13,000 pupils persistently missing from classrooms across Kent

by Alex Dodds

Pupils are missing a months worth of lessons a year according to new Government statistics.
Up to 13,000 pupils were persistently missing from classrooms in Kent at state-funded schools. They were absent for more than 15% of the time.

Kent County Council work closely with the Police on truancy sweeps and many pupils have been found out of school on day trips with their parents.

Holidays and family outings are not included as authorised absences and parents are being reminded of the possibility of prosecutione. 

Ministers are looking to lower the critical absence threshold for the second time this year. This will allow school action to be taken more quickly. It currently stands at 15%.

Canterbury NOW spoke to Dean Bubier, the Executive Treasurer of the National Union of Teachers for the Canterbury District. 

Canterbury Festival, lack of advertising ?

by Jimmy Hutcheon

According to local shops and hotels, Canterbury festival didn't increase the cities business. Last year 72 000 people attended the events. As reported by the tourism office and the Canterbury Festival this

year was a good year again. The figures will be published early December.

But local hotel, coffee and souvenir shops say that the festival attracts only local people.

The Canterbury gate hotel says bookings has decreased compared to last years.

Boho's owner says that the festival attracts more particular people and blames a lack of advertising.

Stephanie Klinge Davis, marketing Manager of Canterbury Festival says that people who talk about a lack of advertising, didn't try to be aware.

Job Fair described as best ever

By Rebecca Dart




An exhibitor described a local university job fair as the best event they have been to so far.

The Job fair run by Canterbury Christ Church University had over 50 exhibitors offering advice to students of how to get into their ideal jobs.

Grads Kent, a new website set up to help university graduates find jobs in Kent, were one of the exhibitors. Sam Newing, graduate services sales assistant for Grads Kent, said, “It was definitely the best jobs fair I have been to and my colleague who was with me agreed.”

The employability and careers service organised the fair, in which 2,500 students and post-graduates attended. There were services on offer such as CV checking and tips on applications.

James Corbin, employability and careers deputy manager, said that despite some companies being there and not recruiting, it was a good opportunity for first and second years to find out how to stand a better chance of getting the job when the recruitment freeze is over. 

The job fair was twice the size of any other university run event like this, despite it being the first time it has been run in nearly eight years, and organisers are intending on it being even bigger in future. 

In our interview with James Corbin he tells us how they intend to make this a yearly event to help more students get a job after university. 

Student blaze raises concerns about fire safety

by Sam Smith



A recent fire scare has raised fears that young people are not properly educated in fire safety. Two female students were saved in their beds after a fire broke out in their flat.

Neighbours heard the smoke alarm from the girl's house in Station Road at around 4am on Thursday, and called the fire service. The two had fallen asleep after forgetting they had started cooking when they returned from a night out.

To make such a huge mistake seems unthinkable to many, and the blame has been placed mainly on the culture of extreme alcohol consumption that most students live with today. But questions have arisen as to whether young people are properly educated in all aspects of fire safety.

Firefighter Sheridan Hudson-Peacock said "Just three breaths of fire smoke can be enough to knock a person out. If you have been drinking you are even more vulnerable. Leaving cooking unattended is a recipe for disaster, whether you have had a few drinks or not."

For fire safety information call 0800 923 7000 or visit www.kent.fire-uk.org

Canterbury shopkeepers don’t give in easily.

By Lisa Mersie

Canterbury shops try to beat the recession by being unique. They try to find something that will make them stand out. ‘ Competing with the big chains is the problem’, according to Ian Blackmore, Co-secretary of the King’s Mile Association and owner of the Jolly Sailor. ‘You can not be as cheap as they are, so you have to find something that will make you special’.

In the last two weeks, two shops had to close on Canterbury’s central High street. Clothes shop Madame Butterfly held their closing sale two weeks ago, while Kathy von Zeeland closed just last Wednesday. According to a salesclerk at Kathy’s the rents are too high and the number of customers is just too low

But Canterbury’s shop owners won’t give in easily. Two successful shops in the King’s Mile Quarter try to beat the recession by being special. ‘ Just look around, keep your eyes open and make sure that you know what your customer wants. You have to give them something new, something special’, says Bobby Harvey, owner of Vintage Warehouse.

Almost all of the owners of small shops say that it is all about the complete shopping experience. ‘ Giving the customers the attention that they want and making them feel comfortable in your shop.’ Owner of Rose Boutique, Maxine Rose, thinks that this will make her succeed.

Wild Ferment to offer better service than supermarket

By Joe Gustafson

"We can offer something with flavour rather than mass produced rubbish that supermarkets have", is what Wild Ferment manager James Child had to say. Canterbury's latest wine shop has now been open for over and a week and will offer customers a wide selection of wines as well as expert advise.

Mr Child also dismissed the idea that he is taking a risk during times of economic trouble, "I believe it is a greater risk to set up a business in boom time and then see your business fail as soon as things get harder"

Manager James Child used to work as manager at 'Oddbins'

Having previously worked as manager at 'Oddbins' (which is now closed), Mr Child is keen to learn from the experience with his new business after admitting that 'Oddbins' made "very stupid business decisions."

Bad publicity unfair to local foot spa?

By Laura Kerrigan

Recent articles from The Sun and The Daily Mail have affected the business of local fish spa 'Feet Bliss'.

The owner, Ric Bertora, has seen a 50% loss in the sales of the fish pedicure. He blames the health risk articles published by the national papers, and claims they have not focused enough on the low risk if the treatment is done properly.

Feet Bliss by Laura K20

Ric Bertora, Manager of Feet Bliss.

The media hype have focused on a new report published by the Health Protection Agency which clearly states that there is only an 'increased' risk of diseases being spread when individuals suffer from weak immune systems or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or psoriasis.

In contrast, another local business based in Orange Street called 'Elite Beauty', told us how they don't think the articles have affected their business.