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Brighton Road delays after crash between car and bus

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TRAFFIC was held up on Brighton Road, South Croydon, briefly on Sunday night after a crash between a car and a bus.

Police were called and temporary diversion were put in place after the collision, at around 6.30pm.

No one was seriously hurt in the crash, close to the former Red Deer pub (now Morrisons) and traffic was moving again within an hour.

Brighton Road delays after crash between car and bus


How do we halt the brain drain from Croydon's schools?

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LESS than half of the top-performing children in Croydon's primary schools go on to attend one of the town's state secondary schools.

Despite recent improvements in GCSE results, 52 per cent of pupils who achieved a Level 6 in maths during last year's SATs went on to be educated outside of Croydon or in one of the borough's independent schools.

According to figures published by the council last week, one in three of the 436 children who achieved the highest level in maths last summer moved on to a school in Sutton, predominantly to selective education in one of its five grammar schools.

Some politicians and head teachers said the statistics, which are indicative of a long-established trend, are proof that, despite recent improvements, far more needs to be done to raise standards in Croydon's comprehensive schools.

Others, including Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, said the borough needs its own grammar school so parents interested in selective education do not have to look to Sutton or Bromley.

Whatever the interpretation, the council report concludes the brain drain from Croydon's state schools "inevitably impacts" on their GCSE results.

Riddlesdown Collegiate is affected more than most but head teacher Gordon Smith says the school, which has become an academy, is starting to attract more high-performing pupils due to recent improvements in its GCSE results, with the number meeting the expected standard set to rise from 67 per cent to 74 per cent when last summer's results are published at the end of this week.

"We're seeing a big increase in the highest ability children," Mr Smith said, pointing out 12 per cent of its current Year 7 achieved level 6 in maths at Key Stage 2.

"I think the improvements we've made are giving parents confidence but, as a community, we need to do more to convince them brighter pupils will do well in Croydon schools."

A look at the Government's league tables shows grammar schools like Wallington High School, in Sutton, and St Olave's in Bromley, are outperforming Croydon's best secondaries in a number of areas, including the new English Baccalaureate performance measure, which includes the core subjects as well as science, history or geography and a language.

There are other areas where certain Croydon schools perform well, particularly when it comes to getting the best out of pupils who start at a low level or for whom English is a second language.

After ten years of consecutive improvement to GCSE results (interrupted last summer with scores falling, as they did nationally), things are looking up, especially in comparison to a decade ago, when hundreds of children left secondary school without five good GCSEs, prompting the shift toward academisation.

Part of the problem, however, is that parents' perception of those standards have not risen alongside results.

Debbie Anderson sent her eldest son Paul, then a pupil at Oval Primary School, to Wallington County Grammar during the height of Croydon's school slump.

"We felt we didn't have much of a choice," she said. "At the time there were no academies and we weren't Catholic enough to get into what we considered the better schools in Croydon.

"The feeder school for Oval was Ashburton [Community School] and hell would have frozen over before my boys went there. It had an awful reputation.

"Sending Paul out of the borough was the only option."

Asked whether she would choose differently given the transformation of many of Croydon's secondary schools, she said: "I don't think so. If you have a bright child and you have any sense, you would go for a grammar school if you can."

Ashburton was one of the struggling schools which was converted into an academy, reopening as Oasis Academy Shirley Park in 2009.

Oasis Community Learning, its sponsor, has since overseen a significant improvement in results and, last year, an "outstanding" Ofsted report. Such is its progress that Mr Barwell believes it will soon start to rival the grammars for the most able pupils.

Mr Barwell was independently educated at Trinity School, a Whitgift Foundation independent. His eldest son is in Year 7 at a grammar school in Sutton. He says standards in Croydon must continue to rise, but also called for the return of selective education to the borough.

He said: "These figures are indicative of something that has always been a problem for secondary schools in Croydon, because the borough has some very good independent schools and there are also very good selective schools within commutable distance.

"The work the previous council was doing was always with a view that if you got Croydon's secondary schools up to that level, then you would begin to influence parental behaviour.

"I think they are not yet at the level. A number of the schools have improved quite a bit, but there's probably still some way to go before parents are going to change their behaviour.

"Personally, I would like to see a selective school in Croydon. It's a shame parents don't have that choice. I think that's where they feel their children will get the best education."

Cllr Pollard, former cabinet member for education and now leader of the Conservative opposition, also wants to see a grammar school open in Croydon.

He wanted one to open in South Norwood and says a Sutton grammar school came close to submitting a bid, but decided instead to expand within its own borough.

"I'm in favour of choice," he added. "It's a great shame so many boroughs abolished grammar schools. If I could turn back time and stop it happening, I would do it.

"I'm not sure these figures are a huge problem, but it does make our GCSE improvement even more impressive if you consider the schools ours are competing with."

Sarah Jones, standing against Mr Barwell for Labour in May, went to private school and sent her son to one.

She said the loss of pupils needs to be tackled "head on" by addressing the number of unqualified teachers working in Croydon schools. "Parents look at results and we need to look at what influences those results," she said.

MP: 'I want them to go to a grammar school because that's where they will get the best education' 

THE two main candidates hoping to represent the hotly contested Croydon Central constituency after May's general election were both privately educated and have sent their children to selective or independent schools.

Gavin Barwell's son Jack is in Year 7 at Wallington County Grammar School.

The Conservative MP said: "We included some Croydon schools on our option forms and if there had been an selective school in the borough that's where he would have gone.

"My two youngest children go to the local state primary but if they are able to pass the exam I want them to go to a grammar school because that's where they will get the best education.

"I only think that's an issue for politicians when they say one thing and do another. I've been very clear that I would like a grammar school in Croydon."

Sarah Jones, Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Croydon Central, attended one of the town's state primary schools before moving to Old Palace at John Whitgift, a private girls' school run by the Whitgift Foundation. Her parents chose the school because her mother worked there, she said.

She has two children at primary school in Croydon and her eldest, who has now graduated, went to an independent secondary school.

"I took a decision that I believed to be the right one for him at the time," she said.

"It was just down the road. It was a nice school. Lots of people he knew were going there. I thought it was the right school for him.

"All parents will want to do the right thing for their children and will make a decision based on what they think is the right thing to do.

"I think there are some great schools. I went round Edenham [High] the other day. It's got a great ethos. The kids are getting good results.

"There are some fine schools, but we need to do more." 

How do boroughs' best schools compare? 

THE list of the five highest achieving schools in Sutton and Bromley out-performed those in Croydon, even the town's well thought of private schools. The following shows the percentage of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate performance measure – which is a C grade or above in English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language – in 2013.

Sutton

Sutton Grammar Grammar - 89

Wallington High School Grammar - 89

Wilson's School Academy - 88

Nonsuch High School Grammar - 86

Wallington County Grammar - 79

Croydon

Coloma Convent Girls' Faith (voluntary aided) - 81

Royal Russell School Independent - 48

Harris Crystal Palace Academy - 40

Old Palace School Independent - 37

Woodcote High Academy - 36

Bromley

Eltham College Independent - 96

St Olave's Grammar - 96

Bromley High Independent - 84

Newstead Wood Grammar - 83

Babington House Independent - 62

How do we halt the brain drain from Croydon's schools?

Cold weather causes burst water main in Norbury

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FIREFIGHTERS were called to Isham Road, Norbury in the early hours of this morning after a water main burst due to cold weather.

Frost caused the pipe, near the junction of Tisbury Road, to burst and a resident called the fire brigade after seeing water bubbling up through the tarmac at 3.15am.

Nick Morley, crew manager at Norbury Fire Station, said: "Water was gushing out of the pipe at around 1000 litres a minute."

But Mr Morley said most of the water ran into the street's gullies and the time of day meant disruption was small.

"There wasn't much disruption to traffic but the road was icy where the water had frozen," he said.

His fire crew cordoned the area and alerted Thames Water and Croydon Council.

The council gritted the road and Mr Morley said Thames Water engineers arrived at 7am today to repair the pipe.

Cold weather causes burst water main in Norbury

TRANSFER TALK: Crystal Palace close in on Bolton winger, Liverpool full-back heading for Selhurst?

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Crystal Palace could add to their squad on transfer deadline day, despite already signing four players in the January window.

Reports suggest Alan Pardew is still keen on Bolton winger Lee Chung-Yong, who would bring Premier League experience to the Eagles ranks and cost only around £1 million.

Despite signing Senegal left-back Pape Souare, Liverpool's out-of-favour Jose Enrique continues to be linked with a move to SE25, while Middlesbrough striker Lee Tomlin has emerged as a surprise late transfer target, according to the Daily Mail.

Wilfried Zaha's loan move from Manchester United could also be made permanent, with a figure of around £6 million being quoted.

Palace have so far signed four players since Pardew took over at the start of January – Souare, Shola Ameobi, Jordon Mutch, and Yaya Sanogo.

Trial date set for Croydon recruitment firm boss and six colleagues accused of £200k Access to Work fraud

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A PROVISIONAL date has been set for the trial of a recruitment agency boss accused of claiming more than £200,000 in bogus expenses for sign language services.

Stephen Dering, 37, is alleged to have conspired with six other people to defraud the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) while working for Dering Employment Services.

He and his colleagues are accused of claiming expenses from the DWP when an interpreter was never used or, if they were, they were significantly cheaper than the amount claimed.

Some £1 million of Access to Work grants were paid through Mr Dering's companies. The prosecution claims in excess of £200,000 worth of these claims were fraudulent.

Dering, of Croydon Road, Beckenham, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud by making false claims between August 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010.

He and six co-defendants, who have yet to enter pleas, were due to appear at Croydon Crown Court for a case management hearing on Monday (February 2).

The hearing has been moved to March 16 ahead of a trial, provisionally set for May 5. 

Trial date set for Croydon recruitment firm boss and six colleagues accused of £200k Access to Work fraud

Crystal Palace transfer deadline day - LIVE!

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TRANSFER deadline day is here once again and the Advertiser is following the latest from Crystal Palace via our live blog. Alan Pardew has already signed four players in this window and the signs are we shouldn't expect a repeat of previous windows, where a conveyor belt of players coming and going have made Palace one of the busier clubs. 

However, it looks like Wilfried Zaha's permanent move from Man Utd back to Palace will go ahead while the Eagles are also, it is understood, keen to tie up a deal for Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong.

A bid for Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor has failed though, according to reports.

Our man Mark Ritson is at the club's Beckenham training ground where we're hoping to bring you some snippets throughout the day, including a few words with Palace's four January signings so far - Yaya Sanogo, Pape Souare, Shola Ameobi, and Jordon Mutch. We'd also like you to contribute. Please comment on our live blog are, alternatively, tweet using the #cpfcdeadlineday

Live Blog Crystal Palace transfer deadline day - LIVE!
 

Crystal Palace transfer deadline day - LIVE!

NOON WINDOW UPDATE: Crystal Palace edge towards Zaha deal plus Gouffran and Gayle rumours

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CRYSTAL Palace and Manchester United are reportedly discussing a deal to make Wilfried Zaha's loan return to Selhurst Park a permanent move.

Zaha struggled to make an impression on the United first team after his £15 million move in 2013 and moved back to SE25 on loan in the summer window.

Though he hasn't been a regular starter under either Neil Warnock or new boss Alan Pardew, it seems Pardew is keen to have Zaha in his squad going forward and a permanent transfer could be agreed before the window shuts at 11pm.

Some reports suggest Zaha could sign a five and a half year deal with a fee of around £6 million being mooted.

Elsewhere, rumours have suggested Newcastle's Yoann Gouffran could be reunited with Pardew, while striker Dwight Gayle has been linked with a switch to QPR - but there is no concrete evidence of either move yet.

Bolton winger Lee Chung-Yong continues to be linked with Palace but one man unlikely to be heading to south London is Middlesbrough forward Lee Tomlin.

The Daily Mail this morning reported that Palace were keen on the 26-year-old but he has taken to Twitter to say he'll be remaining on Teeside and would only leave if the club decided he should be sold.

Going the other way, Barry Bannan has been linked with a loan move away from Selhurst Park, possibly to Leeds Utd.

Follow all the latest from Palace on transfer deadline day via our live blog.

NOON WINDOW UPDATE: Crystal Palace edge towards Zaha deal plus Gouffran and Gayle rumours

Crystal Palace make first deadline day signing

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CRYSTAL Palace have made their first signing of transfer deadline day, but it is not Chung Yong Lee or Wilfried Zaha. No, the Eagles have swooped to sign Andreas Breimyr from Norwegian side Bryne FK. The 18-year-old central midfielder will be part of Palace's development side next season, with the Norwegian staying in his homeland with Bryne on loan this season.

Crystal Palace make first deadline day signing


Croydon's small businesses know their value after council contract boost

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A SCHEME which will help small businesses win more council contracts was launched last week.

At the heart of Value Croydon is the decision to take a long, hard look at the complexities of the contract bidding process, with the aim of removing obstacles which put small businesses off.

Simon Hall, the council's cabinet member for finance and treasury, also announced at the Fairfield Halls launch that, from March, small firms would be able to register on the London Portal – which carries contract notifications across the capital – and see details of all Croydon Council's contracts worth £5,000 or more.

Advertising the lower range contracts more widely will, Mr Hall believes, encourage more smaller companies to seize opportunities to win new business within their realistic reach.

Mr Hall told delegates last Thursday: "This is part of our commitment to making sure the council and its largest suppliers work with Croydon businesses. We want to keep more of the £400 million a year council spending in Croydon."

He said that giving smaller firms the chance to get a foothold with the council would boost their own business, create more local jobs and, importantly, keep more money in Croydon's economy.

But Cllr Hall added he recognised the importance of simplifying the bidding and tendering process and it was his intention to ensure it centred mainly on the most important aspects, such as the price and quality of service any bidder would provide.

That would answer the criticism raised at the launch by a number of smaller businesses who have been put off bidding in the past, including Kenley-based Cleankill Environmental Services.

Ian Miller, from Cleankill, said when the business had looked at applying for contracts with the council previously, it had been confronted with mountains of pre-tender and tender documents.

Mr Miller said: "The major companies have teams of people employed permanently to deal with this sort of thing.

"As a smaller company, employing 27 people, we don't have those kinds of resources."

His views were echoed by Neelofar Khan, who runs Croydon-based Angel Catering.

She said: "The political will is there at the top, but the problems start when you have to deal with officers at procurement level."

The mechanisms were often not in place, she said, to make it easy for small firms to submit applications.

Value Croydon will not be aimed simply at small firms, however,

Cllr Hall said companies applying for large contracts would be required to pay the London Living Wage and there would be extra pressures on them to ensure they employed more local people.

Nathan Elvery, the council's chief executive, had earlier told delegates: "Small and medium-sized enterprises are the lifeblood for employment and it is essential these businesses thrive."

Croydon's small businesses know their value after council contract boost

Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor 'turns down Crystal Palace move'

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EMMANUEL Adebayor has reportedly rejected a surprise deadline day move to Crystal Palace.

According to the Daily Mirror, Alan Pardew was keen to sign the frontman on loan but he has turned down the chance and now looks set to join West Ham instead.

Adebayor has barely played for Tottenham this season and found himself at war with a large section of the White Hart Lane faithful.

The 30-year-old is understood to be on £100,000 a week at Spurs.

Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor 'turns down Crystal Palace move'

DONE DEAL! Crystal Palace complete deal to bring Zaha home from Manchester United

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Wilfried Zaha is set to complete a permanent deal from Manchester United to Crystal Palace, the Croydon Advertiser understands.

The winger, on loan at Selhurst Park, is currently undergoing a precautionary medical before sealing his switch back to South London.

Only last week, Zaha admitted how much he was enjoying life under Alan Pardew and how Croydon is home for him.

More to follow.

DONE DEAL! Crystal Palace complete deal to bring Zaha home from Manchester United

VOTE: Who is Crystal Palace's best January signing?

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BEFORE deadline day, Alan Pardew had brought four new players to Crystal Palace during the January window. First, Yaya Sanogo arrived on loan from Arsenal then, in the space of a week, Shola Ameobi, Jordon Mutch, and Senegal left-back Pape Souare signed on the dotted line. But which of these men will ultimately prove to be the best and most effective signing? Have your say by voting in our poll below.

VOTE: Who is Crystal Palace's best January signing?

Family appeal for help to find young soldier from Norbury missing for three weeks

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THE family of a young soldier from Norbury who has been missing for three weeks have appealed for help to find him.

Steven Mubanga, a trainee British Army soldier, was last seen on January 11 when he left his home in Kilmartin Avenue, Norbury, to get a train to his Yorkshire barracks.

But the 20-year-old has not been seen since and police believe he never boarded the train.

Steven's aunt, Karen, 42, of London, said Steven is a "well loved, responsible, fun" young man.

She said: "We miss him and just want him home. He's never in any trouble and anything can be resolved.

"We just want to tell him that we love him."

Karen, who last saw Steven in October last year. said the family have been very distressed since his disappearance and it will "mean the world" to see him again.

Police officers looking for Steven have had no reports of his whereabouts and are growing increasingly concerned.

PC Kim Hyland, from Croydon's missing person unit, said Steven was "happy in his career and getting on really well in the Army". She said his disappearance is out of character and there is no reason for him to go missing.

PC Hyland said: "We've made extensive enquiries, and as far as we can tell, he has not gone abroad, so we are very keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard from Steven in the past couple of weeks.

"If Steven is reading this, then we'd just ask you to call us to let us know you're ok. You're certainly not in any trouble and your friends, family and colleagues just want to know that you're safe and well."

Karen said the missing person unit have been "amazing" and the family have been touched by support shown by the public on Twitter and Facebook pages set up to find Steven.

"Initially we just wanted to find him and thought let's get together and it's just grown," said Karen. "People who we don't even know just care.

"We just want to get across what kind of person he is so people can see how lovely he is."

Steven is a black man of medium build with short black hair. He is around of 5ft 10ins tall. Steven wears black, square-rimmed glasses and often wears a baseball cap.

He was last seen wearing a grey, black and white hooded top, dark blue jeans, a black and green baseball cap and white Nike Air Jordan basketball trainers. He was carrying a JD Sports bag and a back pack.

Steven has links to the Croydon, Norbury, Camberwell and Streatham areas.

Anyone with information on Steven's whereabouts should contact police on 101, or call the Missing People charity on 116 000.

Family appeal for help to find young soldier from Norbury missing for three weeks

Crystal Palace set to snap up Bolton winger

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BOLTON winger Lee Chung-Yong has arrived at Crystal Palace's Beckenham training ground ahead of a likely deadline day move, the Advertiser can reveal.

The 26-year -old and his agent were seen driving into the training ground at around 3.45pm, to discuss a transfer mooted to be for a fee of around £1 million.

Lee looks set to join Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park, as we understand the deal to bring him back from Man Utd on a permanent basis is all but done.

The South Korean international has been at Bolton for six years though he his appearances have been limited in recent seasons, since he broke his leg in a pre-season friendly in 2011.

Crystal Palace set to snap up Bolton winger

Shola Ameobi: Alan Pardew was the key factor in my Crystal Palace move

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NEW Crystal Palace striker Shola Ameobi says the lure of working with his old Newcastle boss Alan Pardew once again was too good to turn down.

Ameobi, 33, joined Palace as a free agent on a deal until the end of the season, having left Turkish side Gaziantep in December.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser today (Monday) he said the opportunity to be reunited with Pardew was the key factor behind his decision to come to Palace.

He said: "My contract got cancelled in Turkey and basically I spoke to Alan Pardew. He was very interested in bringing me to Palace and I was looking for a club, preferably a Premier League one. 

"I want to get back to where I was at Newcastle in terms of quality and play at the highest level possible. 

"Palace is just a great fit. I had a couple of other options but my affiliation with Alan [was the main factor] I just enjoy working under him and the move had come at a good time for me."

Shola Ameobi: Alan Pardew was the key factor in my Crystal Palace move


'Jealous' boyfriend beat his girlfriend to death in a row over Facebook password, court hears

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A BOYFRIEND "driven by jealousy and anger" murdered his vulnerable young girlfriend with a sustained beating after she refused to give him the password to her Facebook account, the Old Bailey heard today.

Kane Boyce, 34, beat and kicked Paula Newman's head in New Addington in the early hours of November 12, 2013, causing her an "irreparable brain injury which brought about her death", a jury was told.

Boyce, of Aviemore Close, Beckenham, denies murder, but admitted the manslaughter of his 20-year-old girlfriend of seven months on July 7 last year.

He initially told police Ms Newman's injuries were caused when she threw herself from his BMW, but when he admitted the lesser charge he said she had hit her head on a wall after he pushed her.

Prosecutor Gillian Etherton QC told the jury Boyce had become obsessed with getting access to one of her two Facebook accounts in the weeks before her death as he was suspicious she was using the website to message other men.

Boyce allegedly told a friend he had asked for her log in details, but said "she won't give it over to me for love nor money".

He also said to his friend: "I knew she was f**king cheating on me, lying cheating s**g", the court heard.

Paula confided in a friend that she "felt like a prisoner", and wanted to leave Boyce and move back to her mother's house, said Ms Etherton.

Witnesses at the scene of the alleged attack, on Elmside, in the Fieldway area of New Addington said they had heard a woman screaming and a man shouting at around 1am.

One witness, Luke Smith, said he heard a man say "if you don't log on, we'll see what happens", while a female voice refused, crying and upset.

He also heard Boyce's car, with personalised number plate K77ANE, loudly rev and speed off, it was said.

Another resident told police she had heard "muffled shouting, arguing, crying and screaming", while one lady, who has since passed away, told police she heard "memorable, piercing screams".

Ms Etherton said Boyce later took Ms Newman to a friend's house in Dunsfold Way, New Addington.

He told his friend Paula had suffered a fit after she jumped out of his car when he asked for her Facebook password.

When his friend suggested calling an ambulance, Kane refused, saying "no, no, no, she's got bruises", according to Ms Etherton.

Friends noticed Paula's face was "out and swollen including her lips and nose, she had scratches on her face and a bruise on her back which looked like a fist mark".

Boyce finally called an ambulance at 7.20am, but as paramedics, who could not find a pulse, worked to save her Ms Newman's life, Boyce left to begin cleaning up evidence of the attack, it was alleged. 

He left the house with a rubbish bag, after earlier returning to Elmside to pick up Ms Newman's coat and shoe which had been left at the scene of the alleged attack, said Ms Etherton.

"The defendant drove to a dead-end road where he threw the bag over a fence. He then drove on and threw one of his trainers into a wheelie bin. He got back in the car and drove on again, and threw the other trainer over a different fence," she said.

The prosecution also allege Boyce earlier took Ms Newman's phone and accessed her Facebook profile and Zoosk online dating profile as paramedics tried in vain to save her.

Just three days after Ms Newman's death, Boyce changed his Facebook relationship status from "in a relationship" to "single", Ms Etherton said.

She also told the jury that Boyce "has the ability to charm women", but had behaved in a "cruel and sadistic" way in the past.

"He is capable of being highly manipulative, very controlling and extremely violent to previous partners," she said.

"Previous attack on different partners include repeated serious violence, such as punching and kicking to the head and body.

"The women he has attacked over the years have often been too terrified of further attacks to either report the defendant's violence to the police or having reported it have later refused to proceed further."

Boyce denies murder. The trial continues.

'Jealous' boyfriend beat his girlfriend to death in a row over Facebook password, court hears

Head of Croydon private school brands league tables a 'mockery'

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THE school league tables have been branded a "mockery" by a Croydon head teacher after some of the borough's top private schools placed last following changes to which qualifications are recognised.

Whitgift, Trinity and Croydon High schools - normally top of the class - propped up the rankings after the government decided not to include International GCSEs (IGCSE).

The decision also penalised St Andrew's CE High, one of the few non-independent schools to favour the IGCSE, which is seen as a more "rigorous" form of assessment.

The table shows the four schools scored zero for the number of students who achieved at least five A* to C grades including English and maths, the benchmark standard.

However, Trinity and Whigift, for example, achieved 100 and 99 per cent respectively in 2013, and they did similarly well last summer, albeit with a qualification the tables no longer take into account.

The government says it is phasing out IGCSEs, which it once championed, to make way for new GCSE exams currently being introduced in schools.

Debbie Leonard, head teacher of Croydon High, an independent girls' school in Selsdon, said she only realised what had happened the day before the results were published last Thursday.

"Having your independent sector schools bottom of the league tables, just because of the IGCSEs, makes a mockery of the whole system," she told the Advertiser. "It shows how little faith you can have in the league tables."

Mrs Leonard intends to stick with IGCSEs despite pressure to adopt the new system.

"I've told our parents we're staying with IGCEs. They are more rigorous and they are better preparation for A levels. They stretch children that bit more.

"We're preparing them for university and for employment. It's shortsighted to only consider GCSEs. I'm looking at what's right for the girls in the long term.

"We take the view that IGCSEs are better preparation for A levels. They mean our girls don't struggle in the first term [of college] because they've already come across some of the content."

St Andrew's CH High School, in Warrington Road, Waddon, saw its English scores discounted because its pupils took the English IGCSE.

Head teacher David Matthews said: "We're not badly affected in terms of the qualifications we're offering students, which are rated highly by some of the best schools in the country. I don't regret choosing the IGCSE because it offers more stability and an international clientele.

"We did what we thought was best for our pupils and I suspect many other schools will continue to do the same, even if they fall foul of the league tables."

Richard Harman, chairman of the Headmaster's and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents many independent schools, said the decision to drop IGCEs made was "absurd" and made a "nonsense" of the tables.

Despite the confusion, Mr Matthews believes the system still has merit.

He said: "I wouldn't say league tables were nonsense because there needs to be some sort of comparison between schools. But, as the saying goes: 'Not everything of value can be counted.'

"That we have chosen a highly regarded course which is appropriate for our students is the most important thing. It's up to the government to keep up with that."

Results fall for the first time in decade 

CHANGES to the exam system, which extend further than just discounting IGCSEs, make comparing last summer's scores to 2013 difficult.

But, whichever equation is used, it is clear the borough's GCSE results have fallen for the first time in 11 years, in line with the national picture.

According to the Department for Education, 56.8 per cent of pupils achieved at least five A* to C grades in 2014, down from 64.4 per cent in 2013. Croydon's pupils did marginally better than the national average for state schools (56.6 per cent).

The Advertiser first reported declining GCSE grades in September, after the unvalidated scores were published in Gavin Barwell's election manifesto.

The tables published last week were largely the same as reported then, with few schools managing to improve their position amid changes to the exam system. Coloma Convent Girls' School finished top despite a five per cent fall in the number of pupils meeting the benchmark standard.

Results were expected to fall after the government introduced reforms designed to discourage schools from allowing pupils to take exams early.

Some schools that posted improved grades, such as Riddlesdown Collegiate, in Purley, said the changes played to their strengths. Others which experienced significant declines, such as Edenham High and Thomas More Catholic School, said the government's tinkering made comparison with 2013 impossible.

Addington High was taken over by a Bromley-based academy in June 2013 due to poor exam results but the move has not improved its fortunes, with the school propping up the league table in Croydon after just 37 per cent of pupils achieved the expected level.

Head of Croydon private school brands league tables a 'mockery'

IT'S OFFICIAL! Wilfried Zaha confirms return 'home' to Crystal Palace

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IN THE words of Gary Barlow, he's back for good!

Just before 7pm on Monday night, Wilfried Zaha effectively confirmed that his permanent move back to Crystal Palace from Man Utd had gone through - with this tweet.

Zaha joined Man Utd for £15 million in 2013, having helped Palace to promotion to the Premier League with some fine performances in the play-offs. But by the time he arrived at Old Trafford Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him, had left the club and Zaha failed to make an impression under new boss David Moyes. He was loaned out to Cardiff for the second half of last season, before coming back to Selhurst Park on loan in August. No details of the permanent deal have yet been released, but speculation suggests a fee of around £6 million and a five and a half year contract for Zaha.

IT'S OFFICIAL! Wilfried Zaha confirms return 'home' to Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace sign promising striker

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CRYSTAL Palace have signed a young striker - a week after he put in an impressive display against the Eagles' under-21 side.

Keshi Anderson has joined for an undisclosed fee from non-league Barton Rovers, on an 18-month deal.

The player had been on trial at Brentford and featured for their under-21′s against Palace last week, scoring a hat-trick inside the last six minutes after coming on as a sub.

He had been linked with moves to Brentford and Luton Town, but Palace have got in quick.

Crystal Palace sign promising striker

Crystal Palace midfielder Barry Bannan heads to Bolton on loan

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CRYSTAL Palace midfielder Barry Bannan has sealed a deadline day loan move to Bolton Wanderers.

The Scotsman, who arrived at Palace during the 2013 summer window, has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot under a succession of managers and told the Advertiser on Monday night he needed to leave to get some game-time.

The 25-year-old former Aston Villa player started the first two games of Alan Pardew's tenure, against Dover in the FA Cup and Spurs in the league, but having signed Jordon Mutch, the manager seems happy to let Bannan leave the club.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, Bannan said he was looking forward to working under the Trotters' boss, former Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

He said: "I'm looking forward to going out and getting games under my belt. I'm really looking forward to it and it will be a good challenge for me. There have been a few managers in my time here and it's been stop-start, stop-start so I'm looking forward to going out. 

"We have been speaking to Bolton for a while now and my heart was set on going there. I have spoken to Joe Ledley about the manager Neil Lennon and I would really like to go and work under him. 

"I love the Palace fans and I will be back to hopefully play, but I've got to do what's best for me at the minute and that's going out getting games permanently."

Palace are likely to be bringing in a player from Bolton in return, with the Championship side's winger Lee Chong-Yung set to arrive in SE25.

Bannan confirmed the move on Monday night, on his Twitter account.

Crystal Palace midfielder Barry Bannan heads to Bolton on loan

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