LOCAL SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Epping Forest District Council has launched this year’s Summer Activities 2009 brochure, which is packed full of exciting activities for children and young people, which includes details of a wide selection of summer sports, youth games, family entertainment, playschemes, dance and performance and many more activities taking place over the summer holidays.

A number of this years activities are Olympic-themed events, such as cycling, archery and canoeing which all of the family can take part in. Our district Museum in Waltham Abbey is offering a range of drop-in activities throughout the summer. On Saturday 1st August 2009 a ‘Family Fun Day’ full of activities and entertainment is being held. To view the full details of this years events or book a place, please click here.

TAMIFLU COLLECTION POINT OPENS IN EPPING

A new collection point for picking up antiviral medication for the swine flu virus H1N1 has opened in Epping. It will be used for people who have been in contact with the national flu line and have been diagnosed with the virus and given an authorisation number. They will also be informed of the loction of the new collection point in Epping.

Specific information is needed about the person with swine flu, including their date of birth, current symptoms, history of serious medical conditions and NHS number or passport number. The person collection the medication must also be able to prove their identity using either a utility bill, passport, credit or debit card, driving licence or NHS card.

Alison Cowie, Director of Public Health at NHS West Essex said: “The antiviral collection point in Epping is the first to open and will be followed by others shortly. It will be open from 8am to 8pm everyday.” Anyone who thinks they have swine flu should contact the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1513 100 or visit the website here.

WHAT SHOULD EPPING'S SPENDING PRIORITIES BE?

Epping Town Council has recently directed the Town Clerk (as the most senior member of the Council’s staff) to bring forward a list of projects in the town which require significant maintenance so that the Council can then prioritise that list of work and consider the financial impact to forthcoming budgets. The list submitted is as below:

1. Epping Cemetery - Replace 20m of path - £4,000.
2. Stonards Hill - Create new pedestrian entrance with steps and a kissing gate - £3,000.
3. Stonards Hill - Replace hard tennis court fencing - £3,000 per year x4
4. Stonards Hill - Reseat 2 benches and replace 1 concrete ring rubbish bin - £1,500.
5. Stonards Hill - Replace fencing around the petanque terrain - £2,000.
6. Jack Siley Pavilion - Renew the flooring in the ladies and gents toilets and entrance hall - £3,000.
7. Jack Siley Pavilion - Install bow top fencing at rear of hall - £500.
8. Parklands Play Area - Replace bow top perimeter fencing - £10,000.
9. Frampton Road Play Area - Repaint existing play equipment - £4,600.
10. Lower Swaines Play Area - Refurbish play area - min of £15,000.
11. Lower Swaines - Manage hedge adjacent to St. John’s School - £3,500.
12. Ivy Chimneys Play Area - Clear and replant the hedge to the left of the entrance - £5,000.
13. Ivy Chimneys Play Area - Repair part of the old bow top fencing - £2,000.
14. Fingerposts - Repair and repaint the worst post - £600.
15. Bakers Lane Toilets - Strip off tiles and replace with metal panels - £9,000.
16. Epping Hall - Reset concrete slabs to the side of the main hall - £2,000.
17. Epping Hall - Provide storage space to the rear of the main hall - £1,500.

I often look at the figures pulled together by officers and wonder where on earth they get them from. I ask myself, how can it cost that much to cut a hedge back! However, local Councils are subject to rigorous health and safety checks. All work carried out has to meet high national standards and work has to be carried out with accredited companies to meet the requirements of not only the health and safety executive, but also the Council’s insurers. We can often only ever use contractors who are on county ‘preferred supplier’ lists. Where possible, we endeavour to use local companies to carry out such work to ensure that local taxes are being spent supporting local businesses, but we recognise that the best value for money sometimes comes from further afield.

Ultimately, Epping Town Council will be asked next Tuesday what they think should be the top priorities for the town. We currently only have a £20,000 maintenance budget available to us which has to last until next April and I would like to know what you think we should be focusing on. You can email me at allaboutepping@googlemail.com Please note that items 1, 2, 8, 13 and 16 have health and safety implications for the Council. Item 3 will rapidly become unusable if work it not carried out swiftly. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

BEWARE OF MAN CLAIMING TO HAVE BEEN MUGGED

Many local residents have raised concerns tonight about a middle-aged man who is walking the streets of Epping claiming to have been mugged and requiring some money to call for help or catch the bus home. The gentleman has both stopped people in Epping High Street and also knocked on residential properties scattered throughout the town to ask for help and many people have assisted by giving £1 or so before sending him happily on his way.

This man is well-known to local police and is not known to be violent. He is a local alcoholic and regularly drinks as much as he can afford before going out in search for a couple of pounds to buy another pint!

Advice from Essex Police is to refuse to give him any money and he will be on his way. You should however, take a note of his appearance, such as hair and eye colour, height, what he is wearing, what direction he has gone in and what time you saw him before calling the Neighbourhood Policing Team on 07779 317211. If the issue becomes more serious, please dial 999 immediately. By calling the police, you are helping to build evidence against this man who is a nuisance and whom we hope to bring an anti-social behaviour order again in due course.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

The following planning applications will be considered by Epping Town Council's Planning and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 28th July 2009. If you wish to express your view to the committee on any of the application below, you can either email info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or attend the meeting in person at Epping Hall, St. John's Road, Epping, CM16 5JU.

EPF/1180/09 - 82-84 High Street, Epping - Covered access to existing front entrance to office and ground floor extension to restaurant
EPF/1054/09 - Plots 2, 13, 14 and 15 Kings Wood Park, St. Margaret’s Hospital, Epping - Erection of four detached houses
EPF/1212/09 - 3 Stonards Hill, Epping - Rear conservatory.
EPF/1229/09 - 47 The Orchards, Epping - Raise roof to form chalet incorporating 3 bedrooms and two storey rear extension.
EPF/1251/09 - 25 Amesbury Road, Epping - Single storey rear and side extensions (amendment to planning approval EPF/0748/07)
TREE PRESERVATION ORDERS
TPO/EPF/1252/09 - 9 Spriggs Oak, Palmers Hill, Epping - T1, Yew Tree, Crown reduction by approximately 1m all round.
TPO/EPF/1270/09 - 9 Spriggs Oak, Palmers Hill, Epping - T1, Sycamore tree within G2, fell.

PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT - Policing in Epping

Epping Town Council and Essex Police are holding a public meeting this evening (Wednesday 22nd July 2009) to discuss issues relating to crime and disorder within the community. The meeting will take place at 7pm at The Jack Siley Pavilion, Stonards Hill.

It is hoped that this meeting will act as an opportunity for people to raise matters of concern and discuss possible solutions by working together with local police officers. There is also a hope that a Neighbourhood Action Panel for Epping can be created, which I have written about in detail previously here.

APPRENTICESHIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN ESSEX

Around 120 young people are to be offered new apprenticeships, as part of an initiative being launched by Essex County Council.

As part of the package of support it is providing to local businesses and residents through the economic downturn, Essex County Council is planning to create around 1000 new apprenticeships in both the public and private sectors over the next three years. Part-funded by the European Social Fund, the Essex Apprentice Project identifies engineering and manufacturing as the key sectors for growth in the county. The County Council has recognised the need to rebalance the provision of apprenticeships to reflect the development needs of the local economy, by increasing the number of placements available in these sectors.

Overall, apprenticeship places in Essex are down by 22% this year for 16-18 year olds. In the engineering sector the main reasons reported for reduced take-up are financial commitment and administrative costs, and the inability of smaller companies to offer the full breadth of experience that an apprentice needs. The Essex Apprentice Project will de-risk companies by employing and paying the full costs for apprentices as they undertake a one year Level II apprenticeship in engineering. Apprentices will spend at least 12 weeks in the workplace, and will be rotated around local business clusters to provide the necessary breadth of vocational experience. For more information about the scheme, please click here or contact Glynis Argue at Essex County Council on 01245 438850.

POLICE LAUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

Essex Police has launched a Photography Competition to find photos of locations in Essex to use on its new website. It is looking for photos of places in Essex to ensure its website reflects the county it serves. So, the challenging to residents to illustrate what Essex means to them in a photograph.

Claire Ziwa, Head of Media at Essex Police, said: “We are really excited about the website and we want to involve the people of Essex in the look of the site. There are no categories so just get out there and get creative - whether it is a summer scene at Southend Pier or a beauty spot in Thaxted. Use your imagination and show us what Essex means to you and you could see your photos on Essex Police’s new website.”

Five photos will be shortlisted. First prize is an Ipod Touch, second prize is a digital photo frame and three runners up will win a digital photo key ring. Photos should be emailed to photos@essex.pnn.police.uk Individuals may submit up to three entries and provide their name, phone number, address, email address and the location of the photograph. Photos must be of places and not include people. All entries must be received by midnight on Friday 4th September 2009. For more information, please click here.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ‘PROMS ON THE GREEN’

Today, Epping’s town centre has once again played host to Epping Forest Band’s annual ‘Proms on the Green’ concert. Attendance levels were slightly down on previous years events, but we can only put this down to the heavy rain this morning, coupled with some very gusty winds this afternoon, as you can see from the picture of my friend Kurtis below!

As ever, no amount of bad weather would stop a good crowd of Epping residents coming out to support such a fantastic and genuinely talented local organisation play some of the country’s most renowned music, including the National Anthem, ‘Jeruselem‘, ‘Land of Hope and Glory‘, as well as something for the younger generations, like the theme tunes from ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones‘. This year also saw the introduction of a ‘London’ themed medley, which included ‘Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner’.

We thank the members of Epping Forest Band for keeping us entertained year-after-year at the many community events they attend free-of-charge and wish them well in their official visit to our twin-town, Eppingen, next week. For more information about Epping Forest Band, please click here.

EPPING’S OLDEST PUB GOES ONLINE

The Black Lion, so called since 1755, is the oldest Tavern in Epping, dating back to the 17th Century and is reputed to have connections with Dick Turpin. Recently, under new management, the Black Lion has under gone complete refurbishment, however the oak beams and open fires still remain.

The Public Bar now has a plasma screen with daily sky sports available and the Saloon Bar will have regular live music at weekends (see events page for details). The ale house also boasts a new late licence, which allows them to remain open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. The rear of the pub is has a covered heated patio area for smokers and plenty of parking, as well as elite taxi service situated right next door. To visit the new site, please click here.

LOCAL BUS INFORMATION - SERVICE CHANGES

* Service SM19: Epping to Harlow
This service, run by SM Coaches, will have a revised timetable with effect from 25 August 2009.

* Service 333: Stansted to Epping
This service, run by Excel, will be withdrawn with effect from 18 August 2009.

* Bus Timetables for Essex
Bus Timetables for Essex: June 2009 has been published. In addition to the timetables, it contains a map of the Essex Principal Inter-Urban Bus Services and maps of the bus routes through a number of towns including Epping. It is on sale for £1 from the following outlets in Epping: Epping News, 83 High Street; Martins, 273-277 High Street; EFDC Civic Offices, High Street; and Epping Library, St Johns Road.

For more information on public transport link in Epping, please click here and click on 'Public Transport Information'.

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Saturday 18th July 2009

Epping Upland Church is holding the ever-popular ‘Concert by the Lake’ in the beautiful gardens of Hayleys Manor, Epping Upland. This year it's being held on Saturday 18th July, gates open at 6.30pm and the live band plays from 7.30pm. They are having the same band as last year: "Loose Talk" who will play a mixture of 50s, 60s and 70s music, with a few more recent songs thrown in for good measure.

Please bring your own chairs, tables, food, drink, etc. A fantastic raffle is available with great prizes. All the profits go to keep Epping Upland's beautiful church standing.

Tickets are available at £10 in advance or £15 on the night (no children under 12 years of age) from Diane Pegrum on 01992 578019 or 07890 919558. Alternatively you can email her at diane@pegrum.plus.com

DAY 5 OF MY SWINE FLU EXPERIENCE IN EPPING

Day five and I must say, I feel very much better. My soar throat and cough remain and I’m still a little achy, but that’s pretty much it. I’ve just finished my last dose of the Tamiflu anti-viral medication and my GP has informed me I will be able to step outside of the house again for the first time tomorrow morning without fear of spreading the virus.

Today, a large percentage of the national media are reporting the Government’s suggestion that 64,000 people will die of swine flu before the end of the year, which has naturally frightened many people. However, what they have not reported is that this is their worst case scario and the numbers actually range from 8,000 to 64,000. It is also worth noting that a winter flu pandemic a few years ago saw over 25,000 death which many of us didn’t even know about, so I think it’s important that we keep this in perspective.

I can also see that many people have visited my blog in search of details of pharmacies stocking Tamiflu. I can confirm that the Rectory Lane Health Centre in Rectory Lane, Loughton is our nearest stockist. Their postcode is IG10 3RU and their telephone number is 020 8272 4600.

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Sunday 19th July 2009

Epping Forest Band will, once again, be hosting “Proms on the Green” in Church Hill, Epping (by Epping’s War Memorial) on Sunday 19th July 2009 from 3pm to 5pm.

For the last few years, the weather has just managed to support the event, so I kindly ask for prayers that the weather remain on side again this year for what is always a rousing afternoon of British musical classics.

The event is free of charge, so please do bring your friends and families out with a picnic and your deck chairs and sing along some the songs which make us all proud to be British. For more information relating to Epping Forest Band, please click here.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LOCAL HERO ROBERT EALES

We send our congratulations to Robert Eales today, who hasso far managed to raise £1,180 from his 26.2 mile London Marathon run back in April this year.

Rob, who was running on behalf of the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity, managed to complete the gruelling race in a remarkable 4 hours and 19 minutes. He selected this charity because of his personal experiences from serving within the British armed forces.

Epping lad Rob signed-up to join the Army in 1994, at the age of 15. By 16, he was a Rifleman with the Royal Green Jacket Regiment and eventually, he was sent on tours of duty to Kosovo and Bosnia. By the end of 2002, Rob had left the Army after 6 year’s service and he now works as a fireman, based at Stansted Airport.

The money Rob has raised will be spent on a swimming pool and gym complex at the tri-service (army, navy and air force) rehabilitation centre, Headley Court near Leatherhead in Surrey, which is due to be completed in January 2010. For more information about the project, please click here.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a donation to the Help for Heroes charity, please click here.

DAY 3 OF MY SWINE FLU EXPERIENCE IN EPPING

Well, it’s officially my third day of living with the swine flu virus and taking the antiviral medication Tamiflu and I must say, I am starting to feel much better. Although I was formally diagnosed with swine flu three days ago, I actually believe that I contracted the virus at an event last Sunday, which would be 7 days ago and started to see the effects of the virus 5 days ago. My doctor advised me that I should be all-clear within 5 days of symptoms showing, but to be on the safe-side, I should lock myself away without any contact with the human world for 5 days from the point of diagnosis.

I still remain very lethargic though. Everything I do seems like such a lot of effort. My muscles ache a great deal less and I have no pains in my joints at all any more. I do still have a cough and some shortness of breath when I walk up or down the stairs, but my nose has completely dried up. I can feel my body in recovery if that makes sense.

I don’t think there’s much else to report today I’m afraid, but come back tomorrow and you may find me better still! We live in hope.

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Saturday 11th July 2009

Epping Church Choirs Association are due to host their Summer Concert on Saturday 11th July 2009 at 7.30pm in St. John’s Church, St. John’s Road, Epping.

The concert, titled ‘Some Enchanting Evening’ will see a varied selection of sacred and secular music including Mozart‘s Sparrow Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Motets from Grieg, Arensky and Lassus, Rodgers and Hammerstein and a special Medley from Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat. Admission is free. Programmes are £2 each. If you are interested, all you have to do is turn-up!

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Saturday 11th July 2009

Epping Forest Rotary Club are hosting "The Last Gig in the Garden" on Saturday 11th July 2009 from 5pm at Acreage, Harlow Common, Harlow, Essex CM17 9NF to raise funds for a number of local charities, including Haven House Children’s Hospice.

Entertainment will be provided by ‘Stoned Again’ (a tribute to the Rolling Stones), ‘Noasis’ (a tribute to Oasis) and ‘Freebird Antique Monkeys’ (a tribute to the Arctic Monkeys). A Beer Tent, BBQ, Hog Roast and Champagne Bar will all be available.

Tickets are £25.00 each and can only be purchased in advance by calling Tel: 01279 422653 or 07855 911323. For more information, please contact Penny Sturdy at Haven House on 020 8506 3633 or email her at pennysturdy@havenhouse.org.uk

DAY 2 OF MY SWINE FLU EXPERIENCE IN EPPING

Last night, at home in Epping, I took the first of my 75mg Tamiflu or Oseltamivir tablets. I am required to take one tablets twice a day and I am told I will feel no different, but they should bring the effects of the virus and its contagious properties to an end quicker than they would do naturally.

My nose today has been running like a tap and is very sore. My eyes have also been watering a lot, a bit like the effects of hay fever if you hayfever suffered from that horrible condition. My joint pain in my shoulders and elbows seems to have reduced, but the pain in my fingers seems to have intensified - although as someone concerned yesterday did point out to me, perhaps I shouldn’t be typing if I have muscle / joint pain and they’re quite right. I have definitely noticed that since taking the Tamiflu, I feel less dizzy and I have less of a head ache.

I must admit, I have been a bit frightened after reading the BBCs story today, which tells us about the first “healthy” person’s death from swine flu and that this person lived in Essex. The full story can be found here. According to the Government, 14 people have died in the UK of the virus so far and, in London and the West Midlands, the virus will soon reach “epidemic levels”.

I guess my biggest concern with this virus is that the more people that contract it, the more likely it is to mutate into something else. If this happens, our Government have spent hundreds of millions of pounds commissioning 60million doses of Tamiflu and they would have to spend that money again on a new anti-virus serum should it be necessary. In the middle of a recession, the last think we need really is this nasty flu bug! It really is a tragedy that people are suddenly having their lives snatched away from them now though. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those effected.

PROPOSED NEW SCOUT HUT & HALL FOR EPPING

The 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group based in Fluxs Lane, Epping have submitted a planning application which Epping Town Council’s planning and general purposes committee will consider next Tuesday to completely replacement the current scout and community hall with a brand-new building.

You can see some of the plans for the new building by clicking on one of the following:
* For the proposed front & side elevations, click here.
* For the proposed rear elevation & block plan, click here.
* For the proposed floor plan, click here.
* For the existing front elevation & floor plan, click here.
* For the existing side & rear elevations, click here.

If you wish to express your view to the committee on this application, you can email info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or attend the meeting in person at Epping Hall, St. John's Road, Epping, CM16 5JU at 7.30pm on Tuesday 14th July.

FIRST-HAND REACTION TO THE SWINE FLU VIRUS

So, how did this all begin for me. Well, on Tuesday morning this week, I woke up in Epping feeling a bit groggy. I had a very soar throat and a cough which almost came out of nowhere. When I stood up, I felt incredibly dizzy and my muscles ached like I’d completed some form of marathon. I also had pain in the joints of my shoulders, arms and fingers. I soon realised I also had a headache and a runny nose. Naturally, at first I thought I probably just had a bit of a cold or perhaps even flu, but all I wanted to do was rest and sleep. I have recently undergone some surgery to remove and replace some bones in my leg which has required me to rest for a long period of time so I did wondered whether this was to blame for feeling so lethargic and achy. I had a good nights sleep on Tuesday but woke up with a high temperature and covered in sweat on Wednesday morning. Everything else was pretty much the same. I just spent the day in bed catching up with some paperwork. I do, however, remember having to walk downstairs for some water and feeling very short of breath.

By Wednesday evening, I thought that perhaps something was wrong. I knew it wasn’t just a cold, but I’ve never suffered from flu before. My muscles seemed to ache as time was passing and I had less strength to pick anything heavy up. My mind did turn to the idea of swine flu and I decided to look up the symptoms of the NHS Direct website. I took the ‘test’ available online which told me to contact my GP immediately, but it was out of hours, so this morning I made the call and after waiting 20 minutes to get through to the receptionist, my details were taken and a doctor from the duty team called me back within about 15 minutes. She discussed my symptoms in detail and asked me lots of questions. She also made me take my temperature whilst she was speaking to her.

Before I knew it, I had an over-the-phone diagnosis that I was the 10th person in West Essex to have contracted Swine Flu. I was informed that I would be prescribed 75mgs of Tamiflu, which was only available to be collected from four pharmacies: one in Waltham Abbey, one in Loughton, one in Nazeing and one in Harlow. I have been informed that I must be incubated and not have contact with anyone for a period of at least 5 days and must call my doctor again if any of my symptoms get worse.

And so I am laying in my bed waiting for my sister who has kindly left her place of work to visit the pharmacy and bring me the antivirus serum, which the doctor also informed me does not stop the virus in its tracks. It simply reduces the amount of time you have it. I will keep you posted with how I get on…!!

REGISTER FOR CANCER RESEARCH'S RACE FOR LIFE

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is taking place on Wednesday 15 July at 7:30pm at North Weald Airfield.

Race For Life is a special event where women and girls complete a 5km course by running, jogging or walking to raise vital funds towards finding cures for cancer and helping the thousands of people that develop the disease each year. The race is one of around 280 races being held across the UK and will consist of a single lap of the historic Airfield, which will be lined by a display of aircraft. As the route is mostly on concrete, it is suitable for wheelchair participants.

If you are interested in joining the 3,500 women who are expected to take part in this event, you can visit the Epping Forest Race for Life website by clicking here to register. The entry fee of £12.99 per person only covers the costs of running the event, so every penny of your sponsorship money counts. The fundraising target for this event is £230,000.

ESSEX POLICE SAY: “ON YOUR BIKE”

Essex Police have this week returned to a traditional form of policing by launching 'Operation Velo' which will see Officers patrolling on bicycles in the Epping Forest district.

Superintendent Keith Dobson said: “Officers will be able patrol and access places where police cars cannot necessarily get to whilst providing an increased police visible presence in our neighbourhoods. Bike patrols will enable officers to be more accessible to local residents and assist in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour as well as our carbon footprint. Operation Velo allows our officers and the public to talk to each other more easily.”

EPPING PRIMARY SCHOOL LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

Students, staff and Governors of Epping Primary School took great pride today in launching a new website for the St. John’s Road school in a special celebratory assembly.

The website includes details of ‘Who’s Who?’ which outlined details of staff, governor’s the ‘friends’ of the school and the student council. It hold information on the school, including details of school policies, term dates, school lunch menus and how the children’s day is split out. It outlines the school’s admissions policy, designs for the new school being built in Coronation Hill, school dates and events, information on school uniforms, latest news and information being communicated to parents and a gallery of students’ work and achievements.

Mrs O'Donnell said: "We are very proud of our website. There is a great deal of useful information for both new and existing parents and the site gives a flavour of the talent, spirit and character that is Epping Primary School. The website is also the first step for the school to reduce the amount of paper it consumes.”

To visit the new website, please click here. To download a copy of the school’s prospectus, please click here. For more information on Epping Primary School, please call 01992 572408 or email admin@eppingprimary.essex.sch.uk

COUNCIL SELL JUST 7 HOUSES IN THE LAST YEAR

In a report to Epping Forest District Councillors, the Council's Finance Director, Bob Palmer, has announced that in the municipal year 2008-09, just 7 tenants came forward and purchased their own Council houses, which is record low. In 2007-08, the Council sold 28 and in 2006-07, the Council sold 46. He also confirmed that there would be no significant land sales in 2008-09 and none anticipated until market conditions improve.

In the report, he stated: "Even with the reduced level of sales, the Council has substantial capital resources available to it and given the level of these the council is likely to remain debt free for the foreseeable future."

For more information about Council Housing in Epping Forest, please click here.

“GOOD” OFSTED REPORT FOR ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL

St. John’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled School in Epping has recently opened its doors to Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools. I have outlined below an executive summery, which I have put together myself from comments made in the Ofsted report:

Overall effectiveness of the school
St. John’s provides a good standard of education. Students are cared for, guided and supported well and the majority make good progress. Under the leadership of the new head teacher and his strong leadership team, standards, attendance and behaviour have all improved. Teaching is good. Planning is thorough and most lessons cater well for different levels of subject knowledge and understanding. The benefits of changes in leadership, curriculum and staffing made since the last inspection are being seen clearly in the good progress made by current students. Students’ personal development is good, overall. They feel safe and secure in school. The behaviour of the great majority is good.

Achievement and Standards
As in 2008, the school is on course to meet the challenging targets set for the overall number of GCSE passes in 2009 and, while targets in the specialist subjects were missed last year, the current Yerar 11 are on course to achieve much better results.

Personal development and well-being
Racist incidents are rare. Students say that bullying rarely occurs but when it does it is dealt with immediately and effectively. Teachers promote students’ sense of self-worth and confidence. Standards of behaviour, both in the classroom and around the school are generally good. Attendance rates in all year groups is in line with national averages. There has been a significant reduction in temporary exclusions and persistent absences. Students actively participate in charity work and make some good contributions to community life.

Teaching and learning
The majority of teaching is good. Teachers have good subject and curriculum knowledge. Most students are enthusiastic about their lessons and their learning. Students are regularly assessed and booster or master classes are provided for students in need of support of more of a challenge.

Curriculum and other activities
All statutory requirements are met in Key Stages 3 and 4. In Years 10 and 11, there is a wide choice of subjects and vocational options to meet the needs of the students. There is a good provision for literacy and numeracy across the curriculum.

Care, guidance and support
The school’s systems for tracking students’ progress is efficient and reliably informs staff and parents, helping them to identify the students who need further help. Parents are encouraged to take part by providing feedback to the school on how well their children are attaining targets.

Leadership and management
There is a clear and effective focus on improving standards of students’ work and personal development. The head teacher’s strong ambition and pride in the school is shared across the school community. The school has seen record numbers of applications for places in the next Year 7. The school has a strong and consistent senior and middle leadership team. The Governing Body is well-organised and very committed. The school gives good value for mone overall, but still has to overcome a budget deficit.

Other notable achievements
St. John’s has been a specialist engineering college since September 2006. The school was awarded the Artsmark Silver Award in 2007, the Intermediate International Schools Award in March 2009 and Health Schools Status in April 2009.

To view the full report, please click here. To view the school's current prospectus. please click here.

EPPING'S DUKE OF ESSEX POLO TROPHY - REVIEW

Once again, Epping's Gayne's Park Estate played host to the renowned 'Duke of Essex Polo Trophy', a glamorous star-studded event which saw Katie Price (AKA glamour model Jordan) acting as the events Patron.

The event was also attended by a range of other celebrity guests, including Penny Lancaster (Epping residents and wife of Rod Stewart), Vicki Michelle (Loughton resident of ‘Allo ‘Allo fame), Michelle Heaton (Liberty X singer), Nick Knowles (BBC presenter), Jack Tweed (Buckhurst Hill resident & husband of the late Jade Goody) and Jackiey Budden (High Beach resident & mother of the late Jade Goody), many of whom arrived by helicopter.

Also in attendance to entertain the crowds were American superstars Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child) and Jocelyn Brown. VIP guests enjoyed a four-course lunch prepared by award-winning chef Jean Christophe Novelli before the England v’s Argentina polo tournament begun. The main arena played host to show jumping, motorcycle displays, the Black Knights parachute jumps and an air show by AeroStars.

This year’s event was officially supporting The Vision Charity, which raises money for blind, visual impaired and dyslexic children, as well as the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides 'Home from Home' accommodation at the UK’s major children's hospitals and for Jo’s Trust, which is helping to fight cervical cancer.

PARKING CHANGES AT EPPING TUBE STATION

London Underground are in the process of changing the management of parking at Epping Station. The currently managers Vinci Park are due to be replaced by National Car Parks (NCP) in the next few months

There should be no dramatic change in price. With NCP the daily rate will be £3.70, monthly £76.06, quarterly £227.32 and annually £865.89. If you would like to be added to NCPs season ticket waiting list, please call 08450 507080 and select option 2 and then option 2 again.

EPPING FOREST MP ELEANOR LAING ON EXPENSES

Conservative Party Leader, David Cameron MP, has this week written to Epping Forest MP, Eleanor Laing, thanking for all she has done “to help the Party to respond to public anger over MPs’ expenses.” Mr. Cameron went on to say: “You have my complete support, and I and trust that you will receive the full support of your friends and colleagues, and of your Association.” To see a copy of the letter, please click here.

In an interview with Everything Epping Forest this week, Mrs Laing has explained: "I am very concerned about some of the inaccurate reports which have appeared in the media and have been passed round by word of mouth here in Epping Forest concerning my 'expenses' as an MP. I have never claimed anything improperly. I have been fortunate to have an allowance from the House of Commons which has paid a part of the mortgage interest for my flat in London. I know that some people think that I should commute daily from Epping to Westminster. I have to explain, however, that I am usually in the House of Commons from about 9.30am to 10.30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 9.30am until about 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I could, of course, travel back to Epping every night but I think I can be a much more effective MP by not spending 12 hours per week travelling. When I first went into Parliament the hours were much longer. We usually sat until well after midnight Monday to Thursday.”

Mrs Laing added: "My son was born some years after I became a Member of Parliament and I have come to realise that if I could not provide somewhere for him to live near the House of Commons he simply would not see his mummy from Monday morning until Thursday night. As I am now divorced my son also has to be somewhere where his daddy can come to see him as often as possible. If I had no flat in London and my son lived in Epping he would see neither of his parents on a regular basis. Because of Labour’s enormous majority, the Government has reduced the number of hours that Parliament spends scrutinising Government business. After the next General Election, whichever party wins, I expect that there will be a very small majority and therefore far more votes and we are likely to have to sit until well after midnight again. I have decided, however, out of respect for the fact that many of my constituents commute daily to London, that I will no longer claim second home allowance. As far as Capital Gains Tax is concerned, I will, of course, pay it should I one day sell my house in Theydon Bois. If the HMRC rules and House of Commons rules had been different, at the time when I sold the flat last year, I would have done things differently. But last year I certainly did not break any rules. I do not owe any tax and contrary to reports in the newspapers, David Cameron has not 'ordered' me to pay any money to anyone. I have decided voluntarily to pay the equivalent of last year's second homes allowance back to the House of Commons authorities because I think this is the morally correct thing to do. I am very pleased to have received a letter from David Cameron supporting the position I have taken.”

Mrs. Laing has also answered questions about why she did not support a proposal last year which was reported to ‘reform the expense system’. She explained that the motion was brought forward by the Liberal Democrats and an alternative motion was tabled by Conservative MPs which included an auditing clause to ensure better scrutiny of expense claims. Mrs. Laing also stated that she had disclosed all of her expenses a whole year prior to the Telegraph raising the matter in their newspaper.

SWINE FLU CASES IN EPPING FOREST INCREASING

The number of people who have contracted Swine Flu in West Essex, which covers Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford has increased to six, the West Essex NHS Trust have confirmed. The potentially deadly H1N1 virus has previously been found in a couple from North Weald who had been on holiday in America. So far 3 people have been killed in the UK and 332 people worldwide.

This information has been released on the same day the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, has said the Government expects 100,000 new cases of swine flu to be diagnosed each day by the end of August. He stated: "Cases are doubling every week and on this trend we could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August." He also confirmed there were now 7,447 confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK and a significant number of people had been hospitalised, but also stated that the UK would have 60milion doses of vaccine available by the end of the year. In the last week, the virus has hit high-profile events including Glastonbury and Wimbledon where 28 staff members have been sent home with suspected cases.

Fore more information on this virus, please contact the Department of Health here or the Health Protection Agency here. Alternatively, you can fine further Swine Flu links here.