MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM ACROSS NEWBURN WARD

9.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Jul 2008

:: NEWBURN WARD GRANTS

The police were given a £350 grant to buy cycle equipment. Friends of Tyne Riverside Country Park were awarded a £600. Newburn Community Centre was given £750 towards an open day, which was very successful.

:: GOVERNMENT SLAMMED FOR WALBOTTLE SLUR

The Liberal Democrats have condemned the Labour Government for putting Walbottle Campus on an education hit list.

Labour says Walbottle is a failing school and have warned it and 200 others across England and Wales that they could close if standards do not improve.

Councillor Mike Curthoys says: "Labour has branded Walbottle a failing school based on just one measure of GCSE achievement.

"This is unfair and crude and fails to take into account a whole range of factors that make Walbottle a good school.

"We are working closely with the city council to ensure that Walbottle is supported in continuing to improve."

:: STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE LOCAL SCHOOL

The city council, local councillors and teachers are taking action to improve Throckley Primary School.

The school has been placed in 'special measures' by Ofsted inspectors. However the inspectors recognised that the new head had already taken "appropriate action" to improve the school.

A new deputy head and classroom teachers are being recruited.

Councillor Mike Lynch says: "Local councillors and the council will be working closely with the school and its governors to tackle the areas set out in the report."