Derby College, which was graded 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features by Ofsted earlier this year, has maintained last year's 98% pass rate for A levels.

Furthermore, 20 subjects recorded a 100% pass rate including English, Politics, Modern Languages, Law, ICT and Biology. Assistant Head of Academic Studies at Derby College, Stacey Adams, said: "We are obviously delighted to have achieved an extremely high pass rate again this year and particularly that 20 key subject areas recorded 100% pass rate.

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has scored success with its home-made Derbyshire Pasty after it was highly commended in the 2016 Great British Food Awards.

Banks Mill Studios are now accepting applications from non-members for their 2016 Artisan Fair which this year is in partnership with the Peak District Artisans.
 
The Banks Mill Open Studios and Artisan Fair is now regarded as a prestigious event within the creative community in Derby and showcases and celebrates work from artists, designers and makers from across Derbyshire and beyond.
 

Sausage champions at Derbyshire farm shop Croots have created a special Rio Sausage in recognition of the upcoming Summer Olympic Games and to raise money for charity.

Some 10% from the sale of the chicken and salsa sausages will be donated to Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre – the adopted charity of the farm shop, which is based in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has struck gold with its rump steak, winning an accolade in the Great Taste Awards 2016.

As we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of 18th century landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown this month’s poem has a gardening theme.  Although there are several poems which have been written about Brown I have chosen Digging by Edward Thomas.  I’m sure a lot of hard work and digging was required to create Brown’s gardens and I like to think that those gardeners employed to bring his plans to fruition would appreciate this poem.  As a keen gardener myself I love the way Thomas uses descriptions of smell, it’s perfect. – Ali

Digging

Derbyshire-based performers are being invited to apply to be part of the tenth annual Derby Festé which will return to the city centre on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September with a packed programme of spectacular family entertainment.
On Saturday the Cathedral Quarter, St Peters Quarter and Intu Derby shopping centre will be a bustling hub of street entertainment featuring more than 20 different acts including dance, aerial performance, theatre, comedy and contemporary circus.

It is often said that good things come in threes, and this is definitely true at StraightCurves, a small business based in the heart of Chesterfield delivering arts and crafts education to all ages: 2016 has seen their 3rd Birthday, a Chesterfield Retail Awards win (third time lucky!) and now they have three sewing tutors, including a Great British Sewing Bee Semi-Finalist!

Derbyshire-based performers are being invited to apply to be part of the tenth annual Derby Festé which will return to the city centre on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September with a packed programme of spectacular family entertainment.

The next application deadline for the Arts Council England's Artists International Development Fund is 5pm on the 26th October 2016. This funding stream is for artists to develop links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in other countries. Freelance and self-employed artists can apply for small grants of £1,000 to £5,000 to spend time building these links to broaden their horizons and open their work to other perspectives.