK Government in order to compensate victims

of motor accidents in such circumstances. It is funded by contributions from every insurer that underwrites compulsory motor insurance; with The Road Traffic Act 1988 requiring these insurers be a member of the MIB and contribute to the funding.

The MIB also works with the police to identify uninsured drivers for prosecution, thereby working towards all our safety on the road, that being all victims of road traffic accidents who are not at fault, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Eligibility – If your claim is eligible and you follow the correct process (outlined below), compensation can be available for pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by injuries sustained, financial losses suffered (for example a loss of earnings) and for the loss of or damage to any property involved in the accident, including a vehicle.

One of the most important things to remember in relation to eligibility is that a claim must be brought for personal injury, assuming that in most cases like this some sort of injury will have been caused, within 3 years of the date of accident. After this time it becomes “statute barred” and you will not be able to bring the claim.

Process – In order to make a claim to the MIB, important steps need to be taken early on and without delay.

Firstly, if you are driving, always report the accident to the police. If another vehicle is involved and they do not provide their insurance details, this must be reported to the police within 24 hours. It is advisable to report the matter to the police within 24 hours in any event. You should also inform your own insurance company.

If you were not driving a vehicle, but were a pedestrian or cyclist, you should report the accident to the police immediately; any delay in these respects could affect your eligibility to make a claim.

Once eligibility has been established, a Claim Form can then be submitted
to the MIB, setting out full details of the damage and injury suffered. It is important that this document is complete and accurate in order to ensure that the MIB gives your claim the careful consideration it deserves. Again, there are deadlines so it is important to act quickly.

The process will be different depending on whether the claim is against an uninsured driver or an untraced driver (i.e. a driver who has “hit and run”)- it is important that you follow the right process and understand how it all works so as to give yourself the best possible chance of having your claim accepted, accessing appropriate treatment or rehabilitation that might assist in your recovery and, ultimately, ending up with a fair sum of compensation for the experience that you have had to go through.

Battens personal injury team are able to assist you with the process, leaving you to just concentrate on getting better. For more information contact kate Golding on 01935 846072 or email [email protected]

8yr old Patrick Raises £345 for Blandford Primary School Field

Editorial team

12 May 2021

When 8yr old Patrick Doyle, a pupil at Archbishop Wake Primary School in Blandford
heard the school were trying to raise money for an all-winter playing field, he immediately told his grandmother he wanted to help.Archbishop Wake Primary School in Blandford are very lucky to have a huge playing field. However it is mostly unusable during the Autumn and Winter months as the ground is too wet. The school are trying to raise money for a ‘Multi Use Games Area’ (MUGA) – an all-weather sports surface which is suitable for multiple different activities. so that they can use their outdoor space all year round. However, a MUGA is not cheap – and the school naturally has a limited budget, and many demands upon it.Patrick’s grandparents are his main carers. Carol Doyle, Patrick’s grandmother, said“when Patrick heard what the school wanted to do, he asked if perhaps he could do asponsored walk for them.He’s not a huge sports fan, though he does enjoy kicking a ball around the garden. We think it’s just that he wanted to help the school. “Naturally we encouraged him, telling him that it was a great idea. We suggested walking around the Milldown, and Patrick decided that he would walk one lap of the Milldown once a day for five days.Patrick achieved his target – he walked a mile around the Milldown every day for 5 daysand he has raised £345 for the school! A spokesperson from Archbishop Wake said “We are all so proud of him. Such kindness touches us all!”Carol said “myself and his grandad are very proud of his achievement, as is his mum and the rest of our family and friends.”

Deco Artist’s Poignant Masterpiece Tells Tragic Tale of Loss in Stur

Laura

12 May 2021

The jewelled colours of St Elizabeth of Hungary sparkle in the late afternoon sunlight. Her flaming red hair and the sight of the Madonna flanked by two women in the stained glass window would have been a dramatic sight for the Sturminster Newton parishioners in 1921.

A century later, elements of the story behind this rare Art Deco memorial window resonate with the current pandemic and the sacrifice made by people across the world.

The Spencer-Smith family lived in Sturminster Newton. Drummond Cospatric Spencer-Smith was an officer in the Royal Artillery, posted to New Zealand as Aide De Camp to the Governor-General. It was in New Zealand that he met Roma Hope, a beautiful red-headed girl from Timaru on South Island. They became engaged, married in London in 1915 and moved to Sturminster Newton.

During the First World War, Roma worked as a nurse at St Thomas Hospital in London. Tragically, she died on 12 November 1918 during the flu pandemic, aged 28, and the day after the armistice.

The couple had been married just three years, of which Drummond spent most of the time serving in World War One. Roma left an eleven-month-old son.

A devastated Sir Drummond Spencer-Smith commissioned a memorial stained glass window for Sturminster Newton.

Harry Clarke was an award-winning stained glass artist and book illustrator from Ireland and a strict catholic. He had studied in Chartres, and the rich colours used in his work are a result of the influence the cathedral windows had on him. His work was considered bizarre by many but was strongly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.

We don’t know why Harry Clarke accepted the commission for Sir Drummond Spencer Smith.

Was it a shared sense of compassion for the prolific global loss in the 1918 Flu Pandemic?

Or, was he an admirer of the suffragette and first woman stained glass artist, Mary Lowndes from Sturminster Newton, whose work also features in St Mary’s Church?

Clarke had rented a studio from the Lowndes & Drury’s workshop in Chelsea, so it is highly likely the two artists were acquainted.

Harry Clarke used an art deco design for the window which featured three female saints of equal height. It was unusual as the Madonna is usually alone, or placed above other characters.

Harry worked on the glass himself and completed it in May 1921, signing the panel. Apart from being a masterpiece, the more you look at the window, the more there is to see.

The Madonna and child in the central panel represent the Virgin Mary and the memorial to Roma Spencer Smith. The baby is a portrait of Roma’s child. The red-haired woman in Art Deco clothing on the left is Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who is the patron saint of nurses and represents Roma’s profession.

The portrait in the glass was taken from one of Roma herself. On the right is Saint Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen, representative of Drummond Spencer-Smith. Saint Barbara is based on a portrait of Harry Clarke’s wife. Clarke signed the window in the bottom right-hand corner.

This window in St Mary’s is the only window Harry Clarke made for an Anglican church.

It is the detail that makes this window so compelling and poignant. The Fortuny style robes and Art Deco shoes, the vibrant rich colours reflecting the light, and the Celtic chevrons on Madonna’s robe. The scene below the central figure is of shepherds watching their flocks but the location is on Purbeck.

When Harry Clarke finished it he wrote to a friend, Thomas Bodkin, saying:

“It’s good I think.”

It’s more than just good.

It is a masterpiece that is all the more poignant in its centenary year as we live through the impact of the global pandemic.

St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton has limited visiting due to COVID restrictions. The website gives details of opening.

Primary Care Network Business Administrator | Blackmore Vale Partnership

Editorial team

11 May 2021

The Blackmore Vale Partnership, part of the Vale PCN is recruiting a dynamic business administrator to support us with the continued development of our PCN and successful roll out of our Covid Vaccination Programme.

Our PCN is a fast paced with lots of ambition and drive and we now need an energetic PCN Business administrator to support us.

The PCN team is growing and includes social prescribers, health coaches, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mental health practitioners, etc

The main duties of this role will be to support the Clinical Director and Practice Manager with the day to day administration of the PCN and support the coordination of projects that we are implementing.

You will be located at The Blackmore Vale Partnership surgeries in North Dorset.

If you have any further questions about the role, please contact Sara Froud on 01258 474517 or email[email protected]

For more information about the role and to apply, please follow the link to our website.

Vacancies (blackmorevalesurgery.co.uk)

Garden Jobs for May

Editorial team

11 May 2021

with Pete Harcom – Head Gardener at Sherton Abbas Gardening

The Peacock butterfly is one of the commonest garden butterflies, In May females lay their eggs in batches of up to 500. Peacock caterpillars are black, covered with short spines and speckled with white spots, and are usually found on stinging nettles.

Hello All,

Well, last month was a cold one wasn’t it? May should be a lot warmer, but as said
last month, keep an eye on the weather forecast and protect early outdoor sowings
and plantings with fleece.

Bedding plants may need to wait to be planted out towards the end of May.

Continue to keep on top of weed growth – regularly hoe them off whilst they are easy
to handle.

Aerate the lawn with a garden fork to avoid compaction and moss growth. After the
aeration, apply a slow release granular fertiliser (if you use small granules this will reduce
the scorch potential).

Birds will be starting to nest now – so please check hedges before trimming them back.

Wildflowers – why not create a wildflower meadow?

Even in a small garden you can attract our native insects and animals. Native wildflowers are a food source, which will naturally attract bees, butterflies and birds to your garden.

Do take a look at the Wildlife Trust’s advice on how to grow a wild patch.

Even the smallest ‘wildflower meadow’ (which is a grand name but can mean any small patch of your garden left to rewild – even one single pot is a start) will provide homes and food for wildlife and benefit biodiversity. Native wildflowers provide pollen and nectar to help sustain the insects that pollinate our food crops.

A wildflower patch will also create homes and resting places for beneficial insects such as spiders, ladybirds and lacewings. These creatures help control pests in gardens and commercial
crops

Wildflowers are a source of food and nesting material for birds, too. Some of our birds
like to eat the seeds, some like to eat caterpillars and insects. And all of these can be found in wildflower meadows or small patches of wildflowers.

Water helps too – even a tiny pond can be very interesting in a garden, and will help provide habitat for frogs and toads. Do remember to provide a ramp in any ponds with sheer sides, so frogs and other creatures can climb out easily.

Remember that toads are a gardener’s best friend – they eat slugs, bugs, flies and other pests. A wildflower meadow makes a lovely damp environment for amphibians to forage in.

The easiest way to start is to simply leave a patch of un-mown long grass in your garden. Butterflies, for instance, like to lay eggs in flowering grasses. Some types of butterfly and moth only ever lay their eggs on specific native plants.

Pete

The Insider Tips on The Dorset Property Market May 21

Editorial team

11 May 2021

More buyers are bidding over the asking price for properties than at any point in the last seven years. The UK’s property market is flying at the moment, with buyers battling to secure sought-after homes before the end of the stamp duty holiday. But is now a good time to sell locally?

New research by NAEA Propertymark found one in six properties (16%) sold for more than their asking price in March – the highest proportion recorded in seven years. In the same month, a third of properties (33%) sold for below their asking price, the lowest proportion since NAEA started keeping records. The estate agency group says there are currently 13 buyers for each home on the market, as the stamp duty holiday continues to entice buyers.

So we gathered a group of the most experienced local experts to talk specifically about what’s happening in our own market, to see what’s selling and who’s buying:

How are things looking in the property market currently? The impression to the public is that it is booming, and being an estate agent right now is an easy life: is this a misconception?

Roderick Thomas, owner of Roderick Thomas Estate Agents didn’t hesitate: “The market is booming and should, and generally does, reflect in the estate agency business.

A vigorous market involves agents working harder and faster to respond to more enquiries, carry out more viewings and negotiate and agree more sales. All very exciting, great for the economy and local employment – we’re currently recruiting to expand our staff across both branches.

Ashley Rawlings, head of residential sales at Savills Wimborne agrees “There is undoubtedly a strong country market at the moment, driven by the pandemic. More recently, the activity is being further boosted by a lack of stock. The age old factors remain the same for agents, though: it’s one thing to agree a sale, it’s quite another to see it through to exchange and completion. Just because the market is busy doesn’t mean there won’t be any unexpected hitches that could threaten to derail the process.

Knowing how to handle any difficulties and keep the sale on track is the mark of a good agent.

Simon Neville-Jones, Branch Manager at Lodestone Shaftesbury also commented on the hectic market “We have multiple buyers for many of the houses we have listed over the last year. Several of our houses followed by best bids have attracted at least 30 viewings within days of being added to the market.”

Susie Palin, head of Meyers Blandford, said “The toughest issue we have is lack of housing stock available to a high volume of buyers; currently in certain situations, vendors have to be ‘under offer’ or cash buyers in order to even view a house which has meant that there is a level of reluctance for some would-be sellers to put their houses on the market for fear of having nowhere to go.

It’s a real chicken and egg scenario at the moment balancing both vendor and buyer expectations.

Can you tell us about the current Stamp Duty Holiday benefits? How is that going to affect things over the next six months?

Brad Hansford from Meyers Shaftesbury isn’t worried “Most buyers have two budgets at the ready, pre- stamp duty holiday and post-, in case they miss the deadline. Most serious buyers have done their homework and realise that after June 30th, there is still a saving to be made on stamp duty and have done their sums accordingly.”

Roderick is confident in the market remaining high “There’s continued lower relief until the Autumn. Buyers naturally want to take advantage of reduced SDLT and are aware they may not complete a purchase prior to the end of June. Nevertheless demand is increasing and I don’t see this changing.

In fact I think the market will continue at this or a higher level at least until the end of this year.

Ashley from Savills tends to agree “Predicting anything in property as far ahead as six months is difficult, however I do see the draw to the country remaining strong for a while yet. The market will simply adapt to the stamp duty change”

Is it okay for someone to ask for a valuation appraisal, even if they’re not sure they want to sell yet?

This drew a reassuring and unequivocal YES from every estate agent!

Simon: “Yes! Agents often visit houses on a regular basis before they go to market.”

Susie: “Of course! most Estate Agents offer free valuations – it gives the seller an idea of where they stand financially”

Roderick “Absolutely.

We sell lots of properties which we originally visited months and even years previously!”

James McKillop, head of residential sales at Savills Salisbury explained further “we look to build long term relationships with clients. We recognise that circumstances change and that it’s important for people to know what their house may be worth at any given time so they can make plans. Talking to an agent about the market now may crystallise those plans or provide further food for thought.

If ‘now’s a perfect time to sell’ – what advice would you give to anyone considering taking the plunge?

Savill’s Ashley “The basic economics of supply and demand suggest now is a good time to sell. In some instances, we are handling competitive bids, and agreeing sales in excess of guide prices. Clearly I would recommend instructing an agent with a good track record – at Savills, some clients prefer to sell ‘off market’ without the use of websites or advertising”

Susie suggests being genuinely ready “It is a seller’s market currently with demand for housing high and inflated prices; if you wish to sell, be ready for your house to sell quickly. The first step of the process would be to get a local property expert out to your property so you are aware of what your main asset is worth.

Roderick “Factors driving the market include shifts to home-working, desire to move out of the bigger cities and towns, and we’ve seen a big leap in interest from overseas buyers, too. The current market is also a catalyst for people who were perhaps considering selling later in the year to crack on and do so now. My advice is to try and buy and sell in the same market.”

Simon “This remains the best market to sell in since the boom of 2006/2007. However, it will not last forever and could easily change by this time next year. It’s hard to predict, so we are encouraging people to make use of the increasing rates of value and demand for houses in Somerset and Dorset.

We see the stories of houses being snapped up super-fast – what tips do you have for potential buyers who are finding the speed of the market

The agents were unanimous in the need for registering with your local estate agents. Meyers’ Brad: “Get registered with each and every Estate Agent in the area of choice, be ready to be flexible and perhaps compromise on location. Most agents will have relationships with builders as well as private sellers and they will know which properties are ‘coming soon’. It is desperately competitive at the moment so keeping in touch with agents is a must. We have frequently sold properties in recent months that have not even managed to hit the main portal sites because the buyer is registered with us.”

Roderick takes things a step further than agents’ mailing lists and checking websites regularly: “Make sure you have a good solicitor lined up and get your paperwork in order for conveyancing. If a vendor receives multiple offers, you’ll be in a better position as a buyer if you’re organised and keen to proceed swiftly and efficiently.

Simon adds the drive for social media to your checklist “Last month we reached over 62,000 people via social media. We ensure that all our properties are added to our social media channels as soon as they are on the market, often before they are even added to Rightmove.”

And Savills’ James takes a step backwards “Most importantly, my advice would be to have funding in place, or at the very least an agreed sale in a short and stable chain. Once that is the case, register with the agents most likely to handle the sort of property you would like to buy and keep in touch with them.

Good agents will ring buyers regularly but be proactive – don’t feel you have to wait for them to call you.”

Who’s buying locally – is it an influx of people looking for a new rural location post-covid, or is it predominantly the local market shifting?

Simon shares Loders’ latest data with us “Our social media and website statistics since January have shown that prospective buyers are mostly UK, but not necessarily local. We have engagement from America, China and Germany, but the majority are UK-based. Our latest house sale attracted buyers visiting from London, Surrey, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Hants, Bath, West Sussex, Berkshire and, of course, Dorset.”

Savills’ Ashley agrees it’s a widespread mix of buyers “We have seen an increase in buyers from London and the Home Counties. They have traditionally made up a large part of our market but the number of new applicants in this bracket has certainly grown. We have also seen a lot of activity from local people looking to upsize within the area.

Roderick is seeing the same movement, but adds a third sector

“It’s the perfect storm. Buyers moving out of London wanting the benefits the country and small towns and villages offer. Likewise, overseas buyers want a base in the UK. The third element is buyers who have been renting for years. Usually people can rent a house which is beyond their budget to buy. This has kept many people renting for years, but they’re seeing inflation coming and they’re now rapidly buying.

Are there currently any specifically desireable locations within the North Dorset area?

Meyers’ Susie says things are so busy it’s tough to call “We have buyers registered wanting towns, villages, splendid isolation and also right in the middle of all amenities!”

Roderick agrees “Picturesque and desirable villages, not to mention wonderful country pubs and spectacular rural scenery; it will always be a popular spot for those seeking to relocate to the West Country. We’re seeing high demand both for rural/ village homes and also homes close to good transport links for those wishing easily to commute to London and elsewhere.”

Lodestone’s Simon feels there’s commuter demands too “The most popular area is probably the A303 corridor with villages like Charlton Horethorne, Nether Compton, Buckhorn Weston. And always villages either with or near amenities.”

Interestingly, Ashley Rawlings has seen a desire for a particular spot “We are spoilt for choice really in the Blackmore Vale but in my experience recently the Okefords (Fitzpaine & Child Okeford) have seen some good sales, with the improvement of facilities in Sturminster Newton contributing towards the increased desirability of these areas.”

Arrows On The Floor

Editorial team

11 May 2021

Sally Wilson, Headteacher of The Blandford School, shares the inside story of the past year

Sally Wilson, Headteacher of The Blandford School, issued over 5,200 headteacher commendations

We never imagined the journey we had ahead of us when Covid-19 emerged last spring.

The British are very good at ‘pulling together’ and this has been evidenced by the countless caring and kind emails we have received, as well as the wonderful offers of support we have had from the community. It has been a year of immense challenge but at the same time the resilience of the school community has been evident at every turn.

Over the course of the first lockdown we worked closely with schools in the Blandford Schools’ Network, including Bryanston and Knighton House. The former supported us in the early days

with laptop provision and first aid assistance (which enabled us to open for keyworker children).

Staff worked on a rota basis in school and commenced distance learning from their homes – many of them had childcare to manage whilst they delivered lessons using Microsoft Teams for the first time. The lack of lead-in time meant although training on the use of Teams had started prior to lockdown, we were not in such a good position as many schools in the private sector.

The cost of Google Classroom had always been prohibitive for us and so we had not engaged in any distance learning options up to this point.

It was a sharp learning curve for all of us, students, staff and parents!

The latter part of lockdown in June 2020 included lessons in school for years 10 and 12, socially distanced.
By this point we were used to arrows on the floor, one-way systems and the use of facemasks.

The pastoral and safeguarding support of all children across the school has been a major part of our work during Covid. Our school roll is approximately 1000, with 20% in receipt of pupil premium funding and at least 150 a year who see our student support worker for a variety of reasons. Close contact with students whether on or off-site has been essential in terms of their welfare and safeguarding.

Home schooling was a sharp learning curve for all of us, students, staff and parents!

Initiatives came thick and fast from staff and students.

We made over 400 shields for local care homes, hospitals, community facilities and primary schools and produced enough face masks for all staff to have one.

Treasure Island was the brainchild of our Literacy Coordinator – over 40 staff were engaged in filming sections of the novel in their own homes or on ‘location’; the footage was viewed by our students during the first lockdown and children in the primary schools to help with transition.

Year 6-7 transition looked rather different in July 2020.
Instead of briefing parents and children in school we placed a video on our website which included a virtual tour, as well as holding numerous virtual meetings with incoming children and parents.

Over 5,200 headteacher commendations were issued during the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns to children of all abilities/all ages. Congratulations to them for their attitude, effort and perseverance.

August 2020 will forever be remembered as The Summer of Centre Assessed Grades, algorithms and an unfortunate lack of clear communication and decision making from central government.

This was an exceptionally difficult time for our year 11 and 13 students who had been caught up in a muddle not of their making.

The school re-opened on time in September 2020 with a host of new ways of operating – ‘external zones’, year group ‘bubbles’, facemasks, 14 escorted moves for all students in years 7-11 during the day (from zones to lessons and back again), social distancing in classrooms, no mixing of year groups at break or lunch and no extra-curricular activities or trips.

Virtual parents’ evenings were trialled and were a success. As a school we planned for another closure by upskilling students and staff on Teams, and we also continued to manage anxieties around the coronavirus within families.

The Blandford School – image: Ash Mills Photography

The most challenging aspect of our new learning environment was the requirement for ventilation.
Windows and doors were open all the time, and still are. October was very cold and we all donned extra layers.

Children and staff were advised to wear coats in classroom if they wished! The school has had very few cases and no coronavirus community transmissions in school.

The second lockdown commenced in January 2021 and both in-school provision and out-of-school provision has gone very well.
There definitely is a weariness which was not there as much last time but staff have thrown themselves into their work with characteristic willingness and good humour.
Approximately 96% of our students have been consistently engaged during this second lockdown which is a very high proportion of the school, and testament to teamwork and the amount of carer/parental support we have received.

We appreciate many families have found home schooling difficult and we commend them for working with us.

We also appreciate some students will find it difficult returning into school after such a prolonged period and there will be significant support systems in place to look after them.

The logistics of setting up the lateral flow testing regime at the start of the new year were immense but the team – which includes volunteer staff, Simon Hoare MP, an ex-GP, health workers and governors – have done a tremendous job.

Testing, teacher assessed grades, the support of year 11 and 13 whose public exams have been cancelled, and the quality delivery of face-to-face lessons have all been our focus over the last few weeks.

We are looking forward to lighter evenings, the sun shining and the gradual return to ‘normality’. As a team, we are proud of our role during the pandemic in supporting the NHS.
We are also very, very proud of our students whose energy and enthusiasm for learning is infectious. The summer is just around the corner.

Sally Wilson,
Headteacher

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