The council will no longer be in charge of improving Doncaster’s schools from September, after government changes.

The change will be introduced as part of a wider proposal which will transfer some of the council’s improvement functions to the Doncaster Teaching School Alliance partnership, called Partners in Learning, for the academic year 2016/17.

The changes, which have been agreed by the council’s Cabinet, were drawn up in response to a Department for Education White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere. According to the paper, instead of running school improvement, local authorities will focus on delivering their ‘core functions; ensuring every child has a school place, ensuring the needs of vulnerable pupils are met and acting as champions for all parents and families.’

Test administration and moderation processes in all primary schools and Early Years and Foundation Stage settings will be delivered by PIL.

Ofsted inspection feedback and engagement will also be delivered by the alliance. The responsibility of training and monitoring Newly Qualified Teachers will also be passed over to PIL from September 1.

The government also plans for all schools either to become academies, or be converting to academy status, by the end of 2020.

All of the borough’s secondary schools are now academies and increasing number of primary schools intend to form local multi-academy trusts.

Cabinet member for children and young people, Coun Nuala Fennelly, said: “As part of the council’s improvement programme, we have to consider how to provide the best service for our young people.

“By working with expert local partners to deliver services we aim to achieve improved outcomes for our younger generation.

“Our aim is to keep services local and to remain united with school communities even if more of them become academies as a result of DFE proposals.”

There have been plenty of great singers and musicians from Doncaster - but who is the ultimate number one?

Cast your vote and crown your all time top of the pops star from our town!

Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor, in an exclusive chat ahead of supporting Dizzee Rascal on the main stage at Ponderosa, said: "Try not to get too drunk, because time goes too fast when you are drunk. The minute you clip over to I've got a buzz on, forget it bro - your day is over, before you even know it.

"Be mobile - get around and see everything. Make sure you have enough apples, bananas and water. Your spirits will dwindle if you have low blood sugar and you are dehydrated, you will be miserable.

"Do your research, get excited about it, find out who is playing when and is it realistic to get to all those stages and venues, there's a lot of ground to cover."

There certainly is a lotof ground to cover at this year's festival - with four outdoor stages, including The Ponderosa park and nearby Weston Park, up near the Sheffield Children's Hospital, and 17 venues, from Friday to Sunday, July 22 to 24.

Other big names playing Tramlines this year include Catfish and the Bottlemen, George Clinton, The Enemy, Sheffield’s own Everly Pregnant Brothers and Radio 1 presenter DJ Toddla T.

Details and tickets at tramlines.org.uk

TRAMLINES 2016: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - CLICK HERE

America's chart-topping answer to Britpop, whose name is a play on the name of pop artist Andy Warhol, blend the genres of indie, garage rock, psychedelia and dance to brilliant effect.

They are best know for their smash hit Bohemian Like You - which went global after it featured in a Vodafone advertisement, on TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in DreamWorks/Artman animated movie Flushed Away.

The four piece were championed by the likes of David Bowie, who they performed with and supported live, but they have retained a cult status despite chalking up seven top 40 hits.

Now they are currently promoting their latest and tenth studio album, Distortland - which includes playing The Ponderosa main stage ahead of Dizzee Rascal to open Tramlines tonight (Friday, July 22, 7.15pm).

Formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1994 The Dandy Warhols are singer-guitarist Taylor-Taylor, his cousin, drummer Brent DeBoer, guitarist Peter Holmström and keyboardist Zia McCabe.

After releasing their debut album, Dandys Rule OK, in 1995, the quartet have gone on to clock up seven Top 40 singles in the UK Chart. Distortland was released in April, and has spawned the singles Catcher in the Rye, STYGGO - Some Things You Got to Get Over - and You Are Killing Me.

The Dandy Warhols were also personally asked by David Bowie to be the opening act for his fall 2003 A Reality tour. That album spawned another hit for the band, the synth-disco jam, We Used To Be Friends.

Frontman Taylor-Taylor, the creative force behind early noughties alt-rock classics like Bohemian Like You and We Used To Be Friends, said: "Distortland has brought us lots of new fans. It's he first record we’ve made where lpeople start singing along straight away when we play it live.

“We're on an exhausting tour, on the road all year, but we're really looking forward to it."

A Doncaster GP has criticised plans to remove patients from surgery lists if they do not contact their doctor for five years as part of an NHS drive to save money.

The proposals were announced by NHS England earlier this week, who say the scheme will ensure that it does not waste vital funds by paying GPs about £100 a year for looking after what they call 'ghost patients' those who have died, moved away or no longer want their local surgery’s services.

But Dr Dean Eggitt, of the Oakwood Surgery in Cantley, said the plans will have a detrimental impact on all patients.

Dr Eggitt, who represents the borough's GPs nationally in his role as a medical secretary, added: "We know that with the way that funding in the NHS works, the well patients look after the sick ones.

"These plans will result in surgeries that are already struggling to cope receiving less funding.

"This will lead to services being cut, and not run as well, or being closed down completely.

"I cannot see how these plans will benefit patients in any way."

An NHS England spokesperson said: “The National Audit Office and House of Commons Public Accounts Committee have all drawn attention to the need to ensure accurate patient lists, and for proper stewardship of public funds.

"We doubt that contractual change would be needed but, should it be, we will cross that bridge when we come to it.”

The initiative was brought to light by Pulse, a website for GPs, after it discovered that NHS England plans to introduce the deregistration scheme at all 8,000 GP surgeries across England following a trial.

According to Pulse, NHS England has drawn up a contract with Capita that sets out how the company will go about de-listing patients.

It says: “The supplier shall contact all GP practices in the 11th month of every contract year requesting a list of all patients who are recorded as not having had contact with the GP practice in the past five years."

After it has received those lists, Capita will contact each patient 'within 10 working days' to check their 'current address and registration details'.

If the patient does not reply they will face being removed from the practice list within six months if the GP still cannot contact them.

A petition has been set up calling for former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to release his Carly Rae Jepsen parody music video.

It was revealed yesterday how the Sheffield Hallam MP reportedly spent £8,000 filming the clip in the run-up to the 2015 General Election - but the project was ditched and the footage unseen.

The ex-Lib Dem leader hammed it up playing Tom Hanks' role in the I Really Like You video - but the film never saw the light of day.

Now a petition has been set up calling for the video to be released - and has already attracted more than 100 signatures.

The petition on the change.org website entitled "Get Nick Clegg to release his election music video" was set up by Manchester's Andrea Campos-Vigouroux who wrote: "We would like Nick Clegg to release the spoof of Carly Rae Jepson's "I really like you" music video that he made ahead of the election.

"The past few months have been pretty awful in the world of British politics and everyone could do with some quality cheering up. This is genuinely something Mr Clegg could do to boost the morale of the nation."

Behind the scenes images and footage emerged at the time of Mr Clegg during the clip's production.

But the purpose of the video was unknown until it was revealed by The Times yesterday.

The short film was intended to show the party was "fun", but it contained no references to Lib Dem policies.

An insider is reported as telling the newspaper it "made no sense".

When the pictures emerged, many raised eyebrows at Mr Clegg's decision to wear thick leather gloves and a camel coloured coat while filming a party broadcast.

But he was apeing Tom Hanks' style in Canadian pop singer Jepsen's hit video.

A senior Lib Dem source reportedly told the Times Mr Clegg thought at the end of the day's fiming: "Why the f*** did I do that?"

The Fine Cheese Co. is recalling Pickled Walnuts for Cheese, Pickled Cherries for Cheese, Pickled Pears for Cheese and Pickled Figs for Cheese.

The manufacturer has discovered that all batches of the product contain mustard seeds which are not mentioned on the label.

Allergy to mustard is rare, but if consumed by a sufferer can lead to irritation of sinuses, the lungs, the digestive tract and the skin, and in the most severe cases can cause anaphylactic shock.

A company statement read: “If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to mustard, do not eat it. Instead, return the product to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.”

A live action movie franchise based on Japanese video game Pokemon has been confirmed.

Legendary Entertainment, the media company behind Godzilla, Jurassic World and The Dark Knight Rises, has signed a deal with the Pokemon Company for the rights to create the feature films.

Hollywood's interest in Pokemon comes after its recent resurgence in popularity following the launch of successful new app Pokemon Go.

The first film will reportedly be based on Nintendo game Great Detective Pikachu, which sees the famous yellow Pokemon act as an investigator on missions with a human accomplice.

Details about the movie are being kept a secret but Legendary said production will begin in 2017.

Pokemon Go was released in July and encourages users to explore the real world using their phone's GPS and camera to catch the virtual monsters.

Players are known as trainers and much catch as many Pokemon as they can before utilising their unique skills during battles at local "gyms".

The game has become a global phenomenon, with reports of it having 5.9 million daily users.

Pokemon - a portmanteau of "pocket monsters" - launched in 1996 and has spawned several video games, a trading card game and a television show, as well as animated movies.

LAKESIDE Village is set to be transformed into a Copacabana Carnival this weekend, marking the start of the outlet shopping centre’s programme of summer activity.

Brazilian dancers and a new ‘Lakeside Beach’ will turn the site into a tropical paradise from 11am –4pm on Saturday July 23.

Shoppers will also be able to search for something special on a Brazilian treasure hunt around the centre, as well as enjoy a round or two on the crazy golf adventure course.

Face painting and balloon modelling will be available throughout the day, too.

Cheryl Sadler, centre manager, said: “The Copacabana Carnival is going to get this year’s Beach Summer Fun activities off to a fantastic start, setting the tone for a whole season of family fun here at Lakeside Village.”

Free seaside and summer-themed activities will be taking place at Lakeside Village throughout July and August, with events and attractions such as Punch and Judy shows, donkey rides, craft workshops and musical performances planned for each weekend.

The centre will also be celebrating its 20th birthday on Saturday 13 and Sunday August 14, providing free jelly and ice-cream to shoppers, as well as hosting circus workshops and, on the Saturday, putting on a jazz band performance.

Cheryl added: “With our 20th birthday coming up this August, this summer’s going to be an even more exciting one.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating with our customers and giving them something back for their loyalty over the years.”

Following the summer launch on Saturday July 23, each weekend will see a different theme and range of activities at the centre:

Saturday 30 July – 11am – 4pm: Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside

Saturday 6 August – 11am – 4pm: Under the Sea

Saturday 13 August and Sunday 14 August - 11am – 4pm: 20 th Birthday Celebrations

Saturday 20 th August – 11am – 4pm: Pirate Treasure Island

Saturday 27 th August – 11am – 4pm: Surf’s up.

For further information about events taking place at Lakeside Village,

The Yorkshire division of national homebuilder, Bellway has commenced sales at Wyvern Grange, its luxurious new development in the South Yorkshire village of Dore.

Comprising 64 three, four and five-bedroom homes, each built to a premium specification and boasting exclusive design features, Wyvern Grange has been designed to appeal to professionals and families alike, and interest in it has been huge.

Melanie Smith, Bellway Yorkshire’s sales manager, said: “We were inundated with enquiries from the moment the development was announced, and the level of interest only got higher the closer we got to opening. As a result, our opening weekend was by VIP appointment only at local estate agents, ELR and even then our sales team was rushed of their feet all day Saturday and Sunday.”

“We’re fully prepared for more of the same during the coming weeks, and anticipate having a significant number of sold signs in place before we move into the on-site sales office in December.”

Located just a few minutes’ stroll from the bustling and picturesque centre of Dore, Wyvern Grange is ideally situated for virtually everything life can throw at you. Both cosmopolitan Sheffield and the tranquil beauty of the Peak District are virtually on its doorstep. There’s easy access to a number of exceptional schools, both primary and secondary. While the village itself is renowned for its spirited community atmosphere, host of social clubs, and excellent range of local amenities, including everything from independent grocers to quaint delicatessens and traditional public houses.

And if that wasn’t enough, Wyvern Grange has been designed to reflect its charming surroundings, with its luxury homes set within landscaped open spaces and existing mature trees.

“Wyvern Grange has absolutely everything – and that’s not me over-selling it,” continued Melanie. “It’s a stunning development, in a stunning location and the homes being built there are spectacular. If it doesn’t quickly become one of the most successful developments we’ve ever had in Yorkshire I will be astonished.”

Prices at Wyvern Grange currently range from £424,995 for a four-bedroom, semi-detached Hathersage to £774,995 for a five-bedroom, detached Deighton.

For more information on Bellway’s Wyvern Grange development call 07855 337 204, email York-sales@bellway.co.uk or {http://www.bellway.co.uk|Click here|Click here}

Motorists are being advised that there is a queuing traffic on the A1(M) this afternoon.

There are tailbacks northbound between junction 34 the A614 Bawtry Road and junction 35 M18 because of an accident.

This superb extended detached four bedroom family home is situated within a very popular residential location and has been tastefully extended to both the side and rear.

Only by an internal inspection can you fully appreciate the size and quality of accommodation on offer.

The ground floor accommodation comprises a lounge with focal fireplace, utility room, downstairs toilet, a dining room and a study.

The T-shaped fitted kitchen has a five ring gas hob with extractor hood over and built in double oven. There is also an integrated dishwasher and pantry cupboard.

There is a conservatory which overlooks the rear garden.

On the first floor is the master bedroom which has an en-suite shower room with matching four piece suite, and there are a further three bedrooms.

There is a superb family bathroom with toilet, basin, jacuzzi spa bath and shower enclosure with mixer shower.

To the outside there are well tended and established gardens and a detached garage, plus a walled frontage and a patio seating area to the rear.

* 80 Rockingham Road, Swinton - £244,950, contact Merryweathers on 01709 590472.

Teenager Arabella White may not be Miss England - but she is delighted to have made the top 50.

Arabella, of Sandtoft, near Dncaster, missed out on the top 20 in the final of Miss England in Southport yesterday.

But the 18-year-old is proud of her high finish in the national contest, which attracted 26,000 contestants from across the country.

She won the South Yorkshire contest.

She said: “There was a top five, and a top 20, but I didn’t make those. But I was in the top 50, and that was out of 26,000 who entered.

“Now I’m considering whether to enter next year. The winner this year was aged 20, and I think they wanted someone who had that bit more experience.”

“Now I’ll see what my A level results are like, and may go to university.”

She is also considering taking time out to do some work experience on a television show, with a possible opportunity to work on the Jeremy Kyle show through a relative who knows the presenter.

Angling-loving schoolboy Bradley Gannon, aged 13, was pulled from the water by hero Tom Laybourne, aged 16, who jumped into the canal when rescue attempts from the water’s edge were failing.

Tom’s mum, Clare Laybourne, said today: “Tom was such a hero, he didn’t even think about himself when he did that.”

Bradley had gone fishing with Tom’s younger brother, Ben Stevens, aged 13.

He suddenly passed out from the heat and plunged into the canal, to the horror of his panicking young friend, who was trying in vain to pull him to safety.

Luckily, Clare and Tom had gone along for the fishing trip and were further up the canal when an unconscious Bradley slid into the water. Clare says the pair heard a ‘big splash’ and rushed up the canal.

Clare, aged 42, of Princess Avenue, Stainforth, said: “Because they were in the bit of the canal closer to the bridge the water there was much deeper and there was about a three foot drop down to the water.

“I couldn’t quite reach him from where I was and his body was all limp.Ben was panicking but was trying to get him to hold onto a fishing pole, because he’s been trained at Sea Cadets and knows to try and get them to the shore.

“Tom is 6ft 3ins so was able reach him, but couldn’t quite pull him in, so just jumped in.

“The water was up to his chest, but he managed to get Bradley and pull him to safety.

“After he got him out of the water Bradley started having a panic attack, but calmed down after about 10 minutes.

“Neither of us were supposed to be there, we just decided to come along at the last minute. And thank God we did.”

Bradley’s mum, Angela Sears, aged 33, of Moorends, said: “I think Tom must be his guardian angel, because he wasn’t even supposed to go with them but thank God he did.

“I’d put suncream on Bradley and always tell him to drink lots of fluids. I did everything I could but you can’t predict things like this.

“I think it just shows how safe you need to be in the sun.”

A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokesman has urged people to be careful around water following a tragic incident in Rotherham yesterday when an 11-year-old boy plunged into the

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal and died (see page two).

Angela added: “I am so grateful to Tom for what he did for Bradley.

“When I heard about that poor boy in Rotherham, I just kept thinking that could have been Bradley.”

A SYRF spokesman said: “Safety officers say children and young people should avoid open water – like rivers and lakes – because they may not always be aware of the danger it poses.

“River flows can be unpredictable and water is often deeper, colder and faster than expected. People should enjoy water safely in swimming pools or safer, specialist facilities instead.”

Doncaster RLFC find themselves in a state of uncertainty on the opening weekend of the League One Super 8s.

The Dons are awaiting clarification from the RFL on several issues after tomorrow’s scheduled opponents York City Knights folded on Thursday night following a series of rows with the local council and York City Football Club.

Top of their agenda is whether they will be awarded two points from the game, which would see them overtake York into third with four of their remaining Super 8s games at home.

The club are also keen to know if the cancelled game will count towards the three-match ban given to scrum half Jordie Hedges this week.

Hedges was due to be eligible again for the home clash with unbeaten Toulouse but could now miss the crucial game.

The Dons will also be seeking clarification over the situation of dual-registered forward Iafeta Paleaaesina who was due to play this weekend after a long injury lay-off and thereby become eligible for the remaining Super 8s games.

“He has to have played eight games for us by the end of the weekend and would be a massive blow if he wasn’t available because of no fault of our own,” said head coach Gary Thornton.

The former York boss said that both skipper Kyle Kesik and full-back Tom Carr would have returned to the side.

“Jordan Howden would have been missing again but he’s now got another week to get fit,” he said.

Tyler Garratt will go head to head with Cedric Evina for the Doncaster Rovers left back berth this season according to Darren Ferguson.

The 19-year-old had played only three senior games prior to his arrival at the Keepmoat from Bolton Wanderers last month.

But he will have an equal opportunity to that of Evina to stake a claim for a starting shirt during the coming season.

“There’s some development in the boy but he’ll be challenging with Cedric,” Ferguson told The Star.

“He ticks a lot of boxes. He’s got good pace, a good left foot, he’s a good age and a good size.

“Quite a lot of people at Bolton were surprised they’d let him come to us but we did our business early with him in terms of making our interest known.”

The Bolton News reported Rovers had paid £25,000 for Garrett, much to the annoyance of some Trotters supporters who had been impressed with his appearances which came following the confirmation of the club’s relegation to League One.

Garratt has been on Rovers’ radar for almost a year but interest in signing him increased following the knee ligament injury to Aaron Taylor-Sinclair which will keep him out for the rest of 2016.

Ferguson said: “We were looking around because we knew before the last game of the season that Aaron had the injury.

“We wanted to concentrate on getting a left back in and Tyler was one that was on that list.

“We thought it might be hard because he started the last few games for Bolton in the Championship.

“It went on a bit longer that we wanted because Phil Parkinson had only just gone in there at Bolton.

“But we managed to get it done and we’re delighted.

“He’s settled really well and I think he will be a good asset for the club.”

Both Garratt and Evina are likely to receive a full 90 minutes each in Rovers’ final two friendlies against York City and Coventry City next week after playing a half each in the previous three pre-season matches.

Doncaster Rovers’ relationship with new kit manufacturer FBT has been hailed a success following the opening of the renovated club shop at the Keepmoat.

Delegates from the Thai company were at the Keepmoat at the weekend to officially re-open the club shop following extensive redevelopment.

And they were delighted with the initial reaction to the new Rovers kits and training wear.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m pleased or not, it’s about the supporters.” said Sir Rodney Walker of FBT’s European arm.

“The shop manager says there has not been a single word of criticism of the products.

“When we launched it I said I was confident people would be pleased and it is a real quality product.”

Sir Rodney says it is hoped the deal between Rovers and FBT will see playing relationships develop between the club and Thailand.

He added: “Club Doncaster and Doncaster Rovers are brilliant.

“If you could have handpicked the club to get the brand started, we couldn’t have chosen better.

“The support we have had has been brilliant.

“In the few weeks since we first announced the deal there has been a huge amount of hard work gone on and I’m particularly grateful for the staff in the Club Doncaster shop.

“We’ve had enormous cooperation from the club and the staff here and I hope when people look around, they are as pleased as we are with what they have seen.”

Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin says the club has been impressed with FBT since the relationship was made.

He said: “We’re delighted. We’re really chuffed that delegates have come over from Thailand because it really shows their commitment.

“The shop looks brilliant, the kit looks brilliant.

“We’ve just got to make sure we play well in that kit now.”

Baldwin revealed it is hoped an agreement can be reached for FBT to manufacture the Dons’ kit from next season.

Cutting the ribbon on the new club shop was Rovers supporter Shaun Smith, whose design for the home shirt was voted the winner by fans.

Young people in Lincolnshire looking for outdoor adventures, CV tips and the chance to meet new friends this summer still have time to sign up for the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme.

More than 180 young people across the region have already started their journey in to the four week part-residential programme, taking part in activities from raft building to caving and rock climbing to self-defence classes.

The programme includes a week’s stay at an outdoor adventure centre complete with activities like archery and kayaking, followed by a week staying away from home at a university where young people work with local businesses to improve employability skills, develop inter-personal skills and build confidence.

As part of the second week the Lincolnshire programme is also working with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to present the business challenge. Each week either Olympic swimmer Grant Turner or Commonwealth medallist and badminton player Jenny Wallwork will be working with the group to help with skills such as project planning and public speaking.

Teens will also complete a social action project during which they will give back to their communities by volunteering and fundraising.

Jamie Smith, NCS leader for Lincolnshire said: “Take up for our summer 2016 programme across Lincolnshire has been fantastic and we’re delighted with the number of young people who have not only signed up, but are telling us already what a brilliant time they are having.

“There is still time left to take part in the programme, with more courses starting on August 1.”

For more information or to sign up for the programme, visit www.ncsem1.org.uk or call 01522 574101.

Resurfacing of the A631, Bishopbridge Road at Glentham will take place from Monday, August 8, to September 2.

To reduce disruption for drivers, the works will take place from 8pm to 6am, and during those times there will be a temporary road closure between Bishop Norton road and the A1103 Top Road. No works will take place on Friday, 26 August prior to the bank holiday.

The Gainsborough Rail and Bus group (GRaB) has produced a guide covering Gainsborough bus and train services to promote public transport.

The guide will be delivered to homes in the area by National Citizen Service volunteers and it will also be available from the Guildhall, the library and Old Hall, and GRaB will have a stall at Gainsborough market on August 9.

Potential gritter drivers will have the chance to test drive one of the county’s fleet at two upcoming recruitment events.

Those interested in the role can find out more at two recruitment days at the Manby depot on Tuesday, August 9, and the Ancaster depot on Thursday, August 11.

The recruitment events will run from 10am to 3pm. It is essential you book in advance.

To reserve your space, for more information or to express your interest, please call 07584 706828 or email lauren.brown@kier.co.uk.

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Our gritting team are massively important, helping to keep us all safe on the roads during the winter.

“Every time they go out they treat up to 2,000 miles of road – often while most of us are asleep.”