:00:13. > :00:21.Joy for GCSE students, as pass rates soar in both islands.
:00:22. > :00:28.I was expecting now expected grades, but I got watch better. I can do
:00:29. > :00:32.what I want to do, and it gives the options in the future.
:00:33. > :00:34.Politicians admit there's an attainment gap `
:00:35. > :00:36.but say the headline results don't tell the full story.
:00:37. > :00:44.It is how far they progress from where they are coming from to where
:00:45. > :00:47.they can end up. Join me later to see all the
:00:48. > :00:54.highlights from this year's event like row. `` North Show.
:00:55. > :00:56.There has been a big increase in GCSE pass rates
:00:57. > :00:59.In Guernsey, the number of students gaining five
:01:00. > :01:06.A* to C passes including English and Maths rose from 60% to 67%.
:01:07. > :01:10.A* to C passes including English and maths rose from 60% to 67%.
:01:11. > :01:12.The education department says they are the best ever set of results.
:01:13. > :01:15.In Jersey the pass rate in this key measure also rose, from
:01:16. > :01:19.In a moment we'll hear from some Jersey students,
:01:20. > :01:22.but first, Penny Elderfield was at La Mare de Carteret High School
:01:23. > :01:25.in Guernsey where pass rates in the past had caused concern.
:01:26. > :01:29.A particularly nervous start to the day.
:01:30. > :01:34.But the end of two years of hard work.
:01:35. > :01:38.Well, lots of excitement here this morning ` and so far it seems lots
:01:39. > :01:45.of happy students with the results they wanted.
:01:46. > :01:54.With me are three students. How did you get on? Everything was expected,
:01:55. > :01:59.I am pretty happy. I saw lots of smiles from you and a few tears in
:02:00. > :02:08.there. Did you get what you wanted? Definitely. Where is the next place
:02:09. > :02:23.With bad GCSE results triggering major changes a few years back, the
:02:24. > :02:27.figures are now on the up at nearly every school.
:02:28. > :02:30.Looking at the numbers that got 5 A* to Cs ` including English and Maths,
:02:31. > :02:33.more than 90% achieved it at the Grammar School, Elizabeth College,
:02:34. > :02:39.At Sampson's High, Les Beaucamps, and St.
:02:40. > :02:44.And for a school that last year saw a big drop `
:02:45. > :03:04.It will take a few more years worth to really see
:03:05. > :03:09.whether the changes they've made to improve the schools are paying off.
:03:10. > :03:13.So, good news for those students ` and for education bosses,
:03:14. > :03:16.after a turbulent few years which has seen criticism from UK
:03:17. > :03:18.experts of the island's primary and secondary school systems.
:03:19. > :03:20.Earlier I spoke to Guernsey's education minister Robert Sillars,
:03:21. > :03:22.and asked what he made of today's results.
:03:23. > :03:33.I am very delighted for the students and all the teachers and all the
:03:34. > :03:39.staff. A couple of schools, still relatively low, 40% of students
:03:40. > :03:45.getting the benchmark. There's no need to be done to improve equality
:03:46. > :03:53.of opportunity? `` does more need to be done? La Mare de Carteret High
:03:54. > :03:58.School at top for getting five GCSEs across 95% of all the students, so
:03:59. > :04:04.there are five more students coming from La Mare de Carteret High School
:04:05. > :04:13.with the high results than any other schools.
:04:14. > :04:15.Schools that have done amazingly well are rightly proud
:04:16. > :04:17.of their results today ` should parents just be looking at
:04:18. > :04:20.those figures when thinking which schools to send their children to?
:04:21. > :04:26.Exams are important, but it is how far the student progresses from
:04:27. > :04:31.where they are coming from to where they can end up. Exams are an
:04:32. > :04:37.important part, but it is all about fitting into society, going on for
:04:38. > :04:39.that is what you want. Sport, music and all those things have to be
:04:40. > :04:42.considered as well. There was also good news for Jersey
:04:43. > :04:45.students, GCSE grades were up again, including a significant increase
:04:46. > :04:47.in English and maths. Chris Harrison met with students
:04:48. > :04:49.at Grainville School Years of hard work, and it all
:04:50. > :05:01.came down to this piece of paper. And for most,
:05:02. > :05:17.that hard work had paid off I got much better than I expected,
:05:18. > :05:20.so I am really happy. It gives me options in the future. I got a B in
:05:21. > :05:23.English. Jersey hasn't released a school
:05:24. > :05:26.by school breakdown of results, but the selective nature
:05:27. > :05:28.of the education system means In the past, Grainville had faced
:05:29. > :05:42.criticism for low pass rates; I am really pleased for our students
:05:43. > :05:48.and staff. It is a testament to five years' hard work and commitments.
:05:49. > :05:54.Our students have outperformed previous year groups. They have
:05:55. > :06:02.doubled our performance in English and maths, which is fantastic.
:06:03. > :06:05.And the island as a whole has performed well ` giving
:06:06. > :06:15.The GCSE results governed the access to a levels for many students who
:06:16. > :06:24.want to go on to a more academic A`level course. And that in turn
:06:25. > :06:27.means the possible access to universities and higher education,
:06:28. > :06:31.which I am particularly keen we develop as far as we can.
:06:32. > :06:34.You'll find many young people in the islands celebrating tonight `
:06:35. > :06:36.but worth a thought too for the islands teachers quietly
:06:37. > :06:42.A couple in Guernsey have been sent to prison
:06:43. > :06:47.35`year`old Wesley Guilbert was sentenced to nine years for offences
:06:48. > :06:53.His wife Jennifer, who's 33, was sentenced to four years
:06:54. > :06:55.for three further drugs charges, including the possession of cannabis
:06:56. > :07:01.It's the first time there's been a conviction in the island for
:07:02. > :07:04.You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands.
:07:05. > :07:07.Later in Spotlight with Justin and Rebecca:
:07:08. > :07:14.Eyes on the skies, the seas and on land, for a royal regatta.
:07:15. > :07:16.Guernsey's summer season of agricultural shows come to
:07:17. > :07:20.The North Show has been blessed with sunshine for the last few days.
:07:21. > :07:22.In a moment we'll see highlights from
:07:23. > :07:25.the Battle of Flowers, but first Mike Wilkins went to find out what
:07:26. > :07:41.The judging is over on the prizes have been awarded in the produce
:07:42. > :07:48.tent. It is the culmination of the show season, and marks the end of
:07:49. > :07:57.summer. Stewart is one of the organisers. This year we have had
:07:58. > :08:03.perfect weather for the show. It is spot on. A couple of years ago this
:08:04. > :08:07.was a wash`out. There was a great deal of fundraising done this year,
:08:08. > :08:11.there is nothing more depressing than sitting in a marquee and
:08:12. > :08:16.hearing the rain on the roof. That year we were desperately short of
:08:17. > :08:23.cash, so we had today a fair bit of fundraising `` had to do. A show
:08:24. > :08:28.like this relies on volunteers. Absolutely, we don't get any grant
:08:29. > :08:37.for this. It is done by private contributions, sponsorship from
:08:38. > :08:41.private companies. People roaming as things, vehicles, storage, things
:08:42. > :08:47.like that. Nobody sees that. `` loaning us things.
:08:48. > :08:51.They have managed to get the show and, on lots of people waiting for
:08:52. > :08:54.the highlight now, the Battle of Flowers. `` and lots of people
:08:55. > :09:50.waiting. Mike Wilkins at Guernsey's North
:09:51. > :09:55.Show. More of the same weather coming
:09:56. > :10:01.tomorrow? Bit of a mixed picture over the next
:10:02. > :10:05.couple of days. Despite seeing those lovely bright skies today, Clyde
:10:06. > :10:09.will be thickening through tonight, perhaps bringing hefty showers. ``
:10:10. > :10:14.cloud. Through the day however it turns
:10:15. > :10:18.drier and brighter. Much of the UK for today has been
:10:19. > :10:24.covered in cloud, we have been sitting just to the south of it. But
:10:25. > :10:29.that cloud will be heading towards us, all thanks to this cold front.
:10:30. > :10:35.That is going through a rant about the middle part of the day tomorrow,
:10:36. > :10:38.but behind it we will see we discuss developing. `` going through round
:10:39. > :10:43.about. This low`pressure in the Atlantic
:10:44. > :10:47.will be arriving for Sunday night and into Bank Holiday Monday.
:10:48. > :10:52.This is the picture out there at the moment. Not a great deal of cloud
:10:53. > :10:56.for most of us, but the cloud will be spilling across us as the night
:10:57. > :11:04.wears on. That could bring hefty showers in
:11:05. > :11:11.the early hours. That showery started tomorrow
:11:12. > :11:20.morning, `` sherry start. Come the afternoon however we will start to
:11:21. > :11:28.see some sunshine breaking out. Temperatures 16 to 18 degrees, but a
:11:29. > :11:29.cool breeze blowing. Our sea State is moderate, perhaps
:11:30. > :11:45.rough though at times. The best of the waves are likely to
:11:46. > :11:51.be for our more northern islands. Most of them messy and choppy.
:11:52. > :11:58.Saturday looks dry and bright with some sunshine. Sunday starts with
:11:59. > :12:01.sunshine, but we are going to see cloud thickening through the day.
:12:02. > :12:02.Rain arrives for Sunday night which will be lingering through Bank
:12:03. > :12:11.Holiday Monday. Maybe we'll get a late summer spell
:12:12. > :12:15.in September! That's all from BBC Channel Islands,
:12:16. > :12:24.let's join Justin and Rebecca for the rest of Spotlight.
:12:25. > :12:27.New figures show that house prices in Cornwall are more expensive
:12:28. > :12:31.relative to average earnings than in London.
:12:32. > :12:34.The National Housing Federation says that over the last year, the average
:12:35. > :12:40.price of a Cornish home has risen to more than ?223,000 ` 12.6 times
:12:41. > :12:48.This man has been jailed for abusing two girls after he made a failed
:12:49. > :12:52.suicide attempt and left a note in which he admitted his crime.
:12:53. > :12:54.67`year`old Reginald Lawson, from Tiverton,
:12:55. > :12:58.assaulted the girls when they were aged between seven and ten.
:12:59. > :13:03.The court heard he was a pillar of the community.
:13:04. > :13:05.The Chairman of Plymouth University's board
:13:06. > :13:07.of governors has stepped aside from his role whilst an investigation
:13:08. > :13:09.continues into allegations of sexual harrassment of staff.
:13:10. > :13:13.Judge William Taylor denies the allegations.
:13:14. > :13:15.The board said today it accepted his decision,
:13:16. > :13:21.recognising that he has put the interests of the university first.
:13:22. > :13:25.Plymouth Leander swimmer Ben Proud has missed out on the final
:13:26. > :13:29.of the 100 metres freestyle at the European Championships in Berlin.
:13:30. > :13:32.The 19`year`old University of St Mark and St John scholar
:13:33. > :13:35.finished seventh in his semifinal, just two days after winning bronze
:13:36. > :13:45.Proud has two more events this week in which to win another medal.
:13:46. > :13:48.It was the stretch of water where in 2012 Sir Ben Ainslie made Olympic
:13:49. > :13:51.history, clinching his fourth gold medal in successive games to become
:13:52. > :13:56.Today international competitors were once again tackling
:13:57. > :13:59.the conditions off Dorset although they are a little young to
:14:00. > :14:03.Paul Brennan reports from the Weymouth and Portland National
:14:04. > :14:13.Sailing Academy which is hosting the Cadet World Championships.
:14:14. > :14:18.Pinning their hopes and colours to the mast, these youngsters have
:14:19. > :14:26.spent the last week competing fully position in the Cadet World
:14:27. > :14:33.Championships. 48 countries have been taking part. It is a really
:14:34. > :14:40.nice regatta and there are a lot of other nationalities. Went you are
:14:41. > :14:44.out there racing one simple steak and you are at the back of the
:14:45. > :14:49.fleet. It is really good fun racing against this high level of
:14:50. > :14:56.competition. We are doing quite well. You are doing very well! These
:14:57. > :15:01.championships were first held in 1947. Barry Steele won back in 1957
:15:02. > :15:07.with his brother, Rodney, and today was on hand to offer advice. I would
:15:08. > :15:12.love to be out there doing it again. It is a wonderful sport. We have
:15:13. > :15:18.done so well in Britain. We are an island nation and love it. Just to
:15:19. > :15:21.be afloat and enjoy the fresh air and the inspiring others around the
:15:22. > :15:28.world is just a unique thing. More people should give it. The courts
:15:29. > :15:33.are certainly smiling on these young sailors, with clear visibility and a
:15:34. > :15:37.force three went the positions are perfect for some serious
:15:38. > :15:45.competition. `` the courts. The competition was the design of a
:15:46. > :15:53.sailor who believes the world's youth should hold hands around the
:15:54. > :15:56.world. With such a world class location, this area has already
:15:57. > :16:02.hosted national events this year as it continues to build on the success
:16:03. > :16:06.of the 2012 Olympics. It helps cement became's legacy. The Town
:16:07. > :16:15.gained immense reputation both in appearance from the fantastic shots
:16:16. > :16:22.on the wealth given to the sailors as well. People want to come back.
:16:23. > :16:26.If we do our job right and give them a good time, they will keep coming
:16:27. > :16:32.back. With one more day of competition to go, the race for the
:16:33. > :16:41.trophy appears to be between Britain and Australia. There is a whole
:16:42. > :16:45.calendar of major races of Dorset and big events are seen as
:16:46. > :16:48.increasingly important to our tourism industry. They often sealed
:16:49. > :16:53.the deal for holiday`makers thinking about booking. Out on the water
:16:54. > :16:58.alone there are offence for powerboats and trawlers. This week,
:16:59. > :17:04.tens of thousands of people are visiting Fowey for the Royal
:17:05. > :17:13.Regatta. I believe the red arrows have been there? What would you
:17:14. > :17:20.expect from a regatta? Spectacular racing, of course. Big crowds, yes.
:17:21. > :17:25.The Red Arrows, well, they were incredible. But record`breaking
:17:26. > :17:31.pasty eaters might be a surprise. Today, Cammack has enjoyed it all
:17:32. > :17:39.and the spirit of competition was not just out on the water. `` Fowey
:17:40. > :17:45.has enjoyed it all. How fast can you eat a pasty? For Andreas, it is a
:17:46. > :17:50.matter of pride. He is keen to show off his skills but can he beat his
:17:51. > :17:57.record from last year? Last year 49 seconds was the fastest time. If I
:17:58. > :18:03.can do that or just below that I will be very happy. While he plans
:18:04. > :18:09.his strategy, a host of races are out to thrill spectators. For more
:18:10. > :18:12.than 100 years, the town has laid host to the regatta. Tens of
:18:13. > :18:19.thousands of people come to the area. Biggar I come every year and
:18:20. > :18:25.thoroughly enjoy it. We get here two hours before it starts. It is
:18:26. > :18:30.beautiful. The children like the red and rose. It is nice and warm today.
:18:31. > :18:34.It is usually raining so it is quite good! It must be very good for the
:18:35. > :18:42.time, a huge amount of money spent in the local shops. A special treat
:18:43. > :18:48.tonight are the Red Arrows, who never fail to thrill the crowd. It
:18:49. > :18:58.gives you a birds flying the aircraft. Everybody applauding. They
:18:59. > :19:09.love it. For the pasty eaters, tensions were high. For some,
:19:10. > :19:15.disappointment. Two minutes 13, not amazingly happy. At least I finished
:19:16. > :19:19.it. For others, a three`minute hard`fought battle. Could you eat
:19:20. > :19:27.another one? No, I am done for today, thank you! And for Andreas,
:19:28. > :19:34.after unbroken success for seven years, it was 45 seconds of pure
:19:35. > :19:41.pasty eating glory. CHEERING
:19:42. > :19:50.So what skills do you think you have? I have just got a big throat.
:19:51. > :20:01.The others are going, into their second minute. So you will finish of
:20:02. > :20:05.the leftovers? No! I hope that hasn't put you off your past is too
:20:06. > :20:10.much, but back to the more serious competition, and phrasing has been
:20:11. > :20:16.going on all day. I am joined by Commander Chris Morgan from the race
:20:17. > :20:21.committee. How important is this event? Very important because it is
:20:22. > :20:25.our premier event of the year. We raced normally from April through to
:20:26. > :20:30.the end of September, October, but this obviously is a wonderful event
:20:31. > :20:35.and we get quite a lot of entries down here and we have had some good
:20:36. > :20:41.sailing. What have weather conditions been like for you? Sunday
:20:42. > :20:45.and Monday, the yachts raced to Falmouth and back from Falmouth and
:20:46. > :20:51.that was very good. Tuesday was very good, too. Wednesday we had lots of
:20:52. > :20:56.sunshine but we didn't have much wind and sailing races do not really
:20:57. > :21:00.go very well with no wind. But today we have had a very good day. And you
:21:01. > :21:05.are hopeful for the rest of the week? It is looking pretty good. And
:21:06. > :21:09.Malcolm paling from the event organisers, this event has been
:21:10. > :21:16.going on for 100 years, how important is it to Fowey? Really
:21:17. > :21:21.important, socially and economically. It is a time when
:21:22. > :21:25.friends and family get`together. It is very important economically as
:21:26. > :21:31.well. It is a tourism time. It brings a huge number of visitors,
:21:32. > :21:35.very often the same ones year after year and all the businesses
:21:36. > :21:39.contribute to the whole week of fun. And the Red Arrows have literally
:21:40. > :21:43.just flown overhead and amazed us all. How spectacular are they and
:21:44. > :21:47.how important are they to us? They are the big draw of the week. This
:21:48. > :21:53.is clearly our busiest day. The Town is packed. We understand that the
:21:54. > :21:58.Red Arrows think of Fowey is one of their favourite locations because
:21:59. > :22:03.the backdrop of the scenery is come from entry to their display. What
:22:04. > :22:08.can we expect for the rest of the weekend? More entertainment, with
:22:09. > :22:12.music, a children's Sunday, they last night at the Proms racing, a
:22:13. > :22:20.giant pasty in the next half an hour or so or so, so lots more for
:22:21. > :22:23.everybody to enjoy. Thank you. With the bank holiday weekend ahead of
:22:24. > :22:28.this, it looks like there will be plenty more fun for everyone here.
:22:29. > :22:33.More on the bank holiday weather in a moment but first, many of you have
:22:34. > :22:39.been in touch about our main story, the badger cull. The legal challenge
:22:40. > :22:48.to it. Thank you. David Faber is what he calls a very controlled
:22:49. > :22:53.cull. Michael says there is no need for a cull. He says let farmers get
:22:54. > :22:59.rid of sick badgers on their land. Jackie says put a badge of vaccine
:23:00. > :23:05.in food and put it outside badger sets. Thank you for your comments.
:23:06. > :23:09.As we have been mentioning, there is a bank holiday looming, and as
:23:10. > :23:16.nature would have it, that means the weather is going to change.
:23:17. > :23:20.It will start well, but yes, towards the end of the bank holiday, things
:23:21. > :23:34.going badly. This was just outside Exeter today.
:23:35. > :23:39.Some fairly grey skies. Pretty dry ground despite showers through
:23:40. > :23:44.today. But the most notable thing about this cloud is going to be how
:23:45. > :23:49.much milder to write is. With all that cloud in`place temperatures
:23:50. > :23:55.will not be dropping as they have done. `` how much milder tonight is.
:23:56. > :24:00.Much milder tonight, and tomorrow will be much brighter. Plenty of
:24:01. > :24:06.sunny spells coming through and it is going to be mostly dry. On the
:24:07. > :24:10.satellite you can see the extent of that cloud that has been screaming
:24:11. > :24:14.its way across us through the day. Grey skies to be had and it is
:24:15. > :24:19.thanks to this low pressure. The whole weather front is moving its
:24:20. > :24:24.way across us tonight. That will lead to heavy showers in the early
:24:25. > :24:30.hours but behind it, brighter skies and tomorrow is better and Saturday
:24:31. > :24:35.pretty decent. But this is the feature we're keeping our eyes on.
:24:36. > :24:40.That is arriving towards the end of Sunday and influencing our weather
:24:41. > :24:46.on bank holiday Monday. A lot of cloud around. Bright spells here and
:24:47. > :24:50.there. Also if you showers. As we pushed through tonight, we will see
:24:51. > :24:58.the showers tending to pep up. `` a few showers. Mostly quite cloudy,
:24:59. > :25:03.quite a plus picture. Temperatures so different from the past couple of
:25:04. > :25:10.nights. Down to around three or 4 degrees. In most places hovering in
:25:11. > :25:13.double figures. If you early showers but they should clear away quite
:25:14. > :25:20.nicely and we get some sunshine coming out behind. Still quite a
:25:21. > :25:24.breezy wind admittedly and that will add to the cool feel of the day. But
:25:25. > :25:25.find yourself a bit of shelter. Get out in the sunshine. Fairly
:25:26. > :25:35.pleasant. But the Isles of Scilly, much
:25:36. > :25:38.brighter tomorrow. Just one or two showers. Still the cool breeze
:25:39. > :25:53.blowing. And if we take a look at the waves
:25:54. > :25:59.for surfers... Biggest waves generally on the North coast
:26:00. > :26:02.tomorrow. They will ease up a bit through the day. Generally messy
:26:03. > :26:07.conditions on the North coast. With the wind coming in from the North
:26:08. > :26:09.West, some of the spots on our South coast could pick up clean conditions
:26:10. > :26:25.with the waves a little bit smaller. For the next few days, as you saw,
:26:26. > :26:31.Saturday looks like a nice day. One or two showers, generally dry with
:26:32. > :26:35.some sunshine. Sunday starts cold. We could see a touch of grass frost.
:26:36. > :26:38.Cloud will thicken through the afternoon with rain pushing in
:26:39. > :26:44.towards the end of Sunday and overnight. As I mentioned earlier,
:26:45. > :26:45.it is going to be a showery and blustery picture for bank holiday
:26:46. > :26:55.Monday. Would you like us to end the
:26:56. > :27:01.programme with some happy news? I think so. Let's go back to GCSE
:27:02. > :27:09.results. Some of you have been getting into touch with self ease.
:27:10. > :27:15.Congratulations to Amy. The young farmer. She e`mailed us to say she
:27:16. > :27:20.has made the grades to get onto her agricultural course. Alison says she
:27:21. > :27:27.was proud of her grade C in English. Also Charlotte has achieved a C for
:27:28. > :27:33.her level one science exam. Heather says art is her passion so she's
:27:34. > :27:37.very happy to have received an A*. And Elspeth wanted to thank all head
:27:38. > :27:42.teachers in South Malton. She is most proud of her A* in English.
:27:43. > :27:48.Congratulations to each and every one of them. We would leave you now
:27:49. > :27:51.with a scene at Fowey in Regatta week.