08/09/2016 BBC News at Six

The controversy over grammar schools, the government says

selecting pupils by ability can play a role in the education

But grammar schools would be part of a "broad-based school system"

with no return to the past, the Education Secretary told MPs.

There'll be no return to the simplistic binary choice

of the past, where schools separate children into winners and losers,

We'll be looking at why academic selection continues to divide

Misery under water, hundreds of key sites across England

are still at risk of flooding, according to a government review.

We have a special report from the Greek island of Chios

on the EU's migration policy, and why it's not working.

A rise in the number of drugs related deaths in Merseyside,

health experts are called in to investigate.

And a spectacular start to the Rio Paralympics,

as Great Britain goes for gold later today.

Coming up in Sportsday later in the hour on BBC News,

Lochte pays the price for that infamous night out in Rio.

The American swimmer is banned for ten months.

There has been a major development in the controversy over grammar

schools as the Education Secretary Justine Greening told MPs she does

want an element of selection in schools in England.

Her statement came after a document with proposals for new grammar

schools was snapped by a photographer outside No 10

Grammar schools remain one of the most divisive issues

Presently, there are 163 grammar schools in England out of a total

A law banning the setting up of new grammars was introduced in 1998.

Northern Ireland retains a grammar school system - it educates

There are no grammars in Scotland or Wales.

Critics say grammar schools are a middle class preserve -

and that it's wrong to divide children at the age of 11.

Here's our Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys.

Their numbers have been limited but grammar schools have never gone

away. This is where Theresa May's top adviser came to school. From an

ordinary working family to Downing Street in one generation. But here,

they no longer rely just on an academic test. I think it's hard to

find a test that is going to be immune to practice and tutoring.

This group of grammar schools sets aside some places, up to a quarter

go to children from low income families. It's about the children,

about maximising the impact and the life chances, the impact we can have

on all those children, whatever their background. Grammars have a

history of getting pupils into top universities, but some fear this

simply entrenches privilege. Grammar schools are proud of their tradition

of academic excellence. The problem is, the very few have gone as far as

this school in making sure poorer pupils get places. It's why the

debate about who gets into grammar schools is now going to be so

crucial. Research into grammar schools across England found just 3%

of pupils entitled to free school meals because of low family income.

Compared to 18% in other, nonselective schools around them.

13% of grammar pupils had been to fee-paying, Independent primary

schools. For children who don't go to grammar schools they have lower

results and lower later life earning as a result of selection in

education. As a result that increases inequality rather than

reducing it. The Education Secretary went to a comprehensive in rubber

rum. She is known to have doubts about creating completely new

grammar schools -- Rotherham. There will be no return to the past where

children are separated into winners and losers, successes and failures.

This government wants to build upon the future and create a truly

21st-century school system. And Labour opposition will have some

cross-party support, too. Despite that waffle a cat is finally out of

the bag. The government has revealed their plans for new grammar schools

in England... It's their parents the Prime Minister wants to reach.

Offering more grammar places as part of a mixed school system. But she

faces a fight from those who say they close the door an opportunity.

Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News, Birmingham.

Our Political Correspondent Vicki Young is in Downing Street.

If Theresa May was casting around for a big new domestic policy idea,

why hit on grammar schools which are so controversial? There are some

vociferous critics of the whole idea of grammar schools. On the other

hand when she spoke to MPs about it last night, with most of them it

went down well. It's incredibly popular amongst conservative

grassroots. This all goes back to her mission as she sees it to

improve social mobility, to make sure those from disadvantaged

families fulfil their potential. Ministers seem to agree there is a

problem and Theresa May thinks the education system could be the key to

changing all of that. The contentious part is whether grammar

schools could do that or whether they have the opposite effect. It

was striking listening to Justine Greening today, she was certainly

taking a cautious approach. Signalling there won't be a return

to the 11 plus everywhere. She talked about choice for parents but

there is no doubt there are very many MPs, some Tory and Labour, who

are opposed to this. They really feel a discussion about a few

grammar schools in England is not going to solve some of the problems

in other state schools. They think the focus must be improving schools

where the majority of pupils go. At least 530 locations

across England are still vulnerable to flooding, according

to a government review set up after devastating floods affected

Britain last Christmas. Then, thousands of people

were forced from their homes in Yorkshire and Cumbria when flood

defences didn't work. Our Science Editor

David Shukman reports. It was a winter that saw Storms

bringing terrible destruction. The bridge at Tadcaster

just crumbled. The record rainfall

swamped 16,000 homes. The sight of families being rescued

was repeated week after week so questions were raised

about our flood defences and the government

promised a review. Today it unveiled a new weapon

against flooding. Temporary barriers that

can be assembled where The Army has units ready for the job

and ministers say this should help. At the end of the day we don't know

exactly where the rain I can't promise that no home

will ever be not flooded again but I can say we are in a better

place than we were last winter in being able to

respond to incidents. All these barriers are ready to be

deployed to hold back There are six other big sites

like this across the country. It looks like a lot until you read

the report of the flooding last winter and see just how

many vitally important pieces of infrastructure,

water supplies, electricity networks, telecommunications

are still vulnerable to flooding. The report investigated exactly how

many sites are at risk. It found that across England 820

are vulnerable to flooding. Of these, 290 are kept safe

with good defences but 530 And the potential impact

of that is all too obvious. Even now, the bridge at Tadcaster

is still being repaired. Local people have long said

the Government isn't doing enough for them and this

was the reaction to that investment But let's really get

into the detail of it. I think we would need to be spending

a lot more on the defences. Emergency repairs by

helicopter last winter. The government has committed

?2.5 billion to flood defence over six years but that

won't protect everyone. Matthew Brown runs

pubs in Hebden Bridge. He is worried he is

still vulnerable. I don't believe to my

knowledge there is anything We are still a bit

concerned it could happen. The flood tore through northern

England, Wales, Scotland Met Office analysis has come up

with a worrying conclusion - there could easily be

bigger storms to come. There have been extraordinary

exchanges at Bristol Crown Court from a taxi driver accused

of murder, who's defending himself. Christopher Halliwell is accused

of killing 20-year-old Becky Godden. Jon Kay was in court

and joins us now. Tell us what was said. It is a

defendant's right to represent themselves in court and that is what

Christopher Halliwell has chosen to do. He doesn't have a lawyer in the

courtroom, instead he gets to stand in the dock and question witnesses.

Today he had the opportunity to cross examine the detective who

arrested him. Taxi driver Christopher Halliwell.

Five years ago he pleaded guilty to the murder of Sian O'Callaghan. She

had been stabbed in the head after a night out in Swindon. This week the

jury has been told when he was arrested over her disappearance, he

also led the police to the body of Becky Godden, who went missing in

Swindon a decade earlier. It is alleged that after taking police to

Sian's body, Halliwell then brought officers to this remote field in the

Gloucestershire countryside where Becky's remains were found. Today

the former detective who arrested him came to court to give his

account of what happened. He said Halliwell told him there was another

one and offered to take him to what he called the exact spot. Because

Christopher Halliwell has chosen to represent himself, he then got a

chance to cross examine the former police officer from his position in

the dock behind a glass screen. During the exchange she said, by the

end of this process you will know the truth of my involvement. He then

said it was a pleasure ruining your career. Graphic details were given

about the state of her daughter's body when it was found buried in a

field. Christopher Halliwell denies murdering Becky Godden. Jon Kay, BBC

News, Bristol Crown Court. Donald Tusk has urged Theresa May to

start negotiations to leave the EU as soon as possible.

During a meeting in Downing Street, Mr Tusk said that the ball

The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said Mrs May felt the EU

understood her need to take time - before triggering the formal

11 days of competition have begun at the Paralympics in Rio,

with Great Britain hoping to surpass its success at London

Among the hopefuls is the cyclist, Dame Sarah Storey.

If she triumphs this evening, she'll have won more Gold medals

than any other British female Paralympian.

Our Sports Correspondent Andy Swiss joins us

A busy first day of action here at the Paralympic Park. 38 gold medals

being decided, real chances of British success over the next few

hours. After a difficult build-up, signs that Rio is already embracing

these games. So with the fans come? Well, this is

the answer. After all the worries over ticket sales, thousands flocked

to the Paralympic Park hoping for a dramatic day. After a dramatic

night. Among the Opening Ceremony's highlights, Amy Purdie dancing the

samba with a robot. It wasn't a total celebration. The booing of the

Brazilian president a reminder of the country's problems. This was the

true Paralympic spirit. The torch bearer slipped on a rain-soaked

floor, but the stadium rose in support. She picked herself up and

carried on. Her determination to succeed which Rio will hope these

games can now emulate. As the action got under way for British fans, the

early signs were encouraging. In the pool Bethany Firth and Ollie Hind

both qualified fastest for their finals. In the velodrome Dame Sarah

Storey in search of history. Through two tonight's pursuit final. Sarah

Storey has excelled first as a swimmer and then as a cyclist. One

more title will take her past Baroness Grey-Thompson's 11 gold

medals, something she told me she could scarcely believe. I always

think that their history, the statistics that you guys keep tabs

on, it was an unknown to me. When I was told I was just as good as Tanni

I thought, there's no way that's possible. For the Brazilian fans the

seven aside football proved a predictable draw. The competition

for athletes with cerebral palsy or athletes who have experienced brain

injuries pitted them against Great Britain. Brazil won 2-1. For the

hosts this was even better. In the visually impaired long jump, Ricardo

Costa de Olivieri winning. Yes, a great moment therefore Brazil and it

could be a great night for Britain. Dame Sarah Storey going for gold.

Also keep an eye out for another gold for Britain.

The government says selecting pupils by ability can play a role

in the education system in England as ministers consider

Coming up, I'll be finding out how DNA evidence has transformed our

view of the world's tallest mammals. Coming up in Sportsday on BBC

News at half past six, a Kiwi clinches today's stage

of the Tour of Britain. Bauer is the first man

into Bath but Vermont BBC News has learned that

Public Health England has been asked to investigate high numbers

of deaths among drug users and alcohol users on the

Wirral in Merseyside. They were called in by the local

council after 74 deaths were Official figures on drug-related

deaths in England and Wales Last year's figures were at record

levels, having risen Figures for deaths in Scotland,

released last month, Our Social Affairs correspondent

Michael Buchanan reports. Merseyside was ravaged by heroin in

the 1980s, Liverpool was the first City in Britain to have a mass

epidemic. At one time the highest rate among teenagers was to be found

here on the Wirral. Those who survived are dying off rapidly.

Thinking back to the last funeral and the next one. Frances Cook has

lost several friends in recent months. Like him, they were foremen

heroin addicts reliant on the rehabilitation support. If it had

worked in a spirit of openness and sharing and listening to what the

service users wanted, needed, then things could have been so different.

Drug and alcohol services on the world are provided by this

organisation. In the last 18 months we have heard that 74 clients have

died and the council have asked Public Health England to

investigate. Most died of long-term health goblins rather than drug

overdoses says the charity running the service who maintain they are

providing good support but access they could do more. It's an

opportunity to see if we can intervene earlier to help people

access the right treatment. We are not a health care provider, it isn't

in our gift to make sure that people get the respiratory care they need.

You could pass them on and it hasn't been happening? Not as often as it

should do. On the street in Birmingham we found plenty of

evidence of the City's enduring heroin problem. The number of users

is declining among the country but many need support. With the rehab

budget being cut here, as elsewhere, this former GP has significant

concerns. Anything people can do to put more resources in in terms of

people and trained helpers, then we'll move towards getting a safe

drug treatment service again but at the moment it doesn't feel safe in

Birmingham. Many former Orange users rely on methadone Susa five but

government policy has been to encourage abstinence -- many former

heroin users. That approach works for some people but it can have

unintended consequences. Getting people to stop using drugs increases

the risk of relapse into illegal drug use and consequently increases

the risk of sudden death. Heroin addiction on the housing estates of

Edinburgh was the inspiration for a seminal novel. The so-called

Trainspotting generation are dying from long-term issues. A heroin

epidemic decades ago is still killing people.

A mentally ill man stabbed a university lecturer to death

in north London just days after prosecutors dropped charges

against him for possessing knives and assaulting a policeman.

Dr Jeroen Ensink was killed as he left home to post

cards announcing the birth of his daughter.

23 year old Femi Nandap admitted his manslaughter by reason

What was said in the court? This was in December last year, just before

TPM, Doctor Jeroen Ensink, a renowned epidemic, had gone a few

steps from his front door when he was repeatedly stabbed. His wife was

at home looking after their 11-day-old daughter, she became

concerned when he didn't return. She opened her front door to see a

police cordon and their cards and letters over the pavement. Today at

the Old Bailey 23-year-old Femi Nandap admitted manslaughter on the

grounds of diminished responsibility but what came to light is that six

days before the killing, three charges against him had been

dropped, possession of two knives and assaulting a policeman. Today

the CBS said the charges were dropped because of insufficient

evidence and they also said that cases are constantly reviewed and

lessons learned. Doctor Jeroen Ensink's colleagues at the London

School of hygiene and to book a medicine have set up a fund which

raised more than ?20,000. Thank you for joining us.

The Scottish Government will carry out a three-month consultation on

the Named Person scheme complying with human rights law. A health

visitor or a teacher would monitor the welfare of every child in

Scotland and was halted after a challenge in the Supreme Court.

Most voters in Northern Ireland do not want a referendum on Irish

Sinn Fein had called for a referendum on the issue -

under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement - after a majority

of people in Northern Ireland opposed Brexit in June.

Greece is still struggling to cope with the migrant crisis

despite a deal between the EU and Turkey designed to reduce

the flow of refugees and migrants crossing by boat

The process of either returning them to Turkey,

or moving them elsewhere in the EU has virtually ground

to a halt with some 60,000 now stuck in Greece.

Our Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports

It all looks so calm. The tourists are here, indulging, enjoying their

Greek, it ill. In the background, the refugees linger, trapped as

Europe's crisis festers. Out at sea, the boats have slowed, Greek

coastguard scanning the water. But tonight, nothing. Europe's deal with

Turkey is having an effect. Turkish patrols are deterring more

crossings. Rivals now, around 100 a day, not in the thousands --

arrivals. So it is here on land where the crisis has shifted. This

man arrived from homes in Syria two months ago. -- Homs. He is now stuck

in a temporary shelter hoping for refugee status but with no end to

the process insight. Like 60,000 others in Greece. It is like a

snail. There are people here for six months and they are still waiting.

For me, I am two months so maybe we will wait two years, I don't know.

Adding to their frustration, the refugees cannot work. They are

reliant on hand-outs and it is charities and not the EU that is

feeding them. For this lady, a Syrian Kurd, it is demoralising and

degrading and not what they expected in Europe. TRANSLATION: We escaped

war, death, how can they reject us? Where is their humanity? We are in

Europe, which always talks about human rights. They must protect us.

Right in the heart of Chios the refugees have made their own shanty

and islanders believe the EU is deliberately slowing the asylum

process to deter more arrivals. The EU would like to mon eyes -- to

minimise the flow so they leave the procedure to take months for the

refugees. The EU's policies have too an extent secured European borders

here for now, limiting the influx but they have left Greece and the

refugees already here in limbo, unclear when or to where they will

move on. Now, to most people

a giraffe is a giraffe, but scientists have discovered that

in fact there are four In genetic terms it means

the differences between some African giraffes are as big

as between a Polar Behind me we have got one of four

newly identified species of giraffe, enjoying an elevated snack. This

study shows how little we know about the biology of the world's tallest

mammal so I have come to this zoo to look into a study that has redefined

what it means to be a giraffe. They're Africa's gentlest

giants but these animals are in decline as their natural

habitat is shrinking. That threat was the trigger

for an investigation. Geneticists and conservationists

worked together to sample giraffe DNA to find out more about these

increasingly fragmented populations. And this revealed

a genetic surprise. What these new results show

is that there are actually four All very tall and they look very

similar. But they are actually as genetically

distinct from one another as a polar here at the zoo just one

of the four species. The others are northern

giraffes, southern giraffes This might look like a very tricky

game of spot the difference but to conservationists,

it's crucial information. Understanding that they look

different is just the start, now understanding is real genetic

differences helps us perhaps to understand that there may be big

differences in mating Those of course are critical

to conserving a species and important understanding how

threats might impact upon it and how we can reduce them

and save species from extinction. The wild population of giraffes

has declined by 40% So, looking deep into their DNA

could help conservationists work out exactly what these animals need

from their environment, to protect the habitat

that the world's tallest It has been a day of mixed fortunes,

some heavy rain, especially over parts of Scotland but also some

glorious sunshine. This is Jersey earlier today. We've lost the

heaviest rain from north-east Scotland but a lot of showers for

more than an western parts of the country this evening and overnight,

quite blustery. In the south and south-east, drier and clearer,

another mild night, so temperatures still in the middle teens but not as

humid as it has been over recent nights. Tomorrow a week weather

front is ringing some cloud and showers over central and eastern

parts of England followed by some sunshine but from the West,

increasingly wet and windy weather coming in, heavy rain in Northern

Ireland, the West of Scotland and gale force winds around the coasts

and hills. Wet and windy in the north-west, dry and bright and warm

to the south-east with a chance of showers. Friday evening, we will see

strong wind and heavy rain moving gradually further south and east. To

start the weekend we have the rain lingering around central and

southern England towards East Anglia. Some uncertainty about the

detail of the rainfall. It may be there for much of the day in the

south and east. Further north west, clearer and pressure conditions,

temperatures 15-21 and most of us will see some wet weather later in

the day on Sunday. That's all from the BBC News at Six

so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

news teams where you are.