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Hardest and easiest County Durham secondary schools to get into

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Hardest and easiest County Durham secondary schools to get into

The Great British Schools Guide has released data naming the top 10 easiest and hardest secondary schools to get into in County Durham, ranked based on “an equal-weighted combination of catchment tightness and fullness relative to recorded capacity”.

The fullness percentage provides “an indication of demand” for places and does not mean a school is oversubscribed.

Here are the easiest and hardest secondary schools to get into in County Durham.

Does your child’s school feature on either of the lists? (Image: Getty)

Hardest County Durham secondary schools to get into

The Academy at Shotton Hall comes in first place on the Great British Schools Guide’s list with a fullness of 101%.

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The school was given a rating of outstanding in its last OFSTED inspection, which was published in September 2024.

The school says it provides a “vibrant and stimulating learning environment” for its pupils.

Top 10 hardest County Durham secondary schools to get into:

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  1. The Academy at Shotton Hall – 101%
  2. Seaham High School – 94%
  3. Easington Academy – 105%
  4. Hermitage Academy – 89%
  5. Woodham Academy – 93%
  6. Tanfield School – 102%
  7. Belmont Community School – 94%
  8. Park View School – 109%
  9. Dene Academy – 78%
  10. King James I Academy Bishop Auckland – 97%

Easiest County Durham secondary schools to get into

For the easiest school to get into in County Durham, Staindrop Academy has a fullness percentage of 69%.

The school was last inspected by OFSTED in October 2021 and received a rating of good in all of the categories judged.

The school aims to make all of its pupils feel “happy and valued” and wants them to “fulfil their potential and develop the skills and attributes to succeed in their next steps”.



Top 10 easiest County Durham secondary schools to get into:

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  1. Staindrop Academy – 69%
  2. Teesdale School and Sixth Form – 71%
  3. Durham Academy – 57%
  4. Wellfield School – 90%
  5. Wolsingham School – 99%
  6. Framwellgate School Durham – 94%
  7. North Durham Academy – 57%
  8. Ferryhill School – 80%
  9. Greenfield Academy – 68%
  10. Bishop Barrington Academy – 74%

Do either of these lists surprise you? Let us know in the comments.

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‘I don’t think so!’ Ray Winstone laughs off ‘rumours’ of Meghan Markle joining The Gentlemen cast

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Ray Winstone has laughed off rumours that Meghan Markle could be joining the cast of The Gentlemen, appearing genuinely stunned when the Duchess of Sussex‘s name was raised in connection with Guy Ritchie‘s hit Netflix crime drama.

The actor, who plays crime boss Bobby Glass in the series, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show.

And it is fair to say he was not expecting the question.

When asked whether he knew if Meghan was starring in The Gentlemen, Winstone replied: ‘What? Who? I’ve never met her.’

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The 69-year-old then appeared shocked by the suggestion that the former Suits star could feature in a future series.

‘What in the Gentleman? Oh shut up! I don’t think so. Who spreads these rumours, we’ve got to find them.’

The comments come amid weeks of speculation that Meghan, 45, could be considering a return to acting, with reports linking her to a possible role in the third season of Ritchie’s stylish crime series.

The rumours intensified last month after reports suggested the Duchess, who returned to live in the UK with Prince Harry, was interested in making a comeback to acting.

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Ray Winstone, who plays crime boss Bobby Glass in the series, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show

Ray Winstone, who plays crime boss Bobby Glass in the series, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show

Prince Harry and Meghan visit the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne in April

Prince Harry and Meghan visit the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in April

The Gentlemen has now officially been renewed for a third season, with creator Guy Ritchie saying the show’s expanding world and ambitions made another instalment feel inevitable. 

Yet the stars of the show have been far from convinced that Meghan will be joining them.

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At the London premiere of season two last week, Vinnie Jones was asked about reports that Meghan could appear in the next series.

In his typically direct style, British actor and former professional footballer Vinnie said: ‘I think it’s hot air.’

He added: ‘We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for any more.’

Theo James, who plays aristocrat-turned-crime boss Eddie Horniman, also appeared to dismiss the speculation.

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When asked about the Sussex rumours, he joked: ‘No. Prince Harry is playing one of my love interests. So that’s the Meghan Markle thing.’

He later said: ‘I think it’s a spurious rumour. She’d fit in well because she’s actually from the Royal Family, but I think the practicalities of that are impossible.’

James subsequently described the casting talk as little more than speculation, while acknowledging that plans for the show’s third season are still developing.

Hugh Bonneville, who joins the second season as the colourful Lord Hawthorne, was equally dismissive, describing the speculation as ‘a genius bit of marketing by the person who dreamt up that idea’.

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And new star Maya Jama, who makes her scripted acting debut in the second season, simply said: ‘I’d be the last person to know.’

Maya Jama has signed up for series three of The Gentlemen according to reports, after stars of the show dismissed rumours Meghan Markle would join the cast

Maya Jama has signed up for series three of The Gentlemen according to reports, after stars of the show dismissed rumours Meghan Markle would join the cast

Meanwhile Kaya Scodelario channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds

Meanwhile Kaya Scodelario channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds

The comments were reported as Meghan speculation continued to dominate coverage surrounding the show’s second-season premiere at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London.

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Guy Ritchie declined to give interviews on the red carpet, meaning he did not publicly confirm or deny reports that he had held preliminary discussions with Meghan about a possible role.

The Duchess has nevertheless been repeatedly linked with a return to acting, having previously found fame as Rachel Zane in Suits before stepping back from the profession following her relationship with Prince Harry.

Royal author Tina Brown has claimed that an offer of an acting role was withdrawn within 24 hours of the Sussexes returning to the UK because the ‘backlash was so intense it became untenable’.

There have also been suggestions that the Meghan-Gentlemen story itself could have been deliberately leaked to generate publicity.

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PR expert Mark Borkowski said the timing was suspicious, arguing that it appeared designed to attract attention without anyone having to formally confirm a deal.

Addressing claims that it was a deliberate leak from the Sussex side, he told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s totally plausible because there’s not been a single quote from the production, so they’re enjoying all the publicity, it’s good for them.’

But while the speculation has been repeatedly dismissed by members of the cast, one source claimed there could still be a possibility of Meghan appearing in the show.

‘I gather talks are still ongoing despite claims that it’s all off. It was a factor for her in moving back to the UK’, they said.

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The Love Island presenter, 32, made her scripted acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie's Netflix hit, in which she plays Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate

The Love Island presenter, 32, made her scripted acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit, in which she plays Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate 

The new glimpse at the upcoming series shows James's character Eddie take on the Glass family's empire as he makes a bid to resume complete control of his estate

The new glimpse at the upcoming series shows James’s character Eddie take on the Glass family’s empire as he makes a bid to resume complete control of his estate

It has also been claimed that Meghan may have spoken directly with Ritchie, although no official confirmation of any discussions has emerged.

Another source claimed there were ‘deafening rumours’ that the former Suits actress was hoping to secure a serious stage role in London’s West End as part of a wider return to acting.

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The latest instalment of The Gentlemen landed on Netflix on September 3, with Theo James returning as Eddie Horniman, alongside Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass and Winstone as her formidable father Bobby.

The new season sees Eddie and Susie expand their criminal empire, while Bobby’s increasingly erratic behaviour threatens to destabilise their operation.

The star-studded cast turned out in force for the London premiere, with Maya Jama making her debut as Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of James’s character.

Jama, 32, made an eye-catching entrance in a daringly cut leather gown, custom-made by R&M Leathers and styled by Rhea Francois.

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Kaya Scodelario, 34, meanwhile channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds while wearing a custom Paolo Sebastian corset gown.

She returns as the daughter of Winstone’s Bobby Glass, the mobster who operates a vast cannabis empire from English country estates.

James, 41, dressed to impress in a bespoke suit as he once again stepped into the shoes of the duke-turned-crime boss Eddie.

Bonneville also attended alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova after joining the cast as Lord Hawthorne.

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Man, 71, threatened his neighbour with a sword, court hears

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Man, 71, threatened his neighbour with a sword, court hears

Noel Rhone, of Towers Avenue, Deane, had been in an altercation with his neighbour, Bolton Crown Court was told.

The defendant was charged with affray in December of last year, which Rhone pleaded guilty to.

The neighbour and Rhone had been keeping up a friendship until last year, the court was told.

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Prosecuting, Katie Durham said this coincided with the neighbour getting into a “same sex relationship”, which caused the rupture in the neighbours’ friendship.

She said Rhone had disputes with the neighbour over parking issues, “namely visitors parking in front of or next to his property”, resulting in the neighbour parking down the street.

On December 2, 2025, a visitor parking near Rhone’s address had made him “lose his temper”.

The neighbours were arguing over parking at the time of the incident, when Rhone lunged at her neck and then pushed her, she then kicked him to the ground “in self-defence” and walked off.

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Once he got back up, he went inside his property and came back out with a sword, coming towards his neighbour saying “I will chop your head off.”

The sword was likened to a “katana”.

The defendant got into the passenger seat of a van and threatened to chop her head off when he came back.

Defending, Peter Gilmour said the defendant was suffering from emotional issues at the time, including a family member diagnosed with cancer, and the loss of his parents.

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Mr Gilmour said that Rhone has grown-up children and grandchildren, as well as being in “good character” for all of his life.

Judge Benjamin Lawrence said Rhone had used an offensive slur against the neighbour and Rhone also said she was the problem.

Judge Lawrence added: “In an argument you shouted, she called you a bully, you lunged at her neck then you pushed her, she feared for her life, and you left a small cut.

“She kicked you to the floor and walked away, and after you picked up a sword and threatened to chop her head off and put her windows through.

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“Residents were also present.”

Rhone was sentenced to 14 months suspended for 18 months.

The judge said he handed down a suspended sentence due to Rhone, having a family and of usual good character.

Rhone also has to serve 100 hours of unpaid work, as well pay a fine of £500 to be paid back at £100 a month, as he is receiving a pension.

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Judge Lawrence said: “You should not have been here in the first place; do not come back here again.”

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Prince George begins first day at Eton College

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Prince George arrived with his parents for his first day at Eton

Prince George arrived on a rainy morning for his first day at Eton College, accompanied by his father and mother, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince William and Catherine carried umbrellas as they brought George, wearing a jacket and tie, to be welcomed by the head teacher, Simon Henderson, and provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge.

“Welcome, good luck and enjoy,” said the head teacher, shaking hands with Prince George.

They made small talk about the bad weather before the new pupil, parents and staff disappeared inside the historic school, where 13-year-old George will be a boarder.

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The future king follows in the footsteps of his father in attending the elite private school, which has taught 20 British prime ministers and where fees are around £65,000 a year.

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Britain faces US reprisals over Burnham’s ‘Jew-hating’ West Bank settlements boycott – as Israel threatens to back Argentina’s Falklands grab

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Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements

Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements.

A package of measures banning imports from the disputed areas is set to be announced later today, despite a mounting backlash.

The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly. 

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons this afternoon, and France and Canada are expected to unveil similar sanctions. The move comes after Labour formally triggered a by-election in Keir Starmer‘s Holborn & St Pancras seat, where Palestine is set to be a major issue. 

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But there is already a storm of protest, with the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accusing the UK of ‘Jew hate’ and ‘discrimination’.

In further escalation, Florida congressman Randy Fine has warned that the state has a law that would ban British imports in retaliation.

An Israeli minister has insisted it could support Argentina’s campaign to seize control of the Falklands, while terror experts said access to crucial intelligence could be disrupted. 

There is also disquiet in Labour ranks, with one MP raising alarm about ‘a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community’.

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Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons on the policy later

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons on the policy later

Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel's recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank

Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel’s recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank

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Touring broadcast studios for the Government this morning, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted Israel remains a key ally of the UK.

He argued the measures would be targeted and not amount to a de facto ban on trade with the state.

Mr Burnham has not spoken to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu since becoming PM in July.

Labour has been under intense pressure from activists to toughen its position on Israel after losing votes to the Greens and pro-Gaza independents.

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Around 160 settlements have been built by Israel since its occupation of the West Bank during the Six-Day War in 1967. Around 700,000 live in them and concern about the issue been mounting for years. This intensified following Israel’s recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank.

Mr Miliband, who is Jewish, last week said the plan was ‘crossing a red line’ and ‘illegal under international law’.

He said the proposal ‘cuts through the heart of the West Bank and risks making a Palestinian state unviable’.

Mr Miliband said Labour wanted a ‘comprehensive reset’ of relations with Israel.

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Mr Burnham has said the Israeli proposals could ‘imperil or end’ the dream of a two-state solution, which successive British governments have supported for years. In a call with Mr Trump last night he reiterated his commitment to a two-state solution.

But Itamar Ben-Gvir, the hardline Minister of National Security of Israel, used the disputed Argentinian name for the Falklands as he wrote on X: ‘It’s time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people.

‘The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.

‘I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.’

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Last week Argentine president Javier Milei reiterated the country’s ‘sacred’ claim to the territory, which it failed to seize in the 1982 Falklands War. 

Mr Milei has announced sanctions on oil exploration around the islands, encouraged by his ally Donald Trump pledging to ‘review’ US neutrality on the dispute. 

Britain has been adamant that sovereignty of the Falklands is not in doubt. 

In a referendum of islanders in 2013, 99.8 per cent voted to stay British, with a turnout of 92 per cent. 

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Senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry slapped down Mr Ben-Gvir in the Commons.

She pointed out that an Israeli oil company had just been sanctioned by Buenos Aires over a contract with the islands, and suggested he was too distracted by his ongoing effort to find ‘new ways to inflict ever more cruelty on the Palestinian people’ to do his research properly.

Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the expulsion of the British ambassador.

‘We will not be a doormat trampled by an antisemitic government, in a country conquered by radical Islam, trying to save itself from economic and social decline by attacking Jews and the State of Israel,’ he said.

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‘The British Mandate in the Land of Israel is over.’

Israeli president Isaac Herzog said Britain should focus on ‘dialogue’ not sanctions.

‘If this happens – and other nations may join – I believe it will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history,’ he said in a statement. 

Although Mr Trump has yet to comment, Republican Mr Fine posted on social media: ‘As the British government considers forcing British companies to boycott portions of Israel, it should be aware that a Florida law that I passed as a member of the Legislature would ban any British company forced to comply from doing business with any state or local government in Florida. 

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‘It would also end any British business participating in that boycott from doing any business in Florida if it needed any official interaction with state or local government to operate (permits, tax collection). 

‘Florida is one of Britain’s largest trading partners. They should understand that their vanity project in support of Muslim terror could cost them billions of dollars. 

‘And for those who doubt the power of this policy, it was this same law that broke Airbnb’s misguided effort to boycott portions of Israel in 2019. 

The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly

The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly

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‘They realized that this law would have bankrupted their company. Florida has made it clear. Any company — or nation — that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida.’ 

Mr Huckabee said: ‘I feel like that it’s a discrimination against the Israeli government, it’s discrimination against the Jewish people and I don’t understand the rationale of it.’

He added: ‘I don’t know if they have thought through, it’s like throwing a stone and not having an idea of where it’s going to land.

‘And I realise, look, the UK is a sovereign country, they can do what they want, but so is the US.’

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He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there would be ‘implications’ for Britain.

‘For example, 25 per cent of pharmaceuticals that are used in the UK are made in Israel. Are they willing to give those up? It looks like they are.

‘Are they willing also to do great damage to any Brits who are doing business in a number of states in the US.

‘I don’t know what all of the national sanctions or repercussions or retaliations will be from the US, hasn’t been announced yet.

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‘But I do know that there are a number of states. Let me mention one, one of the largest US states, Florida, that has a law that if this action is taken, then Brits will not be able to do business with any company or business in Florida.’

Mr McFadden dismissed jibes about the Government engaging in ‘Jew hate’ and insisted Israel remained a key ally.

‘At the heart of the statement is the idea that the UK, along with many other countries, do not want to see the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine being erased by changes to the facts on the ground, and the reason that danger has become more urgent is because of expanded settlement activity in recent weeks and months,’ he told Times Radio.

Plans in the so-called E1 area could see the ‘effective cutting off of the north of the West Bank from the south of the West Bank’, he said.

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Asked why Mr Burnham had not spoken to Israel’s PM about the move, he said: ‘I’m sure he will speak to the prime minister of Israel.

‘But Israel is an important security ally, and in the context of what we’re saying today, I think it’s also important to distinguish between action which is announced in response to policies of this Israeli government at this time, and the people of Israel and the links between Israel and the UK, which are important and valuable and will continue to be so.’

Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat warned at the weekend that the move to impose sanctions could imperil security cooperation credited with saving British lives.

Britain and Argentina fought in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them

Britain and Argentina fought in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them

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Last week Argentine president Javier Milei reiterated the country's 'sacred' claim to the territory

Last week Argentine president Javier Milei reiterated the country’s ‘sacred’ claim to the territory

He urged ministers to ‘put our own national interests and our own national security first’, adding: ‘That means that where we have friends and allies who provide us with intelligence in order to keep us safe we should work with them.’

Asked how it would be possible to tell whether goods come from settlements in the West Bank or the rest of Israel and to address concerns this could amount to an overall boycott by the back door, he told Sky News: ‘The Foreign Secretary will set out details of how this will operate when he stands up in Parliament this afternoon.

‘But I think it’s also important to say that Israel is an important trading partner for the UK. This isn’t intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods.’

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He added: ‘It’s measures specifically targeted at the expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the West Bank.’

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Telegraph readers react to the new 3-in-1 toothbrush

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Telegraph readers react to the new 3-in-1 toothbrush

Similarly, reader Paul Isaacs, a dentist, believes that “squirting stuff between teeth isn’t that good at removing a sticky biofilm”.

“If we don’t clean between the teeth properly it’s a bit like only washing your left side in the shower,” he adds.

For Paul, it’s the technique that matters, not necessarily the technology. “Toothbrushes are a personal thing, you can do a great job with manual or electric, if you do it right.”

“Getting bits of peanut out from between the teeth is not effective cleaning when it comes to gum health, so water jets are second rate,” he says.

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“The gold standard is mechanical cleaning, in basic terms if you don’t wrangle it off, the biofilm won’t shift.”

The readers tempted by Dyson

These readers, however, are more optimistic about this new technology and can see how it could become a sophisticated investment, remembering when the electric toothbrush was dismissed when it first launched.

As a Dyson enthusiast, reader Irena Stoynova, 41, from Hampshire, was excited to hear about the launch of the CameraJet: “It’s because of the trust I have in the brand.”

As the owner of a variety of Dyson products from the hair dryer, fan and purifier and vacuum cleaner, Irena has found their products to be “innovative, effective and reliable”.

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“They are the best in class,” she adds. “I believe that if somebody is going to disrupt the market it is going to be Dyson.”

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Prince George’s first day at Eton: King-in-waiting arrives with proud Prince and Princess of Wales by his side

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Prince George arrives with parents Prince William and Catherine for his first day at Eton today

Prince George has arrived for his first day at Eton College accompanied by his proud parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

He walked in as both a king-in-waiting and a nervous 13-year-old about to embark on a thrilling new chapter of his life.

The second in line to the throne wore a dark blazer, shirt, tie and chinos with brown suede shoes. He and his parents strode briskly through Eton College’s historic quadrangle – known to pupils as School Yard – given the heavy rain.

The family emerged from the arch beneath Lupton’s Tower, the 16th-century gatehouse clock tower, and walked across the cobbled Yard.

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The Waleses paused level with a bronze statue of Henry VI, the school’s founder, which sits in the centre of the quadrangle, to shake hands with Simon Henderson, the headmaster of Eton College, and Sir Nicholas Coleridge, the school’s provost, who serves as the chair of the governing body.

Prince William was smartly dressed in a dark suit, while Catherine wore an elegant green flowing dress and heels and carried a large umbrella.

William was the first to shake hands with the headmaster, then George, as the princess slightly hung back.

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Prince George arrives with parents Prince William and Catherine for his first day at Eton today

Prince William shakes hands with provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge, left, and headmaster Simon Henderson on Prince George's first day of school

Prince William shakes hands with provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge, left, and headmaster Simon Henderson on Prince George’s first day of school 

Prince George arrives with parents Prince William and Catherine for his first day at Eton today

William is greeted by Sir Nicholas, the school's provost and governing body chair

William is greeted by Sir Nicholas, the school’s provost and governing body chair

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‘George welcome, good luck, enjoy,’ Mr Henderson smiled.

He then shook hands with Catherine before the provost introduced himself and they exchanged a few pleasantries

While there were clearly nerves on both sides, there were also smiles all round – although the heavy rain drowned out the sound of their conversation.

Catherine gazed at her eldest son proudly before Mr Henderson invited the family to get out of the rain.

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The princess was seen placing a protective arm on her son’s back as the door was shut behind them. 

The Yard is the oldest part of the school alongside College Chapel, where pupils attend services three times a week.

After the welcome, George, William and Catherine were shown into the fourth form passage in the original school building, which is understood to house the world’s oldest classroom.

Like other families, the couple will help George settle into his new bedroom. Pupils from other years will return to Eton when the school starts tomorrow.

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Following the brief photocall and the picture release, it is William and Catherine’s fervent wish that George’s education will take place away from public view.

Signs have been posted around Windsor warning the public not to photograph the pupils when they are moving around the sprawling campus of school buildings between lessons.

Kensington Palace announced in June that their eldest child would be attending the Windsor boarding school where fees cost more than £65,000 per year.

William struggles to close his umbrella as he and Catherine accompany George to Eton today

William struggles to close his umbrella as he and Catherine accompany George to Eton today

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Catherine and William laugh with George as they arrive today for his first day at Eton College

Catherine and William laugh with George as they arrive today for his first day at Eton College

George arrives with parents William and Catherine for his first day at Eton this morning

George arrives with parents William and Catherine for his first day at Eton this morning

Catherine and William laugh with George as they arrive for his first day at Eton College today

Catherine and William laugh with George as they arrive for his first day at Eton College today

It seems hard to believe that the self-assured young man in front of us was, only a few years ago, being introduced to the world by William and Catherine on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington – or pictured tousle-haired, his back pack almost as big as him, on his first day at nursery.

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The photocall had been arranged for 11am, half an hour or so before the rest of his fellow ‘F Blockers’ – Eton shorthand for Year 9 students – arrived. 

It is the only time during the next five years George is likely to get any special treatment, and the decision was more about protecting the privacy of the other students.

All new pupils arrive in their own clothes before changing into Eton’s distinctive and historic uniform including black tailcoat, waistcoat and white tunic shirt.

Kensington Palace are set to release a photograph of that separately.

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The prince and princess have made clear how grateful they are for the way the media and public have allowed all their three children to grow up and enjoy their education away from the spotlight, in return for regular pictorial updates and occasional public appearances, and hope this will continue for George as he moves through his senior school years.

Henry VI established the school in 1440, naming it Kynge’s College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore.

Alongside fee-paying students, provision was made for 70 ‘King’s scholars’ to receive free lodging and tuition. The tradition continues today with the school offering bursaries to pupils from less well-off backgrounds.

The young prince’s arrival at the exclusive public school varied markedly from his father’s first day on September 6, 1995.

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Then, William, sporting a grey tweed jacket over matching smart trousers and a navy patterned tie, was photographed arriving at his boarding house in front of a large group of the world’s media and signing the register.

Prince George starts his first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in London in September 2017

Prince George starts his first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea in London in September 2017

He was accompanied by his parents Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, who had by then been separated for three years, along with his younger brother, Prince Harry.

Only a small royal photographer rota captured such an historic moment in the now heir to the throne’s life.

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Times change and, as royal aides now argue, it’s stressful enough joining a new school without doing it under the glare of hundreds of cameras.

Eton was always the front runner for William and Catherine when it came to choosing a senior school for their eldest child, but by no means a done deal.

The couple have been spotted checking out a number of boarding schools across the county, including Oundle in Northamptonshire and the princess’s own alma mater, Marlborough – although sources have indicated that the latter has always been a more likely choice for their daughter, Princess Charlotte.

What swung it was Eton’s proximity to the family’s ‘forever home’ at Windsor, Forest Lodge; the fact that the college has long experience of dealing with the complexities around high-profile students; and, of course, George’s own preference.

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He is likely to be joined by a number of friends from Lambrook, the co-educational prep school in Berkshire he has attended with his siblings in recent years.

It also helps that William has genuinely fond memories of his own time there.

In an interview to mark his 18th birthday and imminent graduation from Eton, the heir spoke of how he had enjoyed attending Eton as ‘just another student’ and even admitted he’d ‘always liked the uniform’.

He also spoke of how much he had appreciated the support of staff such as his housemaster, Dr Gailey.

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Ironically, given how synonymous Eton has become with royalty, it was something of a departure for William to even be sent there.

For centuries, generations of monarchs and their heirs were taught by tutors and had little experience of learning alongside their peers.

Princess Diana and Charles with William and Harry outside Eton on William's first day in 1995

Princess Diana and Charles with William and Harry outside Eton on William’s first day in 1995

However both William’s grandfather and uncle on the Spencer side of the family had attended the school, while his mother also preferred its proximity to Windsor and London.

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Charles was also known to have had a less than happy time at his own Scottish alma mater, Gordonstoun – although other members of the Royal Family subsequently went there and adored it – and was content with the choice.

It also enabled William to spend time with his beloved grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and he still fondly talks of being able to regularly wander over to Windsor Castle to seek tea and sage advice.

William and Catherine have also gone on to break with tradition when it comes to their own children’s education.

George first attended a little £5.50-an-hour Montessori nursery school, Westacre near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, when his parents were based there while William was working as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service.

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When the family moved back to Kensington Palace in 2017, George and Charlotte were enrolled at Thomas’s Battersea – a very popular but not overly posh private London prep school.

In 2022, all three youngsters moved to Lambrook, a delightful but low-key day and boarding school in Berkshire, where George has regularly stayed overnight in preparation for Eton.

He is said to be a hugely outdoorsy, sporty boy, who has shown a talent for triathlon and sailing – and is obsessed by flying.

His time at Eton will, hopefully, be among the happiest years of his life, allow him to develop away from the spotlight and develop a tight-knit circle of friends that will support him for many decades to come.

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The college was founded in 1440 as a charity feeder school to provide free education for 70 poor boys before they progressed to King’s College, Cambridge.

Prince Harry sets off for his first day at Eton in 1998. He attended the school until 2003

Prince Harry sets off for his first day at Eton in 1998. He attended the school until 2003

It has since become one of the most lauded public schools in the world, educating generations of British and foreign aristocracy and, in recent years, home-grown monarchy.

Former alumni include no less than 20 former British prime ministers, writers George Orwell, Aldous Huxley and Ian Fleming, as well as actors Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston and Damian Lewis.

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Recent decades have seen a concerted effort to open up benefits of an Eton education to pupils from a more diverse background, with around 20 per cent on bursaries or scholarships.

The Good Schools Guide says it is an establishment that is chosen by people ‘despite its name, not because of it’ and insists: ‘Eton’s got normal families and normal children doing great things.’

Its fees remain, however, an eye-watering £65,000-plus a year and there is an enviable 7:1 pupil to teacher ratio.

And it is also still renowned for its traditions including the classic uniform of a black tailcoat (£165) with matching trousers (£65), waistcoat (£50) and white tunic shirt (£22).

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Facilities remain first class with superlative music, drama and sports departments. As well as rugby and football, the school still boasts unique traditions such the ‘Eton wall game’.

All boarders have private rooms from their first day in one of 25 distinctive boarding houses run by the house master and dame.

Kensington Palace have broken recent tradition and chosen not to share the name of George’s house.

Teachers are known officially as masters, but colloquially as ‘beaks’.

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The Waleses – who famously admit they have refused to give their children mobile phones – will no doubt be delighted with the school’s phone policy: just a Nokia brick phone for boys such as George in Year 9 with very limited use.

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Antonelli walks on water while Hamilton rages from mountaintop

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Antonelli walks on water while Hamilton rages from mountaintop

The 20-year-old also benefited from a perfectly-timed (from his perspective at least) mid-race virtual safety car when Lance Stroll retired his Aston Martin, which allowed Antonelli a cheap stop to switch to fresh mediums while Russell stayed out on used hards. But at some point you just have to take your hat off to the youngster.

Antonelli was irresistible. He had already surged from 19th on the grid to 12th by the time the red flag came out at the end of lap 2. He was up to sixth a couple of laps after the race resumed. And by lap 18 of a 53-lap race, he had passed Russell for the lead for the first time. That is some going.

Having caught up to Russell, the two Mercedes drivers engaged in an entertaining battle for a few laps, the pair of them yo-yoing in and out of the lead before Russell got past Antonelli on lap 23 and managed to make it stick.

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But the key moment of the race came on lap 27 when Stroll stopped at the first chicane and the VSC came out. For Antonelli, the decision to switch to fresh mediums was clear. He was going to struggle to make it to the end of the race. Far better to drop a few positions and fight back on fresh rubber.

For Russell, it was far trickier. He was in the lead of the race. He was on hard tyres which he knew could get to the end of the race. And he also had the problem of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who at the time he was struggling to shake off.

Mercedes chose to keep Russell out there. In hindsight, it may have been the wrong decision. Had he stopped at that point, he would at least have stayed ahead of Antonelli, and on the same tyres. By staying out, he kept the lead but found himself relentlessly hunted down by the Italian.

By lap 49, the Italian had caught up to him. Antonelli botched his first attempt at reclaiming the lead, going wide onto the gravel at the first chicane. But he made no mistake one lap later as Russell was once again left licking his wounds.

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Paul Scholes urges Michael Carrick to drop Man Utd star against Man City | Football

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Paul Scholes urges Michael Carrick to drop Man Utd star against Man City | Football
Scholes wants to see Sesko start (Picture: The Good, The Bad and The Football)

Paul Scholes insists Benjamin Sesko must start up front for Manchester United ahead of Sunday’s derby showdown with Manchester City, unconvinced by Matheus Cunha’s role in the team.

Sesko averaged a goal every 85 minutes under Michael Carrick last season but is still to start a game this term having missed the entire pre-season campaign with a shin issue.

Cunha has led the line against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton with Sesko off the bench in the second-half in each of them.

The Slovenia international looked to have secured a big win for United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, meeting Luke Shaw’s cross with a fine header before Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ stunning equaliser at the death.

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Bryan Mbuemo and Marcus Rashford have started the season well on the right and left respectively but Carrick’s attack has been missing a true focal point with Scholes not convinced Cunha can provide that.

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Most of the Brazilian’s football in Manchester since arriving from Wolves last year has come playing on the left with the United legend unsure what his best role in the side is.

United welcome City to Old Trafford on Sunday with Scholes hoping Carrick makes the decision to start a recognised centre forward.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 6: Manchester United's Matheus Cunha passes the ball with Everton's Harrison Armstrong close by during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 6, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Cunha has started up front for United this season (Picture: CameraSport via Getty Images)

‘I felt it was really timid against Everton,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football. ‘There was no aggression and Everton were there for the taking.

‘There was so much space and they never went for the throat. The centre forward position is a bit of an issue because he is not playing Sesko.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by News Images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (17137250bi) Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United scores to make it 0-2 during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on September 6, 2026. Everton v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27, Liverpool, United Kingdom - 06 Sep 2026
Sesko came off the bench at Everton to score (Picture: Images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

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‘He is a focal point. It is very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre forward. With Cunha, we don’t really know what he is, a no10 or a wide player but he’s definitely not a no9 and watching United without a no9 is a struggle.’

City head to Old Trafford with a 100 per cent record having won their opening three games of the new season.

United meanwhile have taken four from a possible nine.

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Dr Amir Khan issues health warning over ‘constant scrolling’ on phones

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Daily Record

Constant scrolling can create more problems than you think.

Many of us are guilty for sitting on our phones or tech devices for hours on end after a long day of work. While it can be an easy way to relax, being on your phone “too much” can actually be having an affect on your health.

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Issuing a warning that some people may want to cut back on their phone usage, ITV’s resident doctor Amir Khan has taken to social media to share his advice.

While he does admit that phones have become a regular part of our daily lives, from keeping in contact with family, checking the news or streaming a new show, it can also be doing more damage than you think.

Taking to TikTok yesterday (September 7), the NHS GP has shared a few ways too much time phone use can affect your health. In the clip, he said: “Phones are amazing. We depend on them for lots of different things and for many people they are a lifeline. But constant scrolling can do more to your body than you think.

Below are five science-backed effects that may make you think twice about spending extra time on your phone after a long day.

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Five ways excessive phone use can impact your health

1. Digital eye strain

Otherwise known as computer vision syndrome, spending too much time on your devices can have an impact on your eye health.

According to Dr Amir, your blink rate can drop up to 60 per cent when you stare at screens. Drying out the surface of your eyes, this can cause headaches, blurred vision and eye fatigue.

To combat this, he recommends taking a break every 20 minutes and to go outside in nature. This will help as your eyes will be able to switch between focusing between items that are nearby and far away.

2. Tech neck and posture changes

The GP said: “Tilting your neck forward by 60 degrees to look at your phone increases the load on your neck to around 27kg. That is like carrying a seven-year-old on your neck all day.”

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Over time, this can lead to muscle strain and could potentially change the curvature of your spine. Along with taking regular breaks, you should aim to do some neck exercises.

3. Sleep disruption

The blue light from your phone screen can suppress melatonin, which signals when it is time to go to sleep. Dr Amir warns that even 30 minutes of phone use before bed can delay you falling asleep, as well reduce deep restorative sleep.

4. Mental Health

The Good Morning Britain doctor adds: “Multiple studies link high screen time with increased rates of anxiety, depression and reduced life satisfaction, especially in teenagers and young adults.”

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Due to constant notifications on our phones, the brain is kept in a state of alert which stops it from resting. It is important to keep meeting up with friends and family in person to keep the connection strong rather than staring blankly at your screen.

5. Reduced physical activity

Quite self explanatory, the more time we spend on your phones the less time we are engaging in physical activity. Constant sedentary behaviour has been linked to a variety of worrying health conditions, such as obesity, higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

These concerns can also arise even if you exercise later in the day. The doctor advises moving regularly as “sitting is the new smoking”.

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Miriam Margolyes Tells Reform Supporters To ‘F**k Off’ After Nigel Farage Criticism

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Miriam Margolyes Tells Reform Supporters To 'F**k Off' After Nigel Farage Criticism

Miriam Margolyes was nonplussed when her comments about the Reform party seemingly provoked some audience members to walk out of a recent Q&A.

Over the weekend, the Bafta winner took part in a public interview in Southend to promote her new book Miriam’s Full English, in which she reflects on modern British society.

Speaking from the stage, the always-unfiltered actor said (in footage that was later shared on TikTok): “Listen, if you think that Reform is going to make things better… fuck off out of ’ere!”

“Learn,” she then urged Reform voters. “Learn a bit about the world that you live in. Learn what it’s like to have nothing. Learn to be poor. Learn. Don’t just blame those of us who try to change things for the better, for caring for our children, for caring for your children…”

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Stopping in her tracks, the Harry Potter actor appeared to have spotted audience members leaving, commenting: “There they go. Are you off? Right… all the best.”

Around a week earlier, Miriam had taken part in an interview with The Mirror, in which she made her feelings on both Reform and its leader Nigel Farage clear.

“I want Britain to be the best of itself. Not the worst,” she claimed. And if Nigel Farage gets to have any position of power, we are going downhill fast. And I don’t want that.”

Miriam continued: “I don’t think he tells the truth, and I think he knows that he doesn’t tell the truth, and that upsets me.

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“If I had a Christian heart, I would say I feel sorry for him. But I don’t. I feel sorry for us, having to listen to the lies. And for some people who don’t have the background to be able to deal with the lies, to know how to sift the truth when it comes, and the lies when they come.”

“He’s bad for Britain. And he must be stopped at all costs,” she concluded.

Miriam’s latest Q&A session came days after a controversial appearance on This Morning, in which she faced widespread criticism for posing questions to presenter Andi Peters about his skin colour and race, including using outdated and offensive terms to describe him.

Speaking from the stage in Southend, Miriam addressed the furore for the first time, insisting that she never wanted to “embarrass or hurt Andi, because he seems very nice” and instead simply hoped to start a conversation about identity.

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However, while explaining herself, Miriam ruffled feathers once again, this time for using a derogatory term for disabled people.

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