Local opposition is growing against plans to introduce free schools in Cumbria due to concerns it will decrease funding and enrollment for standard schools. After poor test results in the area, supporters argue free schools will improve education quality and address teacher job shortages. Meanwhile, a series of burglaries in the North Lakes area has left one victim in the hospital, with police investigating but making no arrests so far. The annual Christmas parade in Kendal is also in doubt due to heavy rainfall damaging the region.

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2. FEARS FOR FREE SCHOOLS
 Fierce opposition is growing against the development of “free schools”
within the Furness area, after councillors of Cumbria county council
announced they were unanimously for the plans.
 After 13% of children failed to achieve the national standard in English
and Maths in the Furness area last year, parents have responded in fury
at what they deemed a “shocking lapse in standards”.
 Many are beginning to seek permission to set up a free school system,
which would effectively allow parents to demand how their children are
taught.
 These schools accept all ability students and are run separately from the
local authority, meaning they have no influence. They can be set up by
teachers, businesses, parents and many other groups and are funded by
the government.
 They were introduced in 2010 by Education Secretary Michael Gove, who
has approved the 79 free schools that are open across the UK, over fifty of
them opening this year alone.
 Local schools in particular have begun to voice their feelings on the
subject, many feeling that it will almost completely stop all parents from
wanting to enrol their children with them, risking their chances of staying
open, whilst others worry that it will mean less funding for standard
schools.

3. CONTINUED:
 Headmistress of Waterdale Primary school Janet Kilman said “Last year,
our pupil numbers dropped by around 20%. The introduction of these
free schools will not only put us at greater risk, but risk the education of
the children involved”.
 The education of these children is the what the Cumbria County Council
have stated is the reason for their support in the programme, along with
the exponentially decreasing demand for teaching positions in the area.
 Councillor Steve Marell said “these have been the worst results in the
Furness area for the past decade and we feel that the option of free
schools will not only be beneficial to improving said results, but also to
the amount of new graduates that struggle finding jobs within schools”.
 Free schools may be relatively new in the UK, but they have been
finding some success abroad. Sweden started developing its free school
system in the 1990s and due to its response, the UK decided to replicate
the same approach.
 Talks for the possibility of free schooling in Cumbria are scheduled for
early 2013, along with another 144 schools opening nationwide next
year.

4. FAMILY TRAUMA AFTER BUGALRY ATTEMPT
(MAIN)
 A couple in the north lakes area has been left devastated after a hooded
thug broke into their home, making this the sixth in a series of similar
attacks across the Lakes this month.
INVESTIGATION AFTER SIXTH ATTACK WITHIN THE MONTH
Mr & Mrs Lewis were awoken by the assailant early Wednesday morning when they
gained entry by violently smashing a window at the back of the house.
Fortunately nothing was stolen as Mr Lewis had bravely confronted the thief in the
kitchen causing him to flee in panic.
Mr Lewis said on the assault “I did what any person would have done in the same
situation to protect their loved ones; I was more scared for my wife than I was for
myself”.
The police arrived shortly after the ordeal; however the attacker had already
vanished from area before an arrest could be made.
According to police this attack may have been the next in a chain of similar
burglaries that have appeared to be spreading across the northern lakes this
month. So far 3 men have been questioned in connection with the robberies but no
arrests have been made so far.

5. CONTINUED:
 This break in has followed only days after the last robbery on the home of 67 year
old Margaret Taylor, who is currently in hospital being treated for heart complications
relating to the incident.
 All of the robberies so far have taken place early morning and have seen family
homes broken into, with the thieves pocketing more than £9000 worth of gifts and
possessions.
 Police and crime commissioner for the Lakeland area Terry Richards released a
statement regarding actions that were being taken by the police force “We are doing
our upmost to bring the people behind these harrowing events and we hope that we
receive cooperation from the public to do so”.
 Compared to the previous months, the amount of burglaries in the Lakes area has
risen by 10% which is alarming compared to the 4.3% figure for December 2011.
 Figures suggest that the rise around this time of the year may be due to the
Christmas period with many being affected by recession and finding themselves
unable to afford gas and electric bills, however it is thought that the reason may be to
sell the stolen items off or keep them for personal gain.
 The BBC has stated that its popular late night show Crimewatch plans to highlight
the story next week in an effort to increase awareness amongst the public and help
should the attacks spread further.
 People in the North Lakes area, particularly in the Keswick and Cockermouth areas
are being told to take extra care with securing their homes before sleep or leaving
the house.
 Police are urging anyone with information about the incidents or someone connected
to them to come forward to help combat any further events.

6. CHRISTMAS PARADE IN DOUBT
 Kendal business’ are in crisis talks after news that the town’s annual
Christmas celebrations are likely to be called off, after the recent heavy
rainfall
 This weekend’s downpour has already caused serious damage within the
South Lakes, with forecasters predicting another deluge due to hit in the
next few days.
 The parade has been a 20 year tradition, with a 6000 strong crowd at last
year’s successful event. Local branches of Nationwide charities, such as
St Mary’s Hospice and the NSPCC have spoken out at the potential
fundraiser being washed out, with one source claiming “organisers have
put so much in to making this event a success and the local council have
done nothing to make sure the event is safeguarded” He carried on “they
knew the weather was an issue but they refused the offer of a contingency
plan and venue. Maybe they didn’t want this to go ahead anyway”
 Some of the money raised goes towards providing a morsel of joy for the
regions underprivileged children, between the ages of 6-13. Astoundingly,
Councillor Jack Blezard was quoted as saying “the region has enough
money and should be able to provide for these children without a festival
of this nature”.

7. CONTINUED:
 Head of the organising committee Barbara Faldry stated she was “deeply
concerned” about the news, saying “we all work extremely hard to put the
parade together, not just for people on the night but for all of the people
that depend on us to make their Christmas just that little bit brighter”.
 Alternate plans that have been proposed in case the parade cannot
proceed have included postponing it to a later date of December 20th and
an auction to raise money, with local artists being able to submit pieces.
 Last year a total of £40,000 was raised compared to £20,000 the year
before mainly due to large donations by companies such as Toys R Us,
local businesses and anonymously by the public, with this year set to be
the largest amount yet.
 The heavy rainfall that has bombarded the Lakes for the past fortnight
has been creating chaos in many places; particularly Ulverston and
Coniston have seen tourism take a slight hit due to heavy flooding.
 Councillors have refused to acknowledge how urgent the situation is,
releasing a statement saying “any questions the public have about
Kendal’s annual parade should be forwarded to Kendal Town Hall or
Barbara Faldry, head of the parade’s organising committee”.