Lincolnshire Local Education Authority is one of just three in the UK that still uses the Eleven Plus to decide who can go to a grammar school.

There are a number of grammar schools across the entire county, including Bourne Grammar School, Spalding Grammar School and Spalding High School.

However, the county’s primary school children are a clever bunch in general, outperforming national averages, according to Lincolnshire County Council.

According to the council’s statistics, more Lincolnshire pupils are leaving primary school having reached the expected levels of achievement in reading, writing and maths – outstripping national performance.

Figures released on the 2013 Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Assessment results show a number of pleasing trends.

For instance, the proportion of pupils making expected progress during Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths is better than regional and national averages in all three subjects.

That breaks down as 90 per cent for reading (against a national rate of 88 per cent); 93 per cent for writing (just above the 92 per cent national figure); and 89 per cent for maths (against 88 per cent nationally).

In addition, the county council says more Lincolnshire pupils achieved “a good Level Four” – the government measure to show they are ready for secondary school – than both national and regional averages.

A total of 19 schools achieved 100 per cent of pupils attaining Level 4+ in reading, writing and maths.

BREAKING NEWS THURSDAY 3:30PM: A two-car crash on the A17 Washway Road in Saracen’s Head has left a woman with a suspected pelvic fracture.

A resident from Saracen’s Head took these pictures of emergency services at the scene where a silver Vauxhall Zafira and black Vauxhall Corsa collided at about 12.10pm.

The driver of the Corsa, an 18-year-old woman from Holbeach, was flown by air ambulance to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, for further treatment.

Meanwhile, a black BMW has crashed on the A17 Washway Road in Fosdyke Bridge.

It happened at about 12.15pm but the driver, a man from King’s Lynn, wasn’t injured.

BMW’s X5 has been diverting people out of rival 4x4s since 2009, and the third generation model is an impressive step forward in every direction.

But that’s not enough for some people, and BMW’s relentless pursuit of new niches means there’s an X5 with a very different flavour. The M50d gets to wear the coveted ‘M’ badge which in BMW-speak means very high performance, yet it’s also powered by a diesel engine. Surely that can’t be right?

Don’t doubt it for a second. It may only have 3.0-litre under the bonnet, but the six-cylinder diesel engine has three – yes three – turbochargers in a world when two is already quite a lot. The net result is mind boggling; there’s 381bhp on offer, but more impressive is the 545lb.ft of torque, which is more than the M5 supersaloon. The X5 M50d is not a small car by any means and weighs a fraction off two tonnes, yet when you’re behind the wheel it is seemingly capable of routinely ignoring physics and accelerating as if it’s fleeing the apocalypse. Accelerate and you can hustle it along at pace that shouldn’t be possible.

The X5 makes the most of its size when it comes to accommodating passengers and luggage.

Those in the front have a superb view out with the much-loved high driving position, and the seats have a multitude of adjustments and are very comfortable. It’s the same in the back, although the central seat is less comfortable than the outer two. The boot is also nice and big with a handy underfloor storage area.

The third generation X5 is a car that knows its audience very well.

It has a strong image, and the more sensible diesel versions are easy to live with too. This M50d is much more of a style statement and not for everyone or every budget, but it is fast, comfortable, fun to drive and luxurious. That’s a collection of abilities that is hard to resist.

Plans for Spalding Water Taxi are being kept afloat – with an added boost of £30,000 funding.

Cabinet members at South Holland District Council were eager to approve the sum over two years, after a bid for £21,136 of Section 106 funding from the Springfields-Thornfields Development failed to meet the required criteria.

A two-year sponsorship agreement with Hills Department Store also ended in December.

Councillors were told the Section 106 money had been requested to cover costly essential maintenance and repairs, with a marketing element.

When the bid was rejected, an offer was made by the council to explore other funding streams.

As a result it was recommended £30,000 should be allocated over two years out of the S106 transport budget.

Coun Howard Johnson said: “It’s very easy to support this. Whenever you see Spalding advertised there seems to be a picture of the water taxi.

“This is money well spent.”

Every summer since 2005, Broadgate Homes and South Holland Council have paired up to launch the Spalding water taxis for return trips from the town centre along the River Welland and Coronation Channel to Springfields.

The water taxi is expected to attract between 11,000 and 14,000 passengers between Easter and October.

As well as a valued facility for shoppers, it is also popular with nature lovers using it to catch a glimpse of otters and kingfishers along the route.

Securing the extra funding means the boats can be revamped and the service relaunched to restore some of its original novelty value and interest to the public.

However, there is now an expectation on the company that it will aim to be self-sufficient.

From Easter, members of the public can expect to catch a taxi roughly every 30 minutes from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

The taxi boats, with a capacity for 12 people at a time, are also offered for private charter, any day of the year – daytime or evening.

For more information, visit www.spaldingwatertaxi.co.uk or call 01406 380532 or 07970 832131.

Last week’s Free Press featured Gosberton Clough Post Office which is based at St Gilbert and St Hugh Church Hall, Clough Road, Gosberton Risegate.

The post office is open twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, from 2pm until 4pm when it is manned by Ken Kerr of Moulton Chapel.

As well as general postal services, customers can also buy newspapers, magazines, greetings cards and groceries.

A footbridge in Spalding is being restored and redecorated.

Albert footbridge, which spans over the River Welland, provides a link for pedestrians crossing between the east and west side of the town.

Main steel beams are being blasted clean and the bridge will be fully repainted. The pedestrian guardrail will also be replaced as part of the works.

The project is expected to take about two more weeks to complete, with the bridge remaining open

to the public. However, it will need to be closed for a short period when the guardrail is replaced.

Signs will direct people towards an alternative route via Holland Road footbridge to the south west. It is hoped that the bridge will be open during each night and weekends, providing it is safe to do so.

Craig Otter, structural engineer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We’re going to repaint the bridge to make more attractive and to prolong its lifespan. Work will be completed by early February. Fortunately, we will be able to keep the bridge open for the majority of this period.”

A parent who claimed she could tell what kind of hospital care her daughter would get within 15 steps of walking on to a ward has sparked a national challenge being piloted in south Lincolnshire.

The 15 Steps Challenge aims to identify what good quality care looks and feels like from the patient’s point of view.

Patients and members of the public have been involved in piloting the initiative at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

As part of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s (ULHT) ongoing patient experience programme, and following recommendations highlighted in the Keogh Review, non-executive director Tim Staniland is looking to evaluate and adopt it across the trust.

As ULHT is moving to become a member-based organisation, a number of public members who had expressed an interest in patient experience were recruited to take part in the challenge.

The members were split into six teams and were taken round every ward, department and clinical area within the hospital to identify improvements that could be made to enhance the patient’s experience.

Each member of the team was asked to consider one of four key areas when making their assessments – is the area welcoming; safe; caring and involving and well organised and calm. The teams were accompanied by a director and member of staff from either Lincoln or Grantham hospitals.

Speaking about the challenge Jennie Negus, deputy director of nursing said: “Patients and staff both have high expectations for safe, good quality care, delivered in welcoming and clean environments.

“The positive feedback from many of the teams was that staff were welcoming, friendly and caring and that the wards felt calm and well-organised.”

Individuals and firms interested in taking over a 100-year-old bakery in Spalding are being sought by a town property consultant.

A.E.Pacey & Son in Red Lion Street is up for sale after owner Richard Pacey’s decision to retire once a buyer is found.

For more information, call Tim Humphrey of Brown and Co on 01775 717888.

A woman denies fraud by offering goods for sale on a website, moo2ewe, without supplying the goods or offering a refund to customers who placed orders.

Boston magistrates sent Lisa Lombardi (48), of Rainwalls Lane, Sutterton, on unconditional bail to Lincoln Crown Court for a hearing on May 15.

Retirement is not the same as it used to be and for many people, it’s not about getting the gold watch and settling into their pipe and slippers for the rest of their life.

In the 21st century it is the start of a new and exciting chapter, and adequately financing the lifestyle you want to lead is crucial.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to buy your annuity from the same company you’ve saved with.

You can buy it from another company if you want to and you are highly likely to get a better offer, so it’s important to shop around before you buy.

When it comes to buying your annuity, what your pension company is unlikely to tell you is that being a smoker or having a health condition (even a really minor one) will secure you more money for your retirement.

Your existing pension company will not automatically offer you an enhanced rate so it’s always worth checking.

You don’t have to be really ill, many providers cover a very wide range of health conditions, from high cholesterol and high blood pressure through to more serious illnesses such as cancer.

These enhanced annuities work in the same way as conventional annuities but are designed to offer a better rate for people who suffer from certain medical conditions or have a poor health history.

The increase in income can be up to 20 per cent higher than you’d get from a conventional annuity so it is definitely worth investigating this type of annuity to see if you qualify for enhanced rates.

If you would like more information on this subject, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Charges of poaching against three men were dropped after a landowner said he did not wish the cases to continue.

Prosecutor Victoria Brankovic told magistrates the landowner, Patrick Duffy, made a retraction statement in which he said he wasn’t threatened or intimidated in any way “and he wants the defendants to be given a second chance”.

Jack Richardson (23), of Middle Marsh Road, Holbeach St Marks, Daniel Devall (47), of Fairfield, Herstmonceux, East Sussex, and Henry Devall (23), of Bidford Road, Bromley, denied poaching at Leadenhall Road, Holbeach St Marks on February 16 last year. Their cases were dismissed at Boston magistrates’ Court.

A man convicted in December of stealing £700 cash from Hallgate Timber is awaiting sentence.

Ugis Gustavsons (40), of Pipe Office Lane, Boston, had denied stealing the cash at Lime Walk, Long Sutton, on March 14 last year. Boston magistrates on Thursday adjourned sentence to January 30 because there was no interpreter and no pre-sentence report.

Bicker brothers Kevin and Nicky Hardstaff will be sentenced on February 7 for an assault in Boston in September.

Kevin (23) and Nicky (24), of Lowgate Avenue, pleaded guilty when their cases went to court in October, but sentence was further adjourned on Thursday.

Glen Maddison has something of a selection headache ahead of Saturday’s UCL Premier Division trip to Kempston Rovers (3pm).

The Tigers chief is without unavailable first-choice wingers Andy Law and Tom Sergeant against one of their rivals for a top six finish.

That leaves Ian Dunn, Luke Hollingworth, Pedro Sevilha and Frazer Bayliss vying for a place in the starting line-up at Hillgrounds Leisure.

Whoever he goes with, Holbeach boss Maddison is expecting a tough game.

He said: “It’s a bit of a blow to lose those two. Andy Law in particular has been doing really well of late.

“It has taken him a bit of time to get used to the pace of the UCL, but now he’s settled and playing very well.

“I’ve got a few options and we could look at going 4-3-3 over there. Whatever we do, it’ll be tough – they’ve really picked up as of late.

“But it’s another one of these mid-table games that we can look to take three points from. The results went nicely for us last weekend, so we didn’t lose much ground after our draw with PNS.

“I don’t think they’ve played for a while, so they could be a bit rusty. We know how difficult that is.”

Maddison remains in the market for new signings, but doesn’t currently have any seven-day approaches in.

He will run the rule over young defender Niall Delahoy though, after the youngster was released by Boston United Reserves.

Delahoy was expected to train with the Tigers last night.

Elsewhere in the UCL Premier Division on Saturday, Deeping Rangers will be expecting to rack up the goals when they visit basement boys Harborough Town (3pm).

Buoyant Spalding RFC captain Harry Sharman has called on his side to show a ruthless streak at Kesteven on Saturday (2.15pm).

Title-chasing Town visit the Midlands Two East (North) strugglers fresh off the back of a last-gasp victory over Dronfield last weekend.

That ended a two-game losing streak for Spalding – but Sharman told the Guardian that his side are making life difficult for themselves.

“We need to be more clinical,” insisted the long-serving skipper. “I think we had about 80 per cent of the possession last week, but just couldn’t get over the line.

“We seem to panic a bit when we get in the red zone and it has cost us a few times.

“But the lads still deserve great credit to have come back to win against Dronfield, we deserved it.

“Kesteven will be tough this weekend, they are improving and gave us a tough game at our place.

“The key is to score early – if we can do that, we could be on for another bonus point win.”

Town will give a late test to the influential Ed Duerden, while Richie Craig and Ian Knight both return to the squad.

It was penalty shoot-out heartache for Spalding on Tuesday night as Stamford ended their interest in the Lincs FA Senior Trophy.

Spot-kicks were needed to decide the county quarter-final after Dan Cotton’s 59th-minute strike cancelled out Liam Richardson’s opener just before the break.

With the scores level at 4-4 in the shoot-out, Adam Jackson saw his low effort saved by Will Jones – allowing Richardson to fire step three Stamford into the last four.

It was a bittersweet night for Tulips chief Pat Rayment, who saw his side more than match a team that plays two levels higher than them in the non-league ladder.

“We should have won,” lamented the Spalding supremo. “We certainly had the better of the chances.

“We held our own, which is what I expected my team to do. But it was a close game, the kind we’re not used to in the UCL Premier Division.

“Once it went to penalties I switched off. It’s a lottery and there’s nothing you can do. All I ask is that my lads hit the target – and that’s what they did.

“I’m disappointed to go out, but it’s a much tougher competition this year. We’d have won it if it had been the same format as the past few years.”

Billed as an acid test of their credentials, Spalding had the better of the Vic Couzens Stadium clash early on.

Ross Watson sent a looping header over from a deep Jackson cross, while skipper Jamie Stevens nodded a wonderful chance wide from six yards with the goal gaping.

Lee Beeson also tested Daniels number one Jones with a stinging drive – but it was the hosts who drew first blood.

Neat interchange between Ryan Robbins and Richardson allowed the latter to drill home a fierce low drive from the edge of the box on 37 minutes.

That was a little harsh on the Tulips, but they responded on the hour when Beeson squared for Cotton to finish well on the turn from ten yards.

The excellent Chris Hall then had a 25-yarder tipped over, before Stevens headed another glorious chance wide from the resulting corner.

That took the tie to penalties and Michael Duggan saved Stamford’s first effort, but Lewis Webb saw the second of Spalding’s six on the night stopped.

Jamie Thurlbourne, Beeson, Cotton and Nathan Stainfield were the successful takers, before Jackson’s miss allowed Stamford to progress.

The Tulips are hoping to bounce back at home to Cogenhoe United in the UCL Premier Division on Saturday (3pm). Spalding won the reverse 5-2 last weekend.

Tulips: Duggan, Watson, Jackson, Stevens, Stainfield, Webb, Beeson, Hall, Mullarkey (Steadman 90), Cotton, Thurlbourne.

A man was taken to hospital after the Ford Focus he was driving went off the A15 near Morton and into a ditch.

It happened on Wednesday just before 11.45am and the man was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Bourne and District Neighbourhood Watch Association is holding its next meeting at the town’s fire station in South Street on Tuesday February 4 at 7.30pm.

The guest speaker will be Barry Meech of B M Locksmiths, Bourne, who will be talking about home security and the SmartWater property marking system.

Anyone interested in community safety is invited to the meeting where questions and concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour can be put to the police.

Meanwhile, the association is looking for a new secretary and for more information, call Philip Knowles on 01778 425438 or email philipknowles@sky.com

A homeless man arrested for using “aggressive” tactics when begging has been banned from doing so anywhere in England and Wales.

James Philip Waxman (33), of no fixed address, was given an Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO) by Boston magistrates on Wednesday when he was sentenced for causing a public nuisance by begging.

It means Waxman is not allowed to beg in any public place in England and Wales indefinitely.

Reports of traders and women being stopped in The Crescent by someone begging for money were acted on by police and Waxman was arrested last December.

At the time of the reports, a spokesman for The Crescent Traders Association said: “These incidents are happening in the daytime but they are still unnerving and frightening to experience if you are on your own.”

Spalding community policing inspector Jim Tyner said: “Some people may consider begging to be harmless but we were receiving numerous calls about the aggressive and anti-social nature of Waxman’s begging.

“Poverty is not a crime and along with local charities, we have tried to support Waxman but he would not accept our help and the ASBO gives the courts increased sentencing powers.”

BREAKING NEWS FRIDAY 4PM: Drivers are facing delays in Deeping St Nicholas after a lorry went off the road earlier today.

It happened on the A1175 Littleworth Drove, near the junction with New Road, at about 10.15am.

The road was closed for a number of hours while the lorry was recovered but no one was injured in the crash.