105 knives in Towcester's amnesty bin, plus a Saints rout

Happy Wednesday, NN12 👋

A bin on the side of the old library has quietly collected 105 knives in six weeks, and that's where we start this week.

You'll also find Silverstone CE Primary's new Ofsted report card, what's going up at Towcester Grange, the closures to plan around, how the Saints and Towcestrians got on, and a diary running from today to Sunday 25 October.

The Waffle does the legwork so you don't have to trawl council pages and club sites. If someone you know in NN12 would like this on a Wednesday morning, send them to subscribe to The Towcester Waffle. Spotted something we've missed? Just reply.

Here's what matters.

The knife amnesty bin in the town centre collected 105 knives in its first six weeks, Northamptonshire Police said. Among them were a machete and two large daggers.

The bin is on the side of the Sawpits building (the old library) on Richmond Road, where it meets Meeting Lane. It's deliberately not covered by CCTV, and anyone can use it. If there's an old blade in a drawer or shed you'd rather not have around, that's where it can go.

Silverstone CE Primary has a new-style Ofsted report card, and it's a good one. The report, from an inspection on 7 and 8 July, rates the school Strong in six areas: attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing. Achievement is at the Expected standard, and safeguarding standards are met.

Inspectors found lessons "calm and purposeful", said bullying is rare, and picked out the school's popular 'Wheels' club for building pupils' confidence and skills for safe cycling. One parent told them their child "has flourished at this school". Every report is on Ofsted's page for the school.

If you're choosing a Reception place for next September, applications close at midnight on Friday 15 January.

Building work is under way on a Sainsbury's Local at the new shopping area on the corner of Redcar Road and Long Morris, opposite Marie Weller Primary. The Northampton Chronicle reports that Sainsbury's is taking a unit of about 4,300 sq ft, fried chicken chain Wingers has signed for Unit 7, and E'DO Artisan Coffee is taking a unit next to the supermarket.

Other units are still being advertised, and estate agents expect the centre to be ready in early 2027.

Saints beat Bath 71–48 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday 10 October, a week after the defeat at Bristol. They scored 11 tries in front of a sell-out crowd, with Ollie Sleightholme getting a hat-trick and the man of the match award. Bath had two players in the sin bin, and boss Johann van Graan blamed his side's discipline.

Next: Cardiff at home on Sunday 18 October, kick-off 5.30pm, the opening round of the Champions Cup pool stage. If you're driving, the Claret Car Park has about 400 fewer matchday spaces than it used to, and what's left is first come, first served at £10 on the day. Then Leicester away on Saturday 24 October, 3.05pm.

Towcestrians hammered Leicester Forest 53–5 at home on Saturday 10 October in Counties 1 Midlands East (South), bouncing back from the defeat at Newbold on Avon. That puts them fifth, with two wins from three.

Next: Nuneaton Old Edwardians at home on Saturday 17 October. Kick-off isn't confirmed yet, so check the club's fixtures page nearer the day.

Ladies 1sts won 1–0 away at Hampton-in-Arden 1 on Saturday 10 October. A tight one, and a clean sheet.

Next: home to Loughborough Students 5 on Saturday 17 October, push-back 1.30pm.

Ladies 2nds beat Warwick 2 5–1 at home on Saturday 10 October. That's four league wins from four.

Next: away at Market Harborough 1 on Saturday 17 October, push-back 11am.

Men's 1sts lost 1–6 to Nottingham Trent University 4 at home on Saturday 10 October. One to forget.

Next: away at Coventry & North Warwickshire 1 on Saturday 17 October, push-back 11.40am.

West Northamptonshire Council wants your views on its draft SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2027 to 2030, the three-year plan for support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This is the draft strategy itself, so it's the chance to say whether it matches your experience. The survey closes at midnight on Wednesday 21 October.

It sets out six priorities, including earlier help and inclusion, joined-up specialist support and preparing young people for adulthood. You'll find the survey in the consultations section of the council's website, and the council can provide other formats if you need them.

The Beat Bus is at Towcester Leisure Centre at 11am today, Wednesday 14 October, then at Tiffield Primary School at 2.30pm. It starts at Roade Community Centre at 9.30am. Drop by if there's something you'd like to raise with the local team.

If you live in Pattishall parish, the new housing needs survey launches at a drop-in on Tuesday 20 October, 2pm to 9pm, at Pattishall Parish Hall. It's run with West Northamptonshire Council, and you can fill it in online through the parish website or on paper until 16 November. It's how the parish gets a picture of what housing local people need.

Age UK Northamptonshire is looking for volunteers for its Day Centres in Northampton and Towcester, helping to welcome clients, serve refreshments and lunches, and keep people company. For an informal chat, call 01604 210625.

Craig Live at the Mill: Fri 16 Oct, 7pm to 10pm, Towcester Mill Brewery. Free, no tickets, just turn up. Pizzas from Nonna Lucia's from 5pm to 9pm.

Little ones: Rhymetime at Towcester Library on Thu 15 Oct, 10.30am, and Parentkind Stay and Play at the Family Hub on Fri 16 Oct, 10.30am to midday.

Saturday Craft Club: Sat 17 Oct, 10.30am to midday, Towcester Library, The Forum, Moat Lane. Free drop-in, different craft each week, no booking.

Motor Racing Legends: Sat 17 and Sun 18 Oct, Silverstone. Check the event page for tickets and times.

Wappenham Pumpkin Farm Twilight: Fri 23 and Sat 24 Oct, from 6pm, and again on 30 and 31 Oct. Pumpkin picking after dark on the farm. Online tickets are £9 for adults and £9 for children aged 2 to 16, and under-2s go free. The farm recommends booking ahead because tickets are limited.

Green Libraries Week at the library: Sat 24 Oct, 10.30am to 1.30pm, Towcester Library. Fish crafts from recycled materials for children at 10.30am, then Climate Action West Northamptonshire on El Niño at 12pm, with refreshments. Both free and drop-in.

Rotary presents the Cwmbach Male Choir: Sat 24 Oct, St Lawrence's Church, 7pm, doors 6.15pm. Tickets £15 from the Rotary Shop on 01327 352851, from Footworks in Towcester, or on the door.

Kinky Boots: The True Story: Sun 25 Oct, 5pm (doors 4.30pm), the Malt Room at Towcester Mill Brewery. £12, over-16s only, and 16 to 17s need an adult with them.

Forecast issued 4.58am on Tuesday 13 October, from the Met Office, Towcester.

The useful version: a mostly dry weekend for Craft Club and hockey, and a layer for the Saints' evening kick-off.

If you're weighing up schools, the old single-word Ofsted grade was easy to skim. The new report cards take a bit more reading, so here's a way in using Silverstone CE Primary's.

There's no overall grade any more. Each area gets its own rating on a five-step scale, from Exceptional down through Strong, Expected and Needs attention to Urgent improvement. Safeguarding is separate, and is simply met or not met.

That means "Strong" is second from the top, and "Expected" isn't a polite word for mediocre. It means the school does what every school should.

The useful part for parents is that you can now see where a school is strongest and where it's ordinary. Silverstone is Strong in six areas, including early years and inclusion, and Expected on achievement. If your child needs extra support, the inclusion rating may matter more to you than achievement. If they're starting in Reception, read early years first.

Each area comes with plain-English paragraphs too, and that's where details like the cycling club live. It's ten minutes well spent before an open day.

Tips and corrections welcome. Just reply to this email.

— Atlas & Lee, somewhere in NN12