06/11/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

But according to this report the That is all

But according to this report the island needs more teachers who

specialise specifically in the subject. There's a problem finding

them in England ` but even more so in Jersey. When you are fishing in a

smaller pool, it will always be more difficult. That is not to see the

teachers we have are not good teachers. The Department says it's

working to improve pass rates in the core subjects of English and maths.

But the latest figures show a slight fall in this year's maths GCSE pass

rate for A star to C grades compared with last year. Grainville School

increased it pass rate in the subject this year, up to 56%, and

say it's down to teacher training. Crucial lesson observations so that

staff can see different styles and techniques across departments. We

have groups to make sure the teacher learning is appropriate so there are

lots of areas we use. The head of maths this term is going to schools

in the UK to look at maths specialism to see what we can do

here. Education bosses insist students in

Jersey aren't suffering as a result but agree a combination of

specialist training for existing teachers and a greater focus on

pupils' numeracy in the classroom should add up to better results in

the future. Figures published by Jersey state

schools this week showed the percentage of students getting at

least five top grades ranges from 66% down to 47%, but if those grades

have to include maths and English the figures are lower at 22%. Would

you be willing to put up with more power cuts if it meant paying less

for the electricity? That question came up in Guernsey today.

Keeping Saint Peter Port lit up It's what the public expect, but how

secure is the electricity supply? And what's being done to ensure the

light don't go off. Well, there is a States policy in

place, to make sure the Island's power supply is reliable enough For

Guernsey that means having a back up plan, so the light stay on even if

two of the ways we get our electricity fail. Whether that be a

generator here, or the cable link with France. The problem is the more

reliable the service is, the more expensive it is. And moving forward

it means a lot of investment will be needed ` to upgrade generators, and

possibly put in another cable link to bring in power. But today a

public hearing started to discuss whether that back up plan is

adequate, Or perhaps over`cautious. There is a dilemma. The difficult

balance between affordability and security and the environmental

considerations. As a committee, did you approach this thinking that the

security `` electricity supply was not secure enough? From the point of

view that perhaps there were too many assumptions and when you're

spending those sums of money, perhaps you might feel and the

public might feel that assumptions should be tested. For some it

already has been tested when the Cablelink broke last year. The

policy should it is worth last year. `` showed its worth. And the

question was asked whether the public would put up with a less

reliable service, if it meant lower bills. You would see a slight

reduction in price but a bigger reduction in service quality. No one

wants the inconvenience of a power cut but ultimately there needs to be

a balance between how reliable the electricity supply is, and what the

Island can afford. A notorious drug dealer will have to

pay Jersey authorities almost ? 00 million, despite amassing his

alleged fortune over many years and across various territories.

Yesterday Jersey won its battle to confiscate Curtis Warren's assets `

he has four weeks to pay up, or face another ten years in jail. Warren

was jailed in 2009 for trying to import cannabis into the island The

Home Affairs Minister says if Warren doesn't appeal the decision, Jersey

will get the money. If he pays or whatever sum we can find he has

that will go on to the drugs confiscation find and that is good

for preventing drugs related crime. Heritage groups campaigning against

the Co`op's plans for a big supermarket have unveiled their

plans for the site. Jersey's conservationists want to

turn this. Into this. Today they launched their plan for the run`down

Charing Cross site. The listed buildings are owned by the

Co`operative Society, which has had two applications to build a big

supermarket here turned down by planners. "Their schemes were

against planning policythey were going to knock down listed buildings

and they were going to build something much higher and bigger

than is actually on the site. Or is allowed, so they've been refused.

What we are proposing is within the planning policy, we're going to

repair the listed buildings, and the new building will be no larger than

the existing one so it should readily get permission. But the

chief executive of the Co`op says these plans from Jersey's National

Trust and Save Jersey's Heritage won't work. We have had it

independently professionally appraised and it would lose our

members ?12 million. I am not quite sure why they are exhibiting a

scheme for a place they do not own. They have a long way to go to

persuade the Co`op but many believe a solution will have to be found

soon. An ex`Army major who lost the use of

his legs in a rocket attack in Iraq is in Guernsey to lend his support

to this year's community awards His injuries have not stopped him

achieving incredible feats. Despite sustaining injuries to his

heart, his ribs and catastrophic damage to his spinal cord whilst on

duty in Iraq five years ago, Phil Packer still likes a challenge,

quite a few in fact. He has rowed the English Channel. And if that

wasn't hard enough he then completed the London Marathon on crutches It

took him two weeks. . His efforts have raised more than a million

pounds for the wounded. This was recognised when he won the BBC's

Helen Rollason award. And today he's in Guernsey, as the guest speaker at

this year's Community Awards. I was here last year when I was taking

part in the challenge to walk in every county of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland and infuse young people and deliver a positive

message. `` enthuse. I could not have completed the challenge without

the support of the people of Guernsey saw it is good to be able

to come back and thank them. Phil is aiming to inspire young

people through his charitable organisation the British Inspiration

Trust. He wants to help those with physical disabilities but also those

with hidden problems. I have been depressed and I endure those

challenges through very rocky times. It is lucky to see that I'm dorky to

ask for help. If it gets worse and self harming is an issue, we should

talk about that more. `` it is lucky to say and it is okayed to ask for

help. Phil has gone through a lot in his life. He admits he had plenty of

support along the way and he's determined to help others as much as

he can. Inspirational for sure. Here is the

weather. We seem to be stuck in a cycle lobby

couple wet days and then a reprieve and the rain returns. That cycle

will continue into the weekend. It is wet tonight but the rain clears

tomorrow with lighter winds and also it will be cooler. This line of rain

is currently moving through the English Channel and continuing to

produce some outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain. That will be a slow

process and it takes its time. Not until after lunch we move that rain.

For the most part Friday is predominantly dry but there are some

showers around. The best dry weather will be tomorrow afternoon.

Outbreaks of rain through the night and still very windy. By the

morning, this becomes north`westerly and drops substantially. A mild

night and is tomorrow as once we lose the rain, it will brighten up

in the afternoon. It will dry up with lighter winds and 13 Celsius

the top temperature. This is the forecast for the coastal waters

As we move into Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Friday has plenty of showers

with sunny spells in between and similar conditions on Saturday.

Drier on Sunday and that will be the dry day. Goodbye.

On the radio tomorrow morning, BBC radio Jersey will be hearing from

young people over whether young people are better to stay on the

island or move away. From 6am, but from me, goodbye.

And joining as `` and these colourful characters as Paignton

Zoo. Women working in the South West are

being enouraged to join in a survey looking at issues faced by

businesses in the region. It is hoped the report will help to

identify issues faced specifically by women. The results will then be

used to help find solutions to the problems.

We are putting together a survey for women in business in the South West

and looking at what they actually need. There is so much in the press

at the moment about glass ceilings and diversity in boardrooms, but

does that just apply to the south`east or is it something that

is nationwide? We are putting together a survey to

find out what women in the South West actually need, want and think.

The future is looking more secure for Cornwall's only preserved steam

railway. The Bodmin and Wenford line has reached an important milestone

by securing a 35`year long lease from Cornwall Council. It is the

first time there's been a longer lease in the railway's 27`year

history. The future of a former boathouse

once used by coastguards as a base to track smugglers is heading all

the way to the High Court. A group of people in Budleigh Salterton are

so angry over plans to redevelop the building now used as a cafe, they're

funding their own legal challenge. Hamish Marshall reports.

On a damp autumn day, the Longboat doesn't look worthy of such a fuss.

The owner wants to extend his season. The cafe would be revamped

downstairs and a restaurant would be added on the first floor. These

plans were approved by East Devon District Council last year but that

decision is being challenged in the High Court. Protesters say the

council didn't follow correct procedure. They want to save the

Longboat in its current form. It is a garage. It is a boathouse.

It is a very utilitarian building, but if you look at the plans you

actually find it was built with loving care with a lot more

attention to detail than a simple garden shed really demands. Somebody

must have thought this was a very important building when they built

it. That was in the 1870's ` it stored

the coastguard boat which stopped smuggling and also rescued mariners.

But while the nearby coastguard cottages were listed, the boathouse

wasn't. The well`known archaeologist, Mark Horton, is

against the plans, while Natural England has listed concerns over the

new buildings' sustainability. But not everyone in Budleigh is

against it. Sharon Raybock and her husband run a bed and breakfast and

cookery school. She says the town needs to move on.

Budleigh Salterton lacks a lot of restaurants and some have closed in

the past so it would be good for the town to have a new facility. Not

only for people in the town, but to bring new people to the town, which

is critical. I have been speaking to the owner.

He did not want to do an interview on camera but told me the planning

process has taken seven years and he is anxious for Freddie's result to

come. What ever the High Court decides, he says he will abide by

it. `` he is anxious for Friday's result.

The council considers the verdict to be legally correct and procedurally

sound. Exeter Cathedral's new Library and

Archives has been showing off its treasures. The brand new

purpose`built facility at the Bishop's Palace houses books and

documents dating back more than 1,000 years. The collection includes

the foundation charter from the time of Edward the Confessor, and the

Exeter Book, as Spotlight's Heidi Davey has been finding out.

Steeped in a wealth of history. The shelves of Exeter Cathedral's new

look library and archives.with each book telling its own unique story.

The really interesting thing for me is that it not only covers the life

of the cathedral but the life of the city. These are documents giving to

`` given to us by kings from time to time, it is about the life of the

nation from time to time, as well. One of the most famous pieces of

work is the Exeter book ` the 131 page work is one of the earlies

examples of English languagae poetry.

`` English`language poetry. Some of them are very varied in type and the

most popular of them are probably the old English riddles.

A few of those, only a small minority, are fairly racy.

Preponderantly of the book is Christian intone, but there is a

wide variety of material in it. And you can take a look at some of

those, along with the rest of collection at the new facility at

Bishop's Palace. Heidi Davey, BBC Spotlight.

Devon is celebrating the success of four of its cricketers who've just

come back from international duty. The quartet were picked for the

England under`19 tour to South Africa. Andy Birkett has caught up

with two of them. Three Lions on the shirt ` every athlete's dream. But

for four girls from Devon that dream has become a reality. What's even

more remarkable is that three of the girls play for just one club,

Plympton. It was nice going out of there with

people that we knew already. It is down to the cultures. Warren has a

link with England and has been pushing us through coaching

throughout the winter to make us the best we can be. I did not know how

to react. I did not think it was real until I got on the plane.

Is this actually happening? But it was. And all four played

their part. I was nervous, wanting to do

something good for the team, then I got my wicket and first over and I

was so happy, not just to contribute to the team but to have a really big

impact. Exeter University's Aylish Cranstone

had a great time with the bat, while Plympton's third player, Amara Carr,

behind the stumps, continued the form that saw her picked for the

England Academy. But it wasn't all cricket, and the girls got to see

another side to South Africa. It was really cute, they run up to

you, give you a hug, they would not let you go, but then it was quite

sad because they were asking for money, it was emotional.

But back on the field, there was success, with a 3`0 series win over

South Africa's emerging women. Were you one of those who went

hunting for gorillas over the summer? The colourful life`size

models were placed in locations across Exeter and Torbay to mark

Paignton Zoo's 90th birthday. Well tonight the creatures have been

rounded up at Paignton's Palace Theatre to be auctioned off for

conservation charities. James Churchfield is there.

Welcome to the stage here at the Palace Theatre in Paignton. This

fellow has attracted the most interest so far. Each of the

gorillas part of the fundraising effort have a reserve of around

?1500. This one was created and designed by an adult education

teacher at South Devon... This one was made by the celebrity

crafter Kirstie Allsopp. 27 are here tonight and two smaller

ones, as well. One of the others will stay at Paignton Zoo. Back in

July, that was around the time people decided they wanted to have a

look at these wonderful creatures dotted around the landscape of

Exeter and Torbay. 50,000 leaflets were published and in almost two

weeks they managed to complete the amount that was sent out. They had

to reprint it again, such was the popularity of people wanting to go

gorilla spotting. Plenty of people have arrived for the auction

tonight, amongst them Malcolm, who already has his eye on something he

wants to bid for. Why have you decided to come here and which has

caught your attention? We have seen the gorillas are rent Exeter, but I

like skins, or Mr bumble, that are the ones I am looking for. It is an

early Christmas present for my wife. A bit of a surprise to you, isn't it

two shock, perhaps ` I was looking for a handbag!

Where will it all back home? It will go back to Exeter if we get one.

Let's meet the man whose idea `` lets meet the person whose idea it

was to bring this idea to fruition. We have been overwhelmed by the

response, we knew it would be popular but we did not know how mini

people would follow the trail and engage with it.

We had a competition to spot gorillas.

Lots of different people from all ages have followed the trail, but

probably one of the best stories from the event was a little boy aged

seven, autistic, saw one of them for the first time and it has changed

his life. What is lurking behind the black grape?

That would be Darth Vader. There you go, hopefully the force is

with us tonight so that his menacing steer looks out onto the bidders who

will hopefully dig deep into the pockets to raise money for

conservation charities ensuring the future for the gorilla.

Which would you prefer, a handbag or a gorilla?

Handbag, I think. It has dominated the skyline of

Newquay since Victorian times but there are concerns a famous landmark

in the resort may not make it through another winter.

The plight of the Huer's Hut was highlighted after a pictures of it

in a state of disrepair was posted online. As Leigh Rundle reports,

there's now a growing campaign to save it perched high above the bay,

the Huer's Hut is to Newquay what black full tower is to Blackpool.

But it has fallen to sad repair. This is one of Newquay boss Michael

biggest icons. To have it like this come it is

photographed by so many people. It is disgusting.

A picture of the crumbling hut appeared on Facebook and in than

less a week locals were out campaigning for a restoration

programme. We pay our council tax. We do not

think she will get through the winter with the state she is in now.

The hut is a relic from the mid`19th century when Newquay was little more

than a village. Here, huers watched for the arrival of boats, directing

them to the shore. They have said it is not derelict enough to warrant

support gets so I am working with officers to try and secure the

money, then we will look at long`term arrangements for it.

This former lookout is now being watched over of this `` by

descendants of the same community at once helped to feed.

Onto the weather, before we look ahead, a look back, David?

Yes, we will look at October's statistics in the South West of

England. We will start with rainfall which has been particularly heavy.

To give only the last couple of weeks of October. The average is 102

millimetres, but in October we have seen 186 millimetres. With all the

cloud and rain, sunshine is down, the average is just shy of 110

hours, but we actually recorded 99 hours. Temperatures were above

average. We did not see any frost at all during October. On the left is

the average temperatures, and it was quite warm, 14 Celsius the daytime

average, 10 Celsius the night`time temperature. With all that rain you

would expect what levels to come up, but we are still suffering from a

relatively dry summer. West `` this time last year reservoirs were only

97% full, the last time I looked reservoirs were only 74% full. Let's

look at the forecast. We have a much better day tomorrow, much brighter,

winds are lighter, but it will feel older. We will have some sunshine

but we will have two wrap`up one`way, quite a drop in

temperatures. This is producing the wet weather we have had at the

moment. 50 mph along the coast wall in Devon `` along the coast in

Cornwall and Devon. This low is moving, taking the strength of wind

with it but also taking the rain come as well, by the morning most of

us having a dry start with some sunshine, the exception is in the

Channel Islands where the rain will continue until lunchtime. Into

Friday, each of sunshine and blustery showers, winds still

westerly and feeling generally cold. This is the structure of cloud we

have seen in the last few hours, more persistent rain this evening

some heavy, but clearing out of the way and by dawn tomorrow morning the

last bits of the rain clearing from the note `` Dorset coast. Enough

clearing to drop the temperatures just into single figures, eight or

nine Celsius. A much better day tomorrow, some sunshine, winds are

much lighter, some showers to spoil the day but they are fairly isolated

for much of the day. For most of us it will be a dry day, Calder air,

temperatures struggling up to 12 Celsius axed `` as the maximum. ``

more cold air. Times of high water at Penzance...

Big waves for the sufferers and a little bit clean, still under chubby

side, the north Coast will be up to six feet and choppy, C temperatures

coming down, between 14 and 15 Celsius. Winds are mainly from the

West tomorrow, force for, five, showers and generally good

visibility. More showers to come on Friday and Saturday, and for

remembrance Sunday it looks like it will be cloudy, slightly warmer, but

patchy drizzle throughout the day and becoming windy again. Good

evening. I will be back with the headlines

just before 8pm, hope you can join me for that.

From all of us on the Spotlight team, have a lovely evening. Good

night.