GCSE celebration time at Ysgol Dinas Bran

* Jubilant scenes at Ysgol Dinas Bran this morning.

There were scenes of great jubilation at the school this morning as delighted students received their GCSE results.

All in all 99% achieved a level 2 pass (five GCSE grades or equivalent at C or above) and 60% achieved the level  2+ (five grades at C or above including English and Maths).  The last figure is a 5% improvement on 2013.

Excellent results were achieved across many subject areas with several having a 100% rate of higher grade passes (see below).

There were some significant student achievements. 

Joshua Jones, from Chirk, gained an incredible eight A* grades and an A grade.  Nadine Evans, from Trevor, also performed outstandingly well in securing six A* grades, three As,  a B grade and a Distinction in Further Maths.  Helen Newbrook, from Glyn Ceiriog, did similarly well with six A* grades, three As and a B grade.

Other high achieving students include:

Bethan Williams (Trevor) five A* grades, six A grades, Merit in further Maths, Ross Litchfield Briscoe (Chirk) four A* grades, four A grades, one B grade, Lowri Bates (Glyn Ceiriog) three A* grades, seven A grades, one B grade, Distinction in Further Maths, Morgan Jones (Glyn Ceiriog)   three A* grades, three A grades, two B grades and a Distinction in Further Maths, Tomos  Morris  (Chirk)  two A* grades, four A grades, three B grades and a Distinction in Performing Arts,
Abigail Claybrook  (Llangollen) two A* grades, two A grades, three B grades and Distinction* in Dance.

Kirsty Prescott  (Chirk) two A* grades, two A grades, five B grades, Meuryn Hughes (Pentredwr)   two A* grades, one A grade, four B grades, Amber Griffiths (Chirk Bank)  nine A grades, one B grade, Merit in further Maths, Ceri O’Connell  (Llangollen)  seven A grades, one B grade,
Olivia Holgate (Chirk) one A* grade, six A grades, two B grades, Merit in further Maths, Luke Andrews (Chirk) one A* grade, four A grades, one B grade, Distinction* in Media, Rhys Kynaston (Chirk) one A* grade, five A grades, two B grades, Merit in Further Maths.

Across the whole range of students a huge number achieved good grades , sometimes in challenging circumstances.

Headteacher Martyn Froggett said: “The students have worked extremely hard and fully deserve their results.  To achieve a 99% pass rate at level 2 is a phenomenal achievement.  They have excelled themselves – well done to all of them. 

"Many thanks to all the staff and parents who have supported them whole-heartedly in their journey.  It is a record summer of success and, on top of really good A levels last week, an excellent year for the school.”

Denbighshire County Council says early indications show that approximately 89% of students in the county have achieved 5 A*-C or equivalent.

The council says Denbighshire schools have also seen an improvement in the number of students achieving 5 A*-C or equivalent, including Welsh or English and maths and that there have been some outstanding personal successes.

Councillor Eryl Williams, Cabinet Lead Member for Lifelong Learning, said: “These results are fantastic and I would like to congratulate all students who have achieved the grades needed to further their education with support from their teachers. The results this year really are excellent and show that Denbighshire is continuing to improve.  “We are committed to improving standards in education. We can see the results of everyone's hard work to improve education in Denbighshire and I am delighted that these huge efforts are making a real difference to our young people.” 

* Pictured below: Various students celebrate their GCSE results ...

Health centre foundations taking shape

llanblogger reader Mike Connolly has sent in this picture of the foundations of the town's new health centre which is being built on the site of the old Woodlands Hotel in Mill Street.

Mike says: "The photo which looks like Llan's very own Roman excavations actually shows how fast things are progressing with the new health centre."

Read Construction has its own Facebook page containing the latest information on the development, which you can see at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Llangollen-Health-Centre/652361501479939?fref=ts

This gives a schedule of works showing:

Completion of Demolition Works – 8th August 2014
Commencement of Substructure Foundation Works –11th August 2014
Commencement of Superstructure Works – 13th October 2014
Completion of Roofing Works – 27th February 2015
Completion of Internal Fit Out Works – 5th June 2015
Building Completion – 12th June 2015

There's also a development website at: http://www.readconstruction.co.uk/listings/view/llangollen_health_centre/

* Below, a picture from the site shows concrete being poured into the foundations.

Help shape the future of Pen y Coed Wood

The Woodland Trust is hosting a special event in Llangollen to help shape the future of Pen y Coed Wood.

People engagement officer Jane craven said: “We would like to meet with you and give you the opportunity to share your stories of Pen y Coed wood, let us know what you think of the wood and help us improve it for the future.

“Join us on Friday, August 29, between 2pm and 4pm, at the community hall, St Collen’s.

“There will be fun craft activities and wildlife art for children and free refreshments. Everyone is welcome. Your opinion counts.”

Faery Festival takes off in a big way

* A little fairy at the event.

What happens if you get people from Cornwall, Kent, Northumbria, Cardiff and the Fylde coast, plus the Midlands and the Wirral all interested in myth and magic, and put them in a big tent in Wales for the weekend? 

The second annual Legendary Llangollen Faery Festival, that’s what.

People from all over Britain came to enjoy what is fast becoming one of the major fairy events in the UK.

Over 200 craft workers, healers, fortune tellers, live-action role players, musicians and speakers descended upon us last weekend, all with a mind to have a good time, sell their wares and enjoy everything fairy. 

They pitched tents and stalls and some set up inside the huge tented arena of the Llangollen Pavilion, and all this with the threat of the tail end of Hurricane Bertha looming and poised to strike.

Saturday dawned fair and a glorious day was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.  

Wishes were posted on the wishing line for the fairies to collect and grant, and the wing and wand making workshops were spectacularly busy. 

Circus skills were taught, the mystery of how to play a didgeridoo was revealed and live music and wonderful food was enjoyed. The stallholders did a cracking trade and the little, (and large), ones had their faces painted and were told some amazing tales by expert storytellers.

Author and co-organiser, Fiona Maher was promoting her novel. 

She said: “My book, The Last Changeling, is hardly fairy friendly and I never thought people who really believe that fairies are sweet creatures would like what I’ve written.

“Luckily, they are only interested in fairies and fey culture being promoted, so if I just happen to be the conduit for that, then they are inclined to forgive me.  Actually some of them prefer their fairies to be less sugary.”  

She added: “The threatened rain arrived at teatime just as the daytime events concluded, and most of the outside stalls moved inside the arena for the next day. We only had the vintage funfair and three stalls go home - all vowing to return next year.  

“That night we all danced at The Grand Faery Ball, so no-one much cared what the weather was doing outside!  

“Fervent spells were cast for good weather for the Sunday. After a rain lashed night, the water stopped pouring from the sky just eight minutes after the event opened again.  There were a few squalls in the afternoon, one huge gust of wind, and that was Bertha's last farewell.  

“We all survived and are already planning for 2015.”

* Pictures courtesy of Alan Potts

 * Activity inside the Pavilion.

 

 

* Stylish dance routine.

 

 

* Fairy with owl.

 

 

* Outside on the field.

ABBA Solution to play Bank Holiday show in Llan

* ABBA Solution in action.

 

A tribute band will be making a triumphant return to Llangollen this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Following sell-out shows in the town last year, including one as part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, ABBA Solution will be bringing their 100% live tribute to the Swedish super-group to the Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday 24th August.

The show features Steph Babington as Agnetha and Jo Potts as Anni-Frid, backed by a highly polished six piece band. Celebrating the bands most popular hits, from 'Waterloo' to 'Dancing Queen', ABBA Solution also perform some of their more obscure and musically challenging numbers including 'The Eagle', which features twin lead guitar solos from Dan Morris and Ross Anderson.

The event has been organised by Llangollen based Radiant Events, who also run regular comedy nights in the town. Director Paul Brown says, "The music of ABBA has won plenty of new fans in the past few years following the success of the Mamma Mia film. There are plenty of tribute bands out there, but ABBA Solution are the real deal. There are no backing tracks and no autotune - just a 100% live musical spectacular. It's a great way to round off a fantastic summer in Llangollen."

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £10, are available online at www.radiantevents.co.uk or can be bought in person at the Llangollen Pavilion and Gales of Llangollen.

* Steph Babington as Agnetha.

Council responds to A5 tree complaint

Denbighshire County Council has responded to complaints from a local campaigner that a number of mature trees have been removed from outside the site where the new Dobson & Crowther factory is currently being built at Cilmedw on the A5.

Martin Crumpton said he spotted that the trees had disappeared during a recent tour of the area which he made with a council planning officer and has lodged a formal complaint about their loss.

In response, a spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: "This is a regrettable development, given the approved plans for the new Dobson & Crowther factory clearly showed the trees were to be retained, but the council has had little choice other than to consent to the work, following a formal request for the removal of the trees by the developers.  

"They commissioned a Tree Assessment in late July following concerns from Denbighshire's Highway Officer over the impact on the stability of the trees arising from excavation works along the A5 frontage in connection with the construction of a new footway.

“The assessment concluded the stability and health of the trees had been considerably impacted by site works, in particular construction works relating to the proposed frontage footpath, and that the trees were at high risk of failure, with no effective remedial work that would allow their long term retention. The recommendation was to fell the trees without delay.

“Officers took advice on the risk posed by the trees and took the view of specialists there was a 'very high' probability of failure, and there were legitimate concerns over the effects of high winds forecast on trees in full leaf.  In that context, it would be unreasonable to oppose the felling of the trees, taking into account the potential risk to members of the public.

“We fully appreciate the sensitivity of the situation and we will of course do our best to secure an appropriate replacement planting scheme, in conjunction with the council's Tree Consultant and Biodiversity Officer.”

Mr Crumpton has now complained about the situation to Welsh Assembly Members.

Speeding crackdown begins

A crackdown on speeding motorists is set to take place throughout North Wales this week.

North Wales Police are taking part in a European-wide week-long initiative to crack down on speeding motorists from today, Monday.

 

The TISPOL (European Traffic Police Network) campaign will see all police forces across Europe tackling speeding by conducting speed checks.

 

North Wales Police Roads Policing Officers along with Go Safe will be combining their efforts to deter and detect motorists who choose to ignore the speed limits all across the force area. Drivers who are caught speeding will be dealt with by means of a TOR (Traffic Offence Report) which will either mean being offered a driver educational course (recommended in appropriate circumstances), issued with a fine or a summons to attend court.

 

Inspector Martin Best from North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit said:  “Speeding is an issue that concerns many residents and one that we take extremely seriously.

 

“We are committed to making our roads a safer place for all who use them and we will continue to crack down on those irresponsible drivers who choose to ignore speed limits and drive irresponsibly, not only risking their own lives but the lives of others.

 

“North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are speeding, failing to wear a seat belt, drink and drug driving, dangerous and careless driving including unnecessary risk taking and using a mobile phone while driving.

“The risk of being seriously injured or killed rises dramatically if a decision is taken to commit a ‘Fatal 5’ offence and I want people to be aware of the devastating affect it can have and make a conscious decision not to take any chances.”

 

Further information regarding TISPOL can be accessed via their website

 

For advice on road safety please visit our 'Advice and Support' section 

 

To keep up to date with this week’s campaign follow @NWPolice on Twitter or use the hash tags #fatal5 #noexcuses

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