Schedule for civil service exam

The pass rate for Scotland's Higher qualifications has dropped from last year - after a full timetable of exams returned for the first time since before the pandemic. More than 100,000 pupils across Scotland began to receive their results on Tuesday. Attainment of A to C grades was 78.9%, according to figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). That is down from 87.3% last year, and from 89.3% in 2020, when teacher judgments were used instead of exams. However, it is slightly up from 2019 - the last time there was a full exam timetable - when it was 74.8%. Advertisement There was a similar picture at Advanced Higher level, with those attaining A to C grades coming in at 81.3% - down from 90.2% in 2021 and 93.1% in 2020. In 2019, the pass rate was 79.4%. For National 5 qualifications, the pass rate was 80.8%, down from 85.8% in 2021 and up from 78.2% in 2019. More on Scotland Flames engulf historic convent in Dumfries once … [Read more...] about Pass rate for Scottish exams drops as full timetable returns since before COVID pandemic

Lafayette Utilities System's 72,000 customers could face base rate increases for electric, water and sewer usage each year for the next three years, starting in November. The proposed rate hikes were unveiled Tuesday as the City Council reviewed Mayor-President Josh Guillory's proposed 2022-23 budget for the fiscal year that begins Nov. 1. All LUS residential, commercial and non-city customers would be affected. The City Council would have to approve any rate changes. Council members balked Tuesday at increasing utility bills at a time when they're already soaring , along with costs for groceries and gasoline. "I don’t know how some people will be able to afford utilities," Councilwoman Liz Hebert said, explaining some constituents' LUS bills have increased $400-$800 a month this summer. The last increase in the base rates occurred in 2016 and 2017. As proposed, base electric rates would increase 3% per year in 2023 and 2024; water rates would increase 8% every year in … [Read more...] about LUS customers may face rate hikes as high as 9.5% for sewer service beginning Nov. 1

COMMUTERS face more travel hell after a major train operator slashed its timetables and suspended ticket sales owing to staff shortages. Avanti West Coast will run as few as four trains an hour instead of its usual seven on the West Coast main line from Sunday. Services from London Euston to Manchester will be worst-hit — down from three to one. The news outraged passengers on the line which also serves Birmingham and Glasgow. Manchester commuter Ryan Sutherland, 28, who works in London, said: “It’s like the North West is being cut off for a month. "I feel abandoned.” READ MORE ON TRAIN DELAYS DELAY REPAY Can I get a refund for train delays? How to claim compensation GETAWAY CHAOS Travel chaos as roadworks threaten jams into Devon & Cornwall & train delays Ticket sales for travel from Sunday until September 11 are suspended while a new schedule is finalised. A limited timetable is in … [Read more...] about The North ‘cut off’ for ONE month as major train operator slashes services

Leave your questions for Thursday night's Telegraph hustings in the comments Truss tax cuts 'will do nothing for pensioners' Death of high street looms, hopefuls warned Where Truss and Sunak stand on key issues Check the latest live Tory leadership odds Sign up to our Politics WhatsApp group L iz Truss's planned tax cuts alone are "not much good", Rishi Sunak has warned as he said the party risked electoral oblivion in 2024 without providing direct support. At tonight's fifth Conservative leadership hustings in Darlington, Mr Sunak has suggested he would commit tens of billions to tackling the cost-of-living crisis, while Ms Truss is yet to be drawn on whether she would provide any direct payments to Britons. "The only way to help [people] is with direct support," the former chancellor insisted. "Because tax cuts alone are not much good if you're a pensioner if you're not earning any extra money, they're not much good if you're working hard on … [Read more...] about Tory leadership hustings: Rishi Sunak warns Liz Truss’s tax cuts alone are ‘not much good’

Truss backed on stance on China's influence on UK education SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info After a gruelling exam-dominated end to their summer terms, GCSE and A-Level students have had the last few weeks to relax with a long break. For some, anxiety will have started flaring again recently as they expect their results. As exam boards finish their final tallies, authorities have scheduled results days for years 10 and 12. Related articles England's Euro heroes pen letter to Sunak and Truss to demand changes Scandal of hungry children who will go without 50m meals this summer When are A-Level results available? A-Level results will become available first in the UK, with universities anticipating … [Read more...] about GCSE and A-Level results dates: When are GCSE and A-Level results out this year? Key dates

More than 115,000 Royal Mail staff have voted in favour of a national strike in what could be the first in a wave of public sector walk outs in the coming months as essential workers continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis. In a ballot announced today, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – voted by 97.6%, on a 77% turnout, to take industrial action. The union is demanding that Royal Mail group enters into negotiations to secure 'a straight, no-strings pay increase for workers.' The Royal Mail said it was 'disappointed' by the strike announcement after offering workers a 5.5% salary boost. It comes as the Government geared up for a hot summer and autumn fight with trade unions today as it offered two million public sector workers including doctors and nurses below-inflation pay rises. More than a million NHS staff including nurses, midwives and paramedics have been offered increased that will see the worst-paid … [Read more...] about More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers vote for strike action in row over pay

Rafael Nadal has been practising his serves after pulling out of the Canadian Open (Image: Twitter @bluemathilde) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Rafael Nadal is back on the practice court after withdrawing from the Montreal Masters with the abdominal injury that forced him out of Wimbledon. The world No 3 is still hoping to make it back in time for the US Open and has shown positive signs in new footage from his latest session at his Rafa Nadal Academy. Related articles Medvedev fires warning to Nadal and Kyrgios ahead of US Open Andy Murray ridiculed by Zverev in comparison to Nadal and Federer Nadal is currently sidelined after picking up a 7mm abdominal tear at Wimbledon, which saw him pull out on the eve … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal injury update as Spaniard spotted on court ahead of US Open

By Calum Watson Published 3 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The new boss of Ferguson shipyard has predicted a brighter future after years of controversy over the delayed construction of two CalMac ferries. MV Glen Sannox returned to the Port Glasgow shipyard on Tuesday after three weeks of major work in dry dock. The ship and another ferry are five years late, which has compounded problems for the ageing Calmac fleet. Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman said he was confident both ships would be delivered next year. The lifeline ferry deal that went adrift Ferry issues leave visitors sleeping in cars The two large ferries, which are dual fuel diesel/LNG vessels, were originally due to be delivered to CalMac in 2018 but the build has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. The shipyard collapsed back into administration … [Read more...] about Ferguson shipyard boss confident of brighter future

Published 16 August 2018 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The construction of two new ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne has been affected by further delays. One of the boats is for the Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert Triangle while the other is to operate between Arran and Ardrossan. Ferguson Marine on the Clyde won a Scottish government contract worth about £97m to build the vessels . It has notified CalMac's parent company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, of the new delays. The first ferry, MV Glenn Sannox - which is destined for the Arran-Ardrossan route - was launched last November and was due to enter service this summer but construction delays meant that was initially put back to the winter of 2018/19. The shipbuilder blamed technical challenges in constructing the dual-fuel ship, which can be powered by liquefied natural gas. Earlier this year, the ship went … [Read more...] about Further delays to delivery of new CalMac ferries

It didn't come as a surprise to anyone that Brandon Bahlawan and Lacie Poirrier would get married, but few people aside from Bahlawan knew that the wedding would happen over the weekend. "I woke up one morning and was like 'I'm going to throw a surprise birthday for her and also a surprise wedding,'" Bahlawan said. Surprise doesn't even begin to describe what Bahlawan pulled off on Saturday. He managed to gather about 50 of the couple's closest friends and family together at their Youngsville home for a surprise party that most of the guests didn't even realize was actually going to be a wedding ceremony. "Everything was perfect," Poirrier said. "It was just such a great day, a great night. And you know what? I don't have to plan a wedding now." Poirrier — soon to be Bahlawan — turned 40 on Aug. 1. She knew her fiancé had something special planned for Aug. 6 to celebrate the milestone birthday, but she believed it was just a dinner with friends and a night away from … [Read more...] about Youngsville woman greeted with surprise wedding during surprise 40th birthday party