Friday 6 September 2024
 Secondary school admission applications for September 2025 are now open!
If your child has just started Year 6 you can apply now for their place at secondary school for September 2025.
For most schools in Devon, there is an admissions priority for children if they live in the school’s designated area. You can also explore other schools to find which is the best fit for your child's needs and interests. Don't forget to check with the schools you are interested in to see if they are holding open days/evenings/tours.
It's also important to be aware of the school transport policy so that you understand who will be responsible for getting your child to and from school before applying for or accepting a place.
Once you've chosen a school(s), use our online application form to express your preference(s). You can name up to three different schools and these are equally ranked preferences, which means you can apply for the schools you most want without affecting your chances of a place at other schools. If you cannot apply online, please contact the Education helpline on 0345 155 1019 and ask for a paper copy of the form to be sent to you.
Applications must be made before the national closing date of Thursday 31 October 2024. If you apply after this date, the application will be considered late and may be at a disadvantage. The date that all allocations of school places are announced in England is known as ‘Offer Day’. For September 2025 secondary school starters this will be on Monday 3 March 2025.
Visit our website for more information about applying for a secondary school place, including a step-by-step guide.
A long lost painting of a 16th century warship, painted directly onto a wall of a shop in Tavistock went on public display today, (Friday 5 September).
It was discovered during the renovation of the shop at 4 Market Street.
An assessment of the painting and its context has been coordinated by Dr Geri Parlby, art historian and Chair of the Tavistock Heritage Trust, with support from us at Devon County Council.
The wonderfully detailed painting of the warship - with a streamer in the green and white of the Tudor dynasty overlain with a red cross of St George - is very similar to those depicted on the Anthony Roll, which is a record of Henry VIII's navy, made in 1546.
The new display and exhibition, with interactive touchscreen depicting the painting, opens at the Tavistock Guildhall, coinciding with the National Heritage Open Days programme, which runs until Sunday 15 September.
You can read more about the painting in the full story on our news page.
 Explore the Templer Way in a series of heritage walks
There will be a series of six heritage walks exploring the scenic and historic Templer Way, starting later this month (September) and continuing throughout next year.
They're part of the 'Restoring Stover Park' project, with the walks following sections of the Templer Way route, which connects Dartmoor with Stover Country Park and onto Teignmouth.
The first walk, on Friday 27 September, will be from Haytor Visitor Centre on Dartmoor to Yarner Woods, starting at Haytor at 9am and finishing at Stover Country Park at 2pm. The distance will be around four miles on open, hilly moorland and woodland, and the walk is for people aged 18 years old and over.
Qualified guide, Emma Cunis, also known as 'Dartmoor's Daughter', will lead the walk to Yarner Woods, and there will be transport back to Stover Country Park for lunch around a campfire. Bookings will also include transport from Stover Country Park back to Haytor.
You can read more in the story on our news page.
 Thousands of pounds worth of illicit tobacco seized in Exmouth
Illegal vapes with an estimated value of £8,000, and illicit cigarettes and tobacco worth more than £3,000, have been seized after detection dogs discovered them in two stores in Exmouth.
The vapes were not suitable for sale in the UK because they don't comply with necessary product regulations, and the tobacco was a mix of counterfeit and non-duty paid.
Since the beginning of the year, our Trading Standards service has seized approximately £37,000 of illegal vapes, and £18,000 of illicit tobacco.
Stopping illegal vapes and tobacco from entering the market place is a high priority for the service. The team use detection dogs to sniff out even the smallest quantities of tobacco and vapes, regardless of where they're hidden.
Read more in the story on our news page.
 Did you know you can check your blood pressure at home?
High blood pressure in adults is very common but many people don’t know they have it and so are not receiving important treatment to help reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.
If you are aged over 40 years old, you can get to #KnowYourNumbers by going along to a local pharmacy and requesting a free blood pressure check. Visit the NHS website to find a pharmacy near you that offers free blood pressure checks.
Checking your blood pressure is also quick and easy with a home blood pressure monitor. Visit the British Heart Foundation website to find out more about how to test your blood pressure at home, get advice on choosing a monitor and get tips to help you to reduce your blood pressure.
 Suicide Prevention: start the conversation
Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy. We know that suicide is preventable; it’s not inevitable.
Every year, on 10 September, communities come together for World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide. The theme this year is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation”.
It's important to talk openly about suicide to stop the stigma around it. Even small conversations can help make our society more supportive and understanding. By talking, we can break down the barriers, spread awareness and give people the chance to express how they feel and get the support they need.
Visit the Samaritans website for information and advice on how you can help make a change. It could even save a life.
Road repairs have accelerated with the help of £10 million extra funding that we invested in our roads budget this year.
In a report before the Full Council meeting this week, (Thursday 5 September), Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said the County Council’s investment had enabled “a significant scaling-up” to tackle repairs on the county’s road network. He praised the efforts being made by highways teams as delivery had been “gathering pace” over the summer.
Since April, more than 18,000 square metres of road have been patched in over 350 locations across the county. These repairs have targeted sections of road which are deteriorating, patching extensive areas before potholes or safety defects form.
You can read the full story, including where patching schemes have been completed, on our news page.
This week is Zero Waste Week, an annual campaign that encourages people to reduce waste and to adopt more sustainable practices.
Food waste is a big deal. A study in Devon two years ago found that nearly a third of black bin waste is food waste, with nearly 80 per cent of it avoidable. More than a third of that food waste was thrown away still in its packaging.
Community Fridges and Larders are publicly accessible fridge/freezer/ambient spaces that offer food for free to everyone in the local area, making use of surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Most of it is from businesses, but some is from households.
Our Recycle Devon website has a list of community fridges and larders that we're aware of around Devon that are open to all and aim to reduce food waste.
 What can you spot in Devon this autumn?
Autumn is just around the corner, and Devon’s wildlife is flourishing!
As part of their campaign, 'Outdoor September', Devon Local Nature Partnership is hosting a one-hour webinar on Thursday 26 September at 6:30pm. Join them and local wildlife expert James Chubb from Wild East Devon to explore the fascinating species you can spot this autumn and the best locations to find them in Devon.
Whether you’re a seasoned nature lover or simply curious about the outdoors, this free event is for everyone. Expect engaging, easy-to-follow insights into Devon’s autumnal wonders, followed by a Q&A session.
This free event is open to all. You don't need a Teams account to register and attend, just use this link or the button below.
 Be the change this Fairtrade Fortnight
Did you know that Devon is a Fairtrade County? Devon was first awarded Fairtrade County status in October 2008 and has been successful in renewing its status ever since.
Each year we join in celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight, which this year takes place from Monday 9 September to Sunday 22 September. This year's theme emphasises the collective impact of individual shopping choices in bringing about change. It aims to highlight how everyone can make a difference by choosing products with the Fairtrade Mark and by sharing stories about the difference Fairtrade has made to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.
It’s 30 years since the first Fairtrade certified products hit supermarket shelves in the UK. But while significant progress has been made, there's still more to ensure producers are paid fair prices so that they can have secure and sustainable livelihoods.
So, we’d like to see people pledging to put a product with the Fairtrade Mark in their shopping bags whenever they can and to spread the word about supporting Fairtrade.
Find out more on the Fairtrade website.
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