Last month Year 8 pupil Jolyon, whose surname has not been disclosed, took to the national stage at the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association London and South England competition.

Competing with his band, Laidlaw Memorial, their quartet came third overall against strong competition.

READ MORE: Private school groundsman wins praise for pitches

Following the competition, the school stated: “Jolyon also shone as a solo performer, winning the under 14 category with his 2/4 March, Hills of Perth.

“An incredible result at his first national competition. We are so proud of you, Jolyon.”

Cokethorpe School pupil Jolylon (Image: Cokethorpe School)

Cokethorpe School will host its next open morning on Saturday, May 9, offering prospective families the opportunity to experience life at the co-educational Oxfordshire day school.

Visitors will have the chance to meet the head, Dr Sarah Squire, and hear a short address outlining the school’s ethos, recent developments and future direction.

Tours of the school will be led by pupils, with the option for families to explore the site independently.

The event provides an opportunity to see the breadth of academic and co-curricular provision, as well as the school’s facilities.

Last month it emerged that Oxford United Milk Cup legend Les Phillips is part of the team looking after the pitches at the school.

The school was awarded the Grounds Team of the Year 2026 by the Independent Schools Football Association, an accolade which recognises the work required to maintain the 150-acre site including nine grass rugby and football pitches, three cricket squares, six golf greens, two artificial sports pitches, and tennis courts.

Working alongside head groundsman Simon Hole, Mr Phillips makes up the two-person groundskeeping team at Cokethorpe, with a replacement deputy head groundsperson being sought.

Almost 40 community teams across Oxfordshire also use the pitches.

Yet despite their widespread use, many motorists still don’t fully understand how they work, and what actually triggers a fine.

From the long-standing “10% plus 2mph” rule to confusion over average speed checks, myths about enforcement thresholds continue to circulate.

But with penalties ranging from £100 fines and points on your licence to court action in more serious cases, getting it wrong can be costly.

null (Image: KevinHolt/Getty)

What Speed Actually Triggers a Camera?

Contrary to common belief, there’s no universal “10% + 2mph” rule baked into law.

Experts from BigWantsYourCar.com explained: ““The idea that you’re safe doing 35mph in a 30 zone is one of the biggest myths we hear.

“Technically, you’re liable for a fine the moment you go even 1mph over the limit.”

While the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) does recommend a “10% plus 2” margin to allow for officer discretion, this is not a legal threshold and can vary depending on the enforcement area or the officer reviewing the case.

RAC advice adds: “The law states that you are liable for a speeding fine as soon as you exceed the limit, so if you’re doing 31mph in a 30 limit or 71mph on a motorway, you’re breaking the law and could receive a fine.

“It is well worth remembering this is totally dependent on the officer who catches the speeder, and it is up to that officer whether to fine the offender or not.

“The best advice is to not speed full stop.”

How do speed cameras work?

Speed cameras work using radar or road markings to monitor a vehicle’s speed and capture evidence of any offence.

While older cameras used film, most modern devices are fully digital and can even track your average speed over many miles.

These digital systems record:

• Vehicle speed
• Time and location of the offence
• Vehicle registration
• Road speed limit

In some cases, they even capture a clear image of the driver and passenger.

Common speed camera myths

Here are some other common speed camera myths :

Is it true that speed vans have to be visible at all times?

No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don’t often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right.

Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer, Gareth Thomas said: “Legally, we don’t have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to – but it’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away.”

Is it illegal to flash your headlights to alert motorists of a GoSafe speed van?

If drivers choose to flash to warn others about a speed van, they could be in breach of the law. Under section 89 of the Police Act 1997 it is an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty”.

However, Gareth says while it is an offence, it is very difficult to prove. He said: “It doesn’t bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van – I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent.”

What happens if I am caught speeding?

It all comes down to the circumstances within which you were caught speeding, and how much you were more than the limit. The minimum penalty for being caught speeding on the UK’s roads is a £100 fine.

But Gareth explained in some circumstances, police can offer the option of attending a speed awareness course – an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Gareth, said: “An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer.

“Courses are available to drivers who respond quickly to the ‘notices’ and who were driving at no more than 10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit.”

So for example, anyone travelling over 86mph on a motorway would not be offered the awareness course. Those who don’t have a clean licence at the time of the office, or if you have been on the course in the last three years, it is unlikely you will be offered the awareness course as an option.

Thames Valley Police’s Rural Crime Taskforce said the owner of a dog which attacked lambs in Banbury in April has been issued a community resolution.

It requires the owner to pay for the cost of the lambs killed and injured, which is around £1,000, according to the force.

READ MORE: Oxford rapist who fled to Iraq is jailed for 13 years

A spokesperson for the force said: “We’re into the time of year when there are lots of lambs and livestock around.

“Please keep dogs on leads around livestock or run the risk of an expensive bill.”

A new law came into effect in March to aim to protect farm animals from dog attacks, increasing the maximum penalty for livestock worrying from £1,000 to an unlimited fine.

Police also now have the power to seize and detain a dog where they have reasonable grounds to believe it has attacked livestock, and there’s a risk it could do so again.