Schools/colleges

Regent College, a private college in South Harrow, could be teaching students at Boundary House in Edgware's Turner Road if approval is granted.

The business based at Sai House in Imperial Drive has applied to Harrow Council to change the use of the ground floor from an office to a non-residential education and training centre (D1 use).

It would convert the existing offices to create five small classrooms, a common room, new toilets and a larger kitchen to accommodate a maximum of 20 students and five staff, and would add a ramp to the entrance of the building.

A college-owned company that ran computer training programmes has collapsed after "quality and performance concerns" with its Government contract.

The North West London Colleges Consortium (NWLCC) had provided award-winning Learndirect courses since 1999 from Crescent House at The College of North West London (CNWL) and later Dexion House, Empire Way, Wembley, but was put in administration late last year.

Founding colleges Harrow, Stanmore, St Dominic's Sixth Form and The College of North West London took their share of the firm's modest profits, and so the only financial blow to them is believed to be the absence of future income.

In a statement, NWLCC's board of directors said: "It is very regrettable that, after years of successful trading and despite the high quality of the company's training provision, NWLCC encountered recent difficulty in covering the operating costs associated with the delivery of its publicly funded programmes.

"Other similar companies have faced the same challenges. NWLCC staff worked hard to make sure that, wherever possible, students completed their qualifications before the closure of the company."

Stanmore College principal Jacqui Mace, who was chairwoman of the board, said the firm's downfall was in part due to a delay at government body University for Industry (UfI) over whether to renew the company's Learndirect contract.

She declined to go into more detail, saying only: "They held back on the number of centres there were, and changed the system from having a hub which managed a contract for a wide area.

"That caused quite a few problems. There was uncertainty about the future and the biggest issue was cash flow. NWLCC wasn't badly run - it was well run."

But a spokeswoman for the UfI said: "UfI terminated NWLCC's contract to deliver Learndirect in July 2008. NWLCC's contract was up for renewal in July 2008, therefore there was no delay in the timing of the decision.

"The decision was taken by UfI not to renew NWLCC's contract because of concerns about performance and the quality of the learning being delivered by the organisation. All providers are made fully aware of the performance and quality standards required before signing contracts."

Stanmore College has honoured its high achieving students at annual awards ceremony.

The college in Elm Park hosted its annual awards ceremony on Tuesday (December 16).

Principal Jacqui Mace said, "I was just delighted for our students. The successes we have celebrated this evening are theirs.

"Educational achievement takes a lot of hard work and determination often in very difficult circumstances."

Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert and The Mayor of Harrow Councillor John Nickolay attended the event alongside 150 guests.

Awards were handed out to students including Olamide Bada, who gained three straight As in her A-levels and dreams of becoming a barrister.

The evening also featured entertainment from the college's performing arts students.

By Elaine Okyere

A nursery is celebrating its 40th birthday with a summer fair.
A special event with stalls, games and an entertainer is taking place from 12-2.30pm at the Honeypot Lane Pre-School, in The Scouts Hut, Marsh Lane, today (15).

A Stanmore school has been transported back to the 1940s this week to celebrate the re-opening of their bomb shelter on Saturday (28).
Stanburn First School, in Abercorn Road, has hosted a seven-day extravaganza of war time activities to give pupils the chance to experience Second World War Britain to mark the school's 70th anniversary.
There have been workshops from the Royal Air Force Museum, in Grahame Park Way, Hendon, and the Imperial War Museum, in London, and students presented their views of the 1940s to their parents throughout the week. Children at the school also learnt to jive and had a 1940s-style lesson complete with an air raid siren and evacuation.
The school has refurbished the bomb shelter, which has been transformed into a museum for members of the local community.
The week ends with a summer fete with a 1940s theme on June 28. Visitors will be treated to an old fashioned Carousel, Helter Skelter and Coconut Shy from the past and present activities including a simulator ride and trampolines, as well as the Kew Wind Orchestra playing wartime tunes.Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East, will also officially open the blast shelter and old pupils Michael Portillo and Clive Anderson will be there on the day.
Linda Gooblar, assistant head, said: "In the future the museum will be open for schools and people in the local community.
"The fair on Saturday will have half in the 1950s and with GI's and the Kew Wind orchestra and the other side in 2008. We are hoping everyone will get into the spirit."

By Elaine Okyere

Students from Stanmore have swept the board at national dance competition.
Dancers from Stanmore College, in Elm Park, won two cups and four other accolades at the Weymouth Dance Festival between May 3-5.
Students from all over the country and more than 2,000 spectators attended the town's fourth annual dance festival.
Michaela Shaw, programme coordinator of performing arts at the college, said: "I am extremely pleased to say that the girls did Stanmore College proud, once again.
"Not only did they receive 1st and 2nd places for all participating dances, but it was yet again commented on how original the styles of dances performed were. All the girls had a fantastic time, and we will definitely be back next year."
Winners from the college included Seya Charles who received first place for her contemporary solo and the Contemporary Festival Cup for the highest grade in the contemporary solo categories.
Student Hannah Meyer was also awarded 2nd place for her Song and Dance Solo, while the LASAS street dancing girls won The Prince Regent Hotel Group Award Cup for the most entertaining group dance in the whole festival.

By Beverley Jacobson

An inspirational young girl and her sister have this week completed a marathon charity swim, raising thousands of pounds for less fortunate youngsters.
The girls, Dani and Talya Jacobson, have raised more than £23,000 for six charities by each swimming 1,408 lengths of a 25m pool which equates to 22 miles - the equivalent of the English Channel.
Dani Jacobson, 12, a North London Collegiate School pupil came up with the idea as a way of marking her Batmitzvah - the Jewish coming of age - which she is celebrating on July 5th.
She wanted to express her gratitude for all she has and give to others less fortunate than herself. In particular, she wanted to raise money for the charities and groups which have helped and supported her own sister Talya, 13, who suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, a severe visual impairment and learning difficulties as a result of meningitis contracted at birth.
Always compassionate, insightful and supportive, Dani encouraged her sister Talya to take part in the challenge which she named "Sister Strength". Besides showing enormous commitment in completing the challenge on her own, Dani has helped and encouraged her sister to do the same.
She said: "Talya has very little social life and she enjoys physical activity so it has been a wonderful way for us to spend time together and for her to focus her energy.
"I sometimes swim with Talya but sometimes on my own. Talya swims doggy paddle and can only manage 20 lengths at a time but she never gives up and is an inspiration to me."
Dani wrote to dozens of friends and family members to ask for sponsorship.
The money raised will be divided between Norwood, a Jewish children's charity; Lonsdale School in Stevenage, where Talya is a pupil; Borehamwood-based Noah's Ark playscheme for children with special needs; Emunah, a charity funding youth projects in Israel; Kisharon, which helps Jewish people with learning difficulties; and Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue.

By Ian Proctor

More than 250 people attended a ground-breaking ceremony in Stanmore to mark the construction of Britain's first state-funded Hindu primary school.

The bhumi puja (earth worship) event took place at 10am on Saturday (07) in William Ellis Playing Fields, in Camrose Avenue, where the Krishna-Avanti Primary School will be constructed over the next 12 months, in time for September 2009.

The 90-minute ceremony had three parts - speeches by the five special guests, followed by one hour of prayers around a bonfire and then the actual turning of the first sod by dignitaries.

Vinay Tanna, communications officer for the school's faith partner, the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple in Watford, said: "Before any type of construction takes place, we need permission from Mother Earth."

He said a priest led an hour of prayers which involved the audience reciting of 108 mantras, or verses, and throwing incense and clarified butter into the fire after each one.

Headteacher Naina Parmar was joined by Nitesh Gor, the director of sponsors I-Foundation and chairman of the governing body; Councillor David Ashton (Conservative), leader of Harrow Council; the headteacher of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School in Elstree, Peter Hamilton, who will also be a school governor at Krishna-Avanti Primary School; and the keynote speaker, Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert.

Constructors Mansell will begin to build on Monday, Mr Tanna said. The school's inaugural class of 30 Reception children will be given space within Little Stanmore Nursery, First and Middle School in St David's Drive, Stanmore, for the first year.

By Elaine Okyere

An Edgware school is opening its historic gardens for a one-off event this weekend.
The North London Collegiate school, in Canons Drive, is opening its grounds as part of the Open Garden Squares Weekend on Saturday (07).
The event will have talks, displays, historic food tasting, plus the Canons Trail, which will be an adventure trail for children to take part in.
The private gardens are the former the site of the palace and grounds of the Duke of Chandos in the 17th and 18th century. Handel was also composer in residence from 1717 to 1720 and it was here that he composed the Chandos anthems.
The school has been in the building since 1929 after it moved from its home in Camden. The rest of the surrounding land was acquired by Harrow Council and now makes up Canons Park.
Entrance into the event is £3 and children under five go free.
The event, organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust, will be part of a weekend where people can visit gardens in London that are not usually open to the public. For more information see www.opensquares.org.

Park High School in Stanmore has applied for plans to build a new a sixth form block.