Stories for 11 May 2004

Oxfordshire Education

Small, but perfectly formed says Ofsted

One of Oxfordshire's smallest village schools, which has only 47 pupils, has received a pat on the back from Ofsted inspectors.   more...

Ofsted praises primary

Standards are above average at Stanford in the Vale Primary School, near Faringdon, according to the report of an Ofsted inspection team.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Transplant rate falls across county

The number of transplant patients in Oxfordshire has dropped in three years despite the rise in organ operations across the UK.   more...

Future looking fine for healthy schools

We are concerned about the accuracy of the article published recently on the `Healthy Schools' project. It implies that the scheme is going to fail through lack of funds and support from the Primary Care Trusts and Oxfordshire County Council.   more...

Coppers' caution a bit of a let down

A colleague told me that in the mid-1970s his father was   more...

I rest my case

Sir -- Councillor Paul Sargent (Oxford Mail, May 7) comments that I made the claim that street wardens were nothing more than professional witnesses.   more...

Beyond the call of duty

Sir -- Picture the scene. Sainsbury's car park at Heyford Hill, Oxford.   more...

Homeless get helping hand from RAF team

Aircrew swapped their helicopters for paintbrushes to take on a Changing Rooms-style challenge to revamp an east Oxford day centre for homeless people.   more...

Asbo tearaway court again

A teenager who faced a raft of restrictions under an antisocial behaviour order less than three weeks ago was remanded in custody on May 10.   more...

Concerns as car ban lifted

A ban preventing vehicles using an access road to a controversial north Oxford housing development has been lifted, despite safety concerns.   more...

Homeless get helping hand from RAF team

Aircrew swapped their helicopters for paintbrushes to take on a Changing Rooms-style challenge to revamp an east Oxford day centre for homeless people.   more...

Pub firm faces lights battle

Pub giant Greene King faces a battle in the European Court of Human Rights if it does not remove 'intrusive' neon lights from the Bullnose Morris pub in Blackbird Leys.   more...

Sir Roger becomes Freeman

Sir Roger Bannister will become a Freeman of Oxford at a special ceremony in the town hall on May 12.   more...

Brookes' buses pass milestone

The number of passengers boarding Oxford's Brookes bus service passed the one million mark yesterday, eight months after it was launched.   more...

Cyclist assault prompts warning

Women are being advised not to walk or cycle in secluded areas in Watlington after a sex attack on a 58-year-old cyclist.   more...

May 11: Glaring omission

On the face of it, pub giant Greene King is being a bully over the Bullnose pub lights in Blackbird Leys.   more...

Thatching judge chosen

Thatcher Paul Watling has been asked to judge this year's Best Thatched House competition -- after winning the contest himself four times in eight years.   more...

Owners swallow their pride

Landlord and landlady Paul and Carol King are celebrating their hostelry being named as Pub of the Year by the North Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.   more...

Pupils branch out into trees

In pouring rain, students and a teacher from St Mary's School, in Wantage, helped plant 280 trees alongside a stretch of derelict canal at West Challow.   more...

Problem visitors leave park site

Travellers have left a park in Witney after being served with an eviction notice.   more...

Teachers going for gold standard

Teachers at Wallingford School are going for gold in their bid to keep physical education and sport at the top of the curriculum.   more...

Weekend of fun for vintage high-fliers

For the second time in two weeks Abingdon airfield will become fully operational again when it hosts the eighth annual Great Vintage Flying Weekend.   more...

But we are losing out

Sir -- County council leader, Keith Mitchell (Oxford Mail, May 5) states that there has been an 82 per cent increase in the social services gross budget in the four years from 1999/2000 to 2003/2004.   more...

Retrial begins of partner accused of murder

A man has gone on trial for a second time accused of murdering his estranged partner by repeatedly stabbing her with a kitchen knife outside an Oxford police station.   more...

Leaders rubbish 'anarchy' claim

Community leaders have leapt to the defence of Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate, denying claims that it is on the verge of anarchy.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Boss Rix set to pounce

Graham Rix is hoping to make a key signing soon to kick-start his Oxford United rebuilding plans.   more...

Town so

glad it's   more...

City product Ballard

thriving at the Farm A NEW era was promised by Oxford City's new chairman Brian Cox, but on the field it was a season of disappointment as they finished 19th, four places below Thame, though boss Andy Sinnott had the satisfaction of completing the double over their Ryman League Division 1 North derby rivals.   more...

Rugby: Pace tells as Oxon go down by a point

Hertfordshire 13, Oxfordshire 12: Oxfordshire suffered their second defeat of the Tetley Bitter County Championship when they were edged out by a single point against Hertfordshire at St Albans on Saturday.   more...

Football: Proud Brock reflects on double success

Banbury United were by far the most successful non-league club in the county, completing their Dr Martens Eastern Division campaign with promotion to the re-constituted Premier Division via a thrilling last-minute play-off against Sutton Coldfield.   more...

West is making

mark at Thame MARK West got his first taste of management as he took over as player-boss at Ryman League Division 1 North Thame United in the summer after Andy Sinnott quit following a row over the playing budget.   more...

Cricket: Tufnell in Oxon visit

Former England Test cricketer Phil Tufnell is to visit Kidlington and Thame Town cricket grounds later this month as part of his npower charity walk for Macmillan Cancer Relief.   more...

Cricket: New skipper Kaufman off to flier for Banbury

Cockspur Cup: New captain Richard Kaufman got off to a winning start as Banbury posted an emphatic 100-run victory at Stratford-upon-Avon in the second round.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Footballers face wait for pitch to take root

Budding David Beckhams in Greater Leys will soon be able to hone their skills on a new football pitch -- but exactly when depends on the weather.   more...

Pensioners' train day

Pensioners have their own special day day to travel the trains on Chinnor and Princes Risborough railway on May 16.   more...