schools

Headington Headlines #383

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 27 August – 2 September

The planning application for the proposed new Swan School in Marston goes to the East Area Planning Committee on Wednesday (Agenda item 3). Agenda item 4 covers the demolition of the Meadowbrook Buidings and provision of temporary buildings. Under item 3 the report says “Officers consider that the proposal would accord with the policies of the development plan when considered as a whole and the range of material considerations, on balance, support the grant of planning permission.”

The 17th Headington Beer Festival is on next weekend @TheMasonsArmsHQ. It starts on friday 7 September.

The Mosaics/Barton Park development continues to make progress. I’m told all the first town houses have been sold. There’s a new boardwalk parallel to the Bayswater Brook, though you can’t see the water from it, and a small playground for small children beside the flood storage pond.

Barton Park play area
Barton Park play area

Rerouted buses using the Saxon Way entrance to the JR to avoid Access to Headington roadworks are being blamed for the road surface breaking up.

With the City Council in the news for contracting the letting of an upmarket apartment in the Town Hall to a local estate agent who in turn advertise it on AirBnB, @HeadingtonNews has been looking at AirBnB properties in Headington.

Police are monitoring South Park and Headington Hill Park in an effort to clamp down on drug dealing. They ask anyone who sees anything suspicious to contact them by phoning 101.

The Marston cycle path will be ‘rejuvenated’ this week. The County Council says “The resurfacing will take place in the week starting 3 September, and the path will be completely closed on 6 and 7 September. There will be alternative routes for cyclists during this short closure period.”

Marston’s Independent Councillor Mick Haines has published the second book in his ongoing biography series. I understand it’s currently only available via his daughter’s facebook page; I haven’t got a link for that. [Update 1700 03/09/2018 I now know that Mick’s new book is not part of his autobiography. It is “a fictional story based in Oxford in the 1950s and 60s”. Three pounds of the five pound cost is being donated to Cancer Research.]

My favourite Headington-related tweet:

Still no new posts on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week.

Headington Headlines #377

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 16 – 22 July .

The LibDems held Headington Ward in the by-election on Thursday. The new councillor is Stef Garden @SGarden13. Full results here.

Here’s a feel-good story in @TheOxfordMail about the new mural in the Marston underpass.

A man was racially abused and assaulted in Bury Knowle Park at about 7pm on Saturday 14 July. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Responding to this incident, a group called Oxford Stand Up to Racism with support from Oxford Labour organised a rally in Bury Knowle Park on Sunday. Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds and local councillor Martyn Rush gave speeches.

The Further Education Commission, an arm of the Dept for Education, has issued a critical report on Ruskin College. A history of poor financial performance over the past several years coupled with shortcomings in administrative staffing and systems has led to the possibility of Ruskin having to merge with another educational institution. The FEC’s report makes several recommendations which need to be implemented urgently.

Also from Ruskin College, my favourite Headington-related tweet this week:

Active posts on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • No to racism in Bury Knowle Park – Community walk
  • Bath buildings Headington

Headington Headlines #376

TonyOX3

A little later than usual and with a strong educational slant, here is your weekly round-up of local news for 9 – 15 July .

The head teacher for the Swan School has been appointed despite the school not yet having planning permission. She is Kay Wood, currently vice principal of teaching and learning at The City Academy in Hackney. The planning application for the school won’t now be considered by the City Council before September at the earliest.

The Marston underpass mural by pupils and friends of St Nicholas Primary was finished this week. These pictures were taken during the final few days.

Mural painting in progress
Mural painting in progress
Marston underpass mural
Marston underpass mural

The Triangle Nursery, Oxford University’s nursery on the Old Road Campus, was awarded a 5-star rating (the highest) in a recent food hygiene inspection.

Active posts on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • Travelling to London from Headington
  • New day trip from Headington to South Sea planned
  • CoWheels
  • Headington Art Exhiition
  • Cycling Proficiency