26/01/2012 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: Bottom of the pile. An academy in

Poole is the worst in the country in GCSE league tables. We only had

these young people for eight months of a ten-year learning experience

and although we did our best, unfortunately it

Mental illness and pressure to renovate their home, triggers that

led this man to kill his wife. Hollywood's special effects help to

map out the key to how to play the piano.

And best foot forward, the new footpath that will lead eventually

Secondary school league tables have revealed a large gap between the

best and worst performing areas across the South. While Hampshire

is near the top of the table for GCSE performance, Southampton and

Portsmouth remain towards the bottom. The opening of St Aldhelm's

Academy in Poole was supposed to mark a turn around for pupils of

the failing Rossmore Community College. But the league tables show

a drop in results, making it the worst performing school in England.

In most of the schools across the south there are a lot of factors

that contribute to their exam performance. In most of our schools

in the South, well over half the pupils get five good GCSEs

including English and Maths. But here at St Aldhelm's Academy in

Poole just 3% of pupils got five GCSEs above grade C. Across the

rest of Poole and in neighbouring Bournemouth the figure was 57%. The

head here says work is already underway to improve its performance.

It only became an academy in 2010. We are the worst in the country.

There is nothing that we can do to change that. Unfortunately we only

had these young people for eight months of a ten-year learning

experience and although we did our best, unfortunately it was not good

enough. The important thing about change, if it is going to be

sustainable and worthwhile, is that it takes time and eight runs is not

a lot of time. The pupils here at the Academy say

they are already signs of changes. Those students that got those

grades only had eight months with the Academy and so could not

benefit from what we are getting. The teachers have been a lot more

supportive. We have more 1-1 sessions and talk about our

strengths and weaknesses. I started of getting these and sees when I

came here and now where mainly on bees.

Let's look in more details about the differences in exam performance

here in the South. Top of the class is Wokingham with over 67% of

pupils getting those five good GCSE's. Hampshire, Bracknell Forest,

Dorset and West Sussex have also performed well. Those with room for

improvement include some of the big conurbations - Reading, Brighton &

Hove, Southampton and Portsmouth. You'll notice that 10% gap between

Reading and Portsmouth. So, how do schools improve? Well, I've been to

one in Fareham where a new head and her team have brought about some

big changes and achieved a 63% pass rate, a huge increase on what it

was a few years ago. All of you are capable of getting a

staff. The head teacher and her team have been leading a education

revolution. When she arrived at the school in Fareham, she said the

school and's performance was stagnating and now it is soaring.

you look at what is happening in the classroom and teaching and we'd

have done a lot of work with Hampshire. We have changed the way

we are tracking students. We personalise the curriculum. As a

result, we put together a system of interventions, from opening the

school on Saturdays to one-to-one tuition. When the head teacher took

charge a just a few pupils were getting good marks. Now it is 63%.

We get pushed more. We get pushed to develop our ideas. It helps us a

lot. There is a lot less tolerance of bad behaviour and it is what

really well. After a big improvement over the past year,

everyone is working hard for even better results this summer.

So, as Nadine and her team in Fareham have shown, rapid

improvements are possible. And that's something the head here at

St Aldhelm's will be hoping to replicate.

A court has heard how a man killed his wife after he felt under

pressure from renovating a house in West Sussex. William Allen, who's

67, stabbed his wife Linda to death while she slept at their rented

home in West Chiltington. He pleaded guilty today to

manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and he'll

be held at a secure mental health unit.

William Allen and his wife were described in court as a close and a

devoted couple. In June last year he killed her at the home they were

renting. William Allen was suffering from and continues to

have severe mental illness. What appears to have triggered the

attack on his wife is the pressure of building work on my house near

by they were going to move into. William Allen had tried to manage

the project himself but felt he could not cope. When William Allen

was interviewed by police about what happened he said he felt the

pressure from the delays and the problems with the renovations. That

pressure built up and when he woke in the night, he decided to kill

his wife and himself. He beat and stabbed to Linda while she slept

and then winded himself. A few hours later he called the police to

tell them what he had done. It is implausible to think that over a

building project and his concern over the management of that project

that this tragic event has resulted. But that appears to be the case. As

the court has heard this morning, at the time Mr Allen was suffering

from a depressive illness with psychotic episodes as well. Linda's

brother was in court to hear William Allen at deny murder but

admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

be at it reassured about the fact that she did not suffer. She was

sleeping and then passed away. That is the way he would have wanted it

as well as myself. She was very, very happy for 42 years of marriage

and I cannot take that away from him. He made a very happy. At -- I

am just so sad it has ended that this. There is a hospital order on

William Allen as well as a restriction order which means the

Ministry of Justice will determine his release date at rather than at

the hospital. A court's heard a police tape

recording in which the former Portsmouth Manager, Harry Redknapp,

said he was totally disorganised and couldn't fiddle his taxes.

Redknapp, who's on trial for tax evasion with the club's former

Chairman Milan Mandarich, also told officers that an accountant ran his

life. Redknapp insisted he wrote like a two-year-old and couldn't

spell. Both men deny the charges. First Capital Connect, Southern and

First Great Western trains have all come near the bottom of a national

list for passenger satisfaction. The news comes as South West Trains

and Network Rail announce a joint plan to tackle problems, including

cable theft and an increase in the number of suicides. Our transport

correspondent Paul Clifton is here to explain.

We're used to seeing First Capital Connect on the naughty step as one

of the poorest performing train operators. Today it has been joined

by First Great Western and by Southern in the bottom five train

operators in the country. Though, to be fair, they are only a whisker

below the national average. Today's independent survey of tens of

thousands of passengers found that most people - 57% - think their

tickets are poorer value for money now than they were six months ago.

The advice from the passenger watchdog is simple. Back to basics.

Focus on performance. Focus on getting the trains on time. Focus

on telling people what is happening when things go wrong. Those are the

key factors driving passenger satisfaction and disadvantage -- so

this at its -- dissatisfaction. Some delays are outside the

industry's control. This happened at Brockenhurst today, a lady drove

onto the railway line, apparently mistaking it for the entrance to a

car park. It took two hours to remove the vehicle, disrupting

thousands of passengers. South West Trains has seen a sharp drop in

performance. That is partly due to a doubling in the number of

suicides on the tracks. In the last year there were 44. And there has

been a five-fold increase in the number of thefts of signal cable.

Today the train company and Network Rail announced a joint plan to

tackle their problems. The biggest single change we have seen is the

cable theft damage in the last year. That is an increase from the year

before. We have to work hard to improve the performance of the

trains and track just to standstill where we have these other things

happening. But performance has been getting

better. A few years ago one train in four arrived late. Now there's a

remedial action plan because one train in ten is late. And that's

partly because of the passenger survey. No train operator can

afford to be seen on the naughty step at the bottom of the table.

Thank you very much. Still to come in this evening's

South Today: Living the dream, the American

inspired to write as she lives at the home of one of our great

novelists. An attempt by Liverpool to compete

against Southampton for cruise ship turnaround visits have been dealt a

blow by the government. Liverpool's cruise terminal was built with �20

million of public money. They offered to repay �5 million in

return for being able to compete with private ports. But the

shipping minister, Mike Penning, says that's not enough.

The Labour Party are to return to Brighton for their party conference

next year. Brighton & Hove Council say they expect the event to inject

�20 million into the local economy and bring more than 8,000 delegates

to the city. The party last held its conference in Brighton in 2009.

Scores of vans have brought the centre of Hove to a standstill as

traders staged a protest outside the town hall over rises in parking

charges. The Green-run city council wants to increase permits and on-

street parking charges as it tries to balance the books. But traders

say many of them could be forced out of business by the increases.

It was an emergency call-out with a difference for these plumbers and

electricians, fearing for their jobs. They encircled town hall as

councillors met to discuss the proposed annual budget. Traders are

angry that that parking permits will rise to �600. Although it is

less than the initial proposal. am really pleased they have started

it to listen to the campaign. They have not listened enough. Doubling

their prices and then coming down to 70%, they are still not

listening to the traders. They have tried to bargain with a sum we are

not here to be bargained with. Shopkeepers are always worried that

a rise in on-street parking charges will make out of town retail parks

with their free parking more attractive to customers.

concern is people will go there. The offer is not as good or unique

or unusual but at the moment people are feeling the pinch in their

pockets and they will vote with their feet and their cars.

council wants to dissuade shoppers from parking on city-centre streets

so it says it is making car parks on the edge seemed comparatively

cheaper. We have got real congestion problems in the City and

terrible air-quality problems in the city. You only have to come

here on a Saturday and CD Qs of traffic coming into the city and

the queues for the car park. council says the trade a's parking

permits have not been increased for 10 years. The council says it has

already listen to the concerns of business people and water down the

initial proposal. Traders say they are determined to make the council

think again before the budget is A new vantage point was unveiled

today for those hoping to get a view of the Olympic sailing events

Natural England has completed a section of coastal path that runs

all along the edge of Weymouth Bay. It is hope the path will eventually

become part of a national route. This Gunby a very windy spot. That

is just as well, because this summer, this is when the sailing

events will take place. Et le run as right along the course to

Weymouth. It is 20 miles of end uninterrupted walk away. They have

talked to landowners and added new bits, with the result there is now

complete access to this coast line. If it is managed in the right way,

people feel a sense of responsibility and ownership. It is

going to bring huge economic benefits to the area, but the

legacy will be the creation of this path which will create a a great

walk for people in years to come. have been privileged to walk along

the sparse and defy anyone to call on it and not enjoy it. You simply

feel better. Much more important than that, a lot of people get

exercise and it takes a lot of boxes as regards current issues

regarding health and lifestyle. They are hoping that the continual

pathway along the entire coast of England can be created one day.

That is going to be a great place to watch the ceiling this summer.

It is technology that is more often used by Hollywood to create movie

special effects, but now "motion capture" cameras are helping

scientists and musicians study and understand the complex hand

movements needed to play the piano. It is hoped the project at the

University of Southampton could open up a whole new area of

research and become an important teaching tool. Allen Sinclair

watched them tickling the ivories. Under laboratory conditions, tiny

sensors are put it under their pianist's hands. It will analyse

even the most subtle movements, giving a detailed picture of every

simple movement of each finger while playing the piano. All the

great players,, we could record them and have a fantastic archive.

We could link the music with their hand movements. This land is used

for people recovering from injury, but he could open up a whole new

way of research, looking at how great musicians use their technique.

It is a very novel technique. We are the only place in the world to

do this. It is part of an initiative this week for different

parts of the University to join forces.

Tomorrow, BBC local radio are hosting the first of their new

series, The Hot Seat. It lets you put your questions to key local

figures. BBC Radio Solent will be grilling

the man in charge of Southampton's port, Labour MP Andrew Smith will

be on BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Berkshire has the manager of

one of the region's biggest trading estates. That is tomorrow morning

from nine o'clock. Onto the sport now. Tony is here to run us through

what has happened. Now, January is the 31 days which could make or

break as season, with the transfer window.

Reading, with the backing of their new Russian investors, have made a

double signing which they hope will boost their push for promotion.

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts is keen to be back in

the thick of things, after a frustrating spell on the sidelines

there. And midfielder Tomasz Cywka, who had been at Derby County,

turned down an offer from a club back home in Poland to take his

place in the Royals' squad. People have seen where the club is going.

I think Reading is one of the most exciting places in English football

to come to. When I talk to the manager and the people in charge

here about their plans for the club, there was no doubt about me coming

here. There was a big media presence from

the Far East at St Mary's this afternoon as Japanese striker

Tadanari Lee was introduced. The 26-year-old has signed a two

and a half year contract and manager Nigel Adkins says he has

been impressed with the striker, ever since his winning goal in the

Asian Cup final last year. The former Hiroshima player wants to

make a big impact at the club. TRANSLATION: I am very excited

about playing for this team and want to do my very best for the

club. Meanwhile, Bournemouth have denied

that they have had a bid of �450,000 accepted for Brighton

striker Will Hoskins. It is thought the Cherries want to

bring him to Dean Court. Hoskins may be less keen about a move,

saying on Twitter earlier that he would be disappointed if the

reports were correct, as he was hoping to get fit and start playing

for Albion again. The Portsmouth Supporters' Trust

have received the backing of the city council in their attempts to

help save Portsmouth Football Club. They are urging the administrators

looking for a buyer to meet them as soon as possible to address the

crisis. Meanwhile, Michael Appleton has

admitted he may lose players, to plug the financial gap and pay the

tax bill which threatens to bring the club down again. The position

we're in, there is nothing we can do except find new owners. But in

charge of the team, all I can do is do my best to motivate the players

as best as I can. Hampshire sailor Dee Caffari has

announced she will be skippering the first all-women sailing team

based in the Middle East for an offshore event.

The team is part of a newly- launched women's programme, run by

Oman Sail, which aims to equip young Omani women with the skills

and confidence to excel in sailing. They are currently training ahead

of the two-week regatta called Sailing Arabia, which starts on

February 9. You cannot knock the enthusiasm of the girls and the

programme. The four goals we're working with are very enthusiastic.

They're trying to soak up all the information and knowledge that they

can. If tomorrow, we're with the Time for another in our series of

Living the Dream and this week, we meet an all-American girl whose

passion for English literature has brought her from Arkansas to

Casterbridge. PhD student Jacqueline Dillon

visited Thomas Hardy's house because she's writing a thesis

about his work. She went as a tourist, but ended up

moving in. Sarah Farmer left the Madding Crowd far behind and headed

Among the few features of agricultural England which retain

an Appearance little modified by the lap of centuries, the expansive

downs which fill a substantial area of each county. Thomas Hardy lived

here in Dorset and of course, he it was known as the famous author. But

he was originally an architect. He resigned this date. Jacqueline only

came to study English literature, but ended up living here. I was

living in London before and trying to write a thesis, but felt

according to come here. I felt it was not right to be writing it in

London. I had to be here! It was amazing. I was so surprised to be

offered Thomas Hardy's housed by the National Trust. When I first

moved and I could not bring myself to even read his books because I

was so embarrassed. But I now have the opposite feeling. This was his

first study, which would later become his bedroom. He wrote his

favourite novel in this room. The hustle and bustle of the visitors

has dye it down, I will be able to write in peace and quiet and feel

an evocative sense of everything that has gone on before. I have

also slept in this room, like Thomas Hardy. Did you sleep in his

bed? A I slept in the same place. Do you feel the spirit of Thomas

Hardy here? At I do. A lot of people say that. And I do not feel

any sort of negative energy. I just have a reverence for everything

that has happened here. You can just look out there and imagine

Thomas Hardy in the garden. What is a light at night? It creaks and

groans! I thing that is the house talking. But you're getting the

same angles and views and things of things that he would have seen. You

get the same sense of nature. I get the sense that I am a visitor, but

I am able to see the world through his IEA's. After the thesis, I am

going to stick around for a good while longer. Jacqueline, a very

lucky girl to live there. Next week, we meet an artist who is

definitely going places. Clementine Nuttal works from a

studio at home. She has developing a reputation as one of our finest

up and coming stone sculptors. She took me to see her latest piece,

which was commissioned and is on show at St George's Chapel at

Windsor. Quite something. I look forward to that. On to the weather

Yes, it was the sunny day, but there were showers as well.

It was a sunshine and shower day. Bob Kent captured the wet apron in

the sunny spells at Shoreham Airport. Rob Forrester-Addie took

this photo of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Footpath Society

braving the showers to walk from Abbots Well to Ogdens. And John

Moore took this photo of mother and son rugged up in Warfield in

It will be a chilly night to come. These horses will need the robes on

tonight. Tonight, there will be a few showers of first. The sky will

clear, so there you can do your star spotting, Sally. Temperatures

in our towns and cities overnight down to two or three degrees

Celsius, freezing in the countryside. Sunny spells initially

tomorrow Cork, but then the showers get going and the cloud increases

from the West as the afternoon progresses. Temperatures struggling

to rise above six or seven degrees Celsius. Tomorrow night, the

showers will fade away and there will be a few clear spells, of

which mean temperatures will plunge even further in the countryside,

down to freezing in certain sports. Only a couple of degrees war mark

in the cities. Freezing fog it is a possibility on the start on

Saturday. Sunday is a decent day, and despite it being called. There

is a lot of sunshine on offer. As you see, this rain band is coming

in on Sunday, pushing across the country from the West. There is a

lot of uncertainty to this weather front as to whether it will

actually produce snow and to it will affect most. The weather front

lasts into Monday, so a one paid day for many of us. So, showers