Crowthorne and Sandhurst

Crowthorne based Aztecs Basketball Club was founded in 1972 by a group of Bracknell 6th formers who were keen to continue playing basketball after their school days were over. Now one of the region's biggest clubs, it serves West Surrey, North Hampshire and Berkshire. The CrowthorneClub runs 4 mens and 2 ladies teams in the Wessex League, and still has 3 of its founder members active on the court. At the other end of the spectrum, new 6th former members ensure that the age range is as wide as possible. In season 2004-6, the Aztec Rage ladies team won the Wessex Ladies Division title, and the men's 1st team finished 4th in Wessex Division One.

A wide range of abilities is represented, from moderate 3rd division (there is no 4th division) to exciting junior international talent. Some Club members are content to play their match then visit the bar together, whilst others want to push their personal boundaries, and develop and improve their skills, fitness and teamwork. To that end, the CrowthorneClub has a number of designated training and team coaches.

During the main season, training sessions are held regularly, including a popular weekly "open" session on Thursday evenings in which many of the CrowthorneClub's members participate - both male and female. During the summer, the Club plays a more social, less competitive Summer League, in which ladies and men, young and old, strong and modest players are mixed in together. Summer fitness training sessions are held outside on astroturf for those who want to be physically sharp for the forthcoming season.

The club also has an active social life. The new bar, as one would expect, is popular after matches and training sessions, and in addition the Club organises quiz nights, tournaments, picnics, musical outings, a Christmas Dinner, and an end of season party.

The Club is based at the excellent Wellington College Sports Club, Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PT, tel 01344-444244, which has a fine double court sports hall, a new bar and many other fitness facilities.
Contact the Aztecs at the above address or via the Club website www.Aztecs-Basketball.co.uk .

Uplands Primary School in Sandhurst has been judged outstanding by inspectors.

An Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspection team made a two-day visit to the Sandhurst school on June 15 and 16 to assess the school and their findings have been published this week.

In the introduction to their report the inspectors say the Albion Road school is a grade 1 school – the highest grade they can award, describing it as “an outstanding school where pupils thrive.”

The report highlights the school’s many strengths including:

* The leadership of the headteacher is dynamic and forward-looking;
* Pupils of all abilities benefit from the school’s careful attention to their individual needs;
* Teaching and learning are good;
* The shared vision for pupils to feel secure in a learning environment where they achieve their full potential;
* Rigorous self-evaluation in striving for continuous improvement;
* Excellent progress since the previous inspection;
* Excellent care for pupils and provision for personal development;
* Outstanding pupil behaviour and attendance;
* Pupils’ positive attitudes, sense of fairness and enthusiasm for school;
* Excellent capacity to improve still further;
* Parents are very happy with the school;
* Excellent staff, governors and value for money.

In common with all Ofsted reports the inspectors identify areas for improvement. At Uplands Primary School, Sandhurst these are to further improve standards in writing especially for more able pupils.

Headteacher Anita Warwick said: "I am absolutely thrilled that our hard work has been recognised.

"I have an outstanding team which consists of hard working and very committed teachers, teaching assistants, office staff, governors, pupils and parents which make up a very happy school community.

"There have been a number of changes since I took up headship here in 1997and it has not always been easy.

"My vision was to build a happy successful school in which all pupils thrive. I am delighted that Uplands has now been judged as an outstanding school."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Education and Libraries, said: "As Executive Member for Education and Libraries I have been working with the excellent team of officers here at the Council to keep on raising standards of education at all our schools.

"As councillor for Central Sandhurst it gives me particular pleasure to see this school, in my own ward, doing such great work.

"This inspection report shows how the school provides an excellent learning environment where children are able to make great progress.

"I would like to congratulate the headteacher, her staff, the governors and everyone at Uplands who contributed to this achievement."

For more information on Ofsted visit: www.ofsted.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ Sandhurst

Police want to speak to three youths after a pregnant woman and her friend were approached in Sandhurst on Sunday (9/7).

At about 3.30pm in Sandhurst Recreation Ground, one of the youths made remarks of a sexual nature to both women before threatening to expose himself.

However, when the victims threatened to call the police, all three youths left the scene.

The pregnant woman was also there with her husband and another friend and, on leaving the Recreation Ground, they saw the offender who had spoken to them by the skate park.

The woman’s husband subsequently spoke to the youth, and this was witnessed by a group of children.

The youth who had spoken to the women is white, around 12 to 14 years old, and approximately 5ft 4ins. He is of muscular build and has short dark brown hair. He was wearing dark blue or black tracksuit bottoms, but had no top on. There is a brown scar by his jaw line on the left-hand side of his face.

Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Phil Evans via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. People who do not want to talk to police or leave their name can phone the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Sandhurst

Three officers from Crowthorne police station and a casualty reduction police officer carried out a speed enforcement operation on Dukes Ride, Crowthorne on Tuesday 11 July. They worked in partnership with Road Safety officers from Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

In total 30 vehicles were stopped between 12 noon and 2pm. Eighteen of these drivers received education from the Road Safety officers. The other 12 were issued with fixed penalty tickets for £60 and three points on their driving licence. The highest speed recorded was 45mph in a 30mph limit.

Sgt Graham Thorne, neighbourhood police sergeant for Crowthorne, said: “This operation was aimed at addressing the priorities raised at the Crowthorne Neighbourhood Forum, where speeding was identified as the most important quality-of-life issue.

“Road safety is of paramount importance to us all and these operations will continue at regular intervals in and around Crowthorne.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Crowthorne

A local Sandhurst archaeological project has been awarded a £20,000 grant to explore the site of a Victorian manor in Sandhurst.

Ambarrow Court, Sandhurst had a varied history before it was pulled down in the 1970s, including being used by the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War and the Cold War.

The grant was awarded by the Local Heritage Initiative which is a national scheme which helps groups investigate, explain and care for their local landscape, landmarks, traditions and culture. The initiative is a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Countryside Agency and Nationwide Building Society.

The project will begin this year with some initial site surveys being carried out by an archaeological contractor. This will help to determine where best to dig.

Most of the work will be done in partnership with four Sandhurst schools in the summer term next year.

Pupils from the Sandhurst schools will become house detectives, tasked with finding out as much as they can about the house and the site history.

Then, in July next year - timed to coincide with National Archaeology Weekend 2007 - the schools will take part in a week long investigation on site.

Over the course of the week each school will spend one day on site. During the day they will have sessions where they will learn about different aspects of archaeology such as excavation techniques, site survey and recording and how to exhibit and display.

The week will culminate in a public exhibition of material relating to the site, anything found during the week and extracts from the children’s diaries. The public will also have the chance to do a little hands on archaeology.

The work done during the week will be marked permanently either with information boards or with the outlines of walls marked out. It is hoped that people who worked at the Sandhurst site when it belonged to the MoD will come forward to help with the project and tell some of their memories.

Heritage officer Agostina Hawkins said: "We hope the project will help us find out more about the site, enthuse pupils about local history and archaeology and encourage cross generational work with people who remember working at the site relating their memories to school pupils."

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "Having an archaeological dig is a superb way to educate children about our heritage. I look forward to seeing what they have discovered next summer."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ Sandhurst