Multi million pound initiative to improve local roads across England

A multimillion pound scheme to improve traffic signals and a commitment to explore how new technology; such as:- drones and 3D printing; could be used to find and fix potholes are part of a raft of measures announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this week. The package will see Councils across England receive a share of ₤15m in Government funding to improve their traffic light systems to cut congestion, boost safety and reduce journey times and emissions; a commitment set out in the recently announced Transport Decarbonisation Plan. In addition to announcing the funding, the Government has also published the findings from a new initiative called the Digital Intelligence Brokerage (DIB), which aims to encourage more work with small and medium enterprises outside of the transport sector and to speed up research into new and innovative ways to fix potholes. The DIB has already made waves in this area, identifying graphite nanoparticles in asphalt to reduce surface cracks, the use of bio bitumen materials to create environmentally friendly road surfaces which contribute to the decarbonisation of highways maintenance, and automated repair operations to minimise risk to road maintenance workers. This work supports wider Government commitments to use advanced technology, such as drones to spot defects in roads and 3D printing to repair cracks. This all comes as the Government continues its drive to level up the country's transport network and build back better from the Pandemic.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:- "Whether you're a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, every road user across our country deserves the best possible journey. That's why, despite already having some of the best and safest roads in the world, this Government is providing millions of pounds to improve them further still. This vital funding and work will cut journey times for millions of people, reduce emissions and keep the UK at the forefront of technological developments in roads maintenance, as we continue to invest in local economies and build back both better and greener from the Pandemic."

RAC Head of Roads Policy Nicholas Lyes said:- "Additional investment to cut congestion and make pothole repairs better for the future is very welcome. Improving traffic lights can make a significant difference to local roads by efficiently maximising the number of vehicles which can safely pass through junctions, while hitting a pothole can be an expensive and even a dangerous experience, so we look forward to seeing how drivers and road users more widely can benefit from the use of 21st century technology to repair their local roads more quickly."

The ₤15m announced today builds on the ₤1.125bn that has already been made available to Local Authorities for local road maintenance. Councils will be expected to not only use the extra funding to repair and improve existing traffic signals, but also consider how to future proof their local road networks and prepare for technological innovations. In addition to these measures, the Department for Transport has also today announced the development of a new data standard for local road condition monitoring, which will allow Councils to use multiple technologies to carry out road condition surveys for national reporting purposes. This will lead to more accurate and useful data being collected. ₤100,000 of funding is also being put towards the Transport Technology Forum. The open forum is funded by the Department for Transport and Innovate UK and brings together road operators and suppliers from across the industry to offer their skills and experience to drive technological advances in the traffic management sector.
 

A Lancashire based independent School's celebrating another year of outstanding A-Level results, with over 2/3 of results gained being in the A / A* bracket. Rossall School, Fleetwood, is known for being a centre of academic excellence, and this year's A-Level results have further reinforced this. This outstanding set of A-Level results follows swiftly on the heels of a record breaking year for students pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at the School. The fantastic results achieved by all Upper 6th students at Rossall this year confirm its place as a regional leader within the North West.

Many students are now preparing for the next steps in their education, from accepting positions at some of the country's top Universities to going overseas for international qualifications. From almost a 3rd of all academic departments, students achieved nothing less than an A grade, including:- English Literature, Geography, German, Spanish, Chinese, Music, and Theatre Studies.

A huge number of students achieved a clean sweep of A / A*s this summer and, whilst there is much to celebrate as a School, it's the individual success stories that mean so much to staff, parents, and pupils. The School has highlighted some of the more exceptional performances such as:-

Twins achieve 12A* and 9As Worthy of particular mention, are 3 of our sets of twins: Jess and Max Watson, Ed and Will Robinson, and Joey and Lily Warwick amassed a staggering 12A*s and 9As between them.

Lily Warwick said:- "Rossall became my 2d home. I am so grateful for my ten years here. I would like to thank all the staff at Rossall; especially my PE Teachers, as I could not have done it without them."

Will Robinson said:- "We are both delighted with our results and cannot wait to start our respective Universities, and want to say a huge thank you to all our subject teachers for helping us achieve these grades."

60% of Rossall students off to Russell Group or top 20 Universities

This cohort of students has secured University places at some of the most prestigious institutions in the UK and overseas.  Rossall anticipates that over 60% of 6th form students will be attending Russell Group or top 20 Universities, whilst a number have been awarded full sports scholarships to top institutions in the USA.

Students are progressing to:- Imperial College London, King's College London, University of Bristol, University of Warwick, University of Leeds, University of Manchester, and Durham University, pursuing subjects as diverse as:- Medicine, Economics, Politics, Computer Science, English, Architecture, and Chemistry. No fewer than 4 students will be taking up places to study Medicine. Erin Bradbury, Will Jackson, and Sam Currie will be taking up places at Queen's University, Belfast, the University of Leicester, and the University of East Anglia respectively.