Students from Harrow College have taken part in a ceremony celebrating their graduation from InspirEngage's 'Social Enterprise Revolution'.

The students were recognised for their involvement in the social enterprise scheme, founded by former The Apprentice contestant Melody Hossaini, at the refectory at Harrow on the Hill campus on Wednesday 11 June.

Shortly before the students received their certificates they showcased their social enterprise projects to staff and students.

Harrow College joined InspirEngage’s Social Enterprise Revolution as a means of embedding social enterprise into the curriculum and to help create innovative pathways into work for students.

Hair and Beauty, Business and Construction students completed eight InspirEngage ‘bootcamps’ covering essential modules to equip them with the skills and support they needed to launch their own social enterprise projects.

Sharam Moafaq, Level 1 multiskills construction student said "The 'bootcamps' were very good, I enjoyed working in a group and they helped improve both my communication and team building skills."

The InspirEngage team have supported students in their understanding of social enterprise and helping them appreciate the importance in connecting to the community to create positive change.

During their course the students had the opportunity to learn from InspirEngage mentors and successful entrepreneurs, such as Hannah Catmur and Seun Oshinaike.

Hossaini said that she had seen a radical change in the skills and enthusiasm of the students over the course’s duration.

“Amidst a time when there is so much pressure on educational institutions to think innovatively about pathways into work for students, I would like to congratulate Harrow College for adopting social enterprise within their curriculum. This is a very bold step which we feel sets a very positive example for others,” Hossaini said. “Over the course of the year, we have seen positive development in the students, and feel Social Enterprise Revolution finally offers the opportunity for formal education and creative social enterprise to collide.”

Photos from the graduation ceremony can be found here.

BTEC level 3 IT students enjoyed a 'robotics in the making activity' run by BP International.

Twenty three students were challenged to programme Lego robots at the Harrow Hill campus on Thursday 6th June.

The students formed six teams and each team had the use of a ready-made Lego robot and laptop with special software. The students were tasked to programme the robots to make basic moves, for example travelling in a square and returning to the starting point and also more complex moves. They also accomplished adding music to the robots actions.

Yarl Visuvaratnam, computing and IT lecturer, Harrow College said "the students have shown good technical abilities and have put their programming skills to good use. They have learnt to make the best of their skills and have really enjoyed the activity".

A competition was held at the end of their activity with each group showing off their robots programmed manoeuvres.

Photos of the activity can be viewed here. 

Harrow College students have taken part in the final of Barclays Money Skills ‘Built for Business’ enterprise competition.

Four students from the Hair and Beauty department took part in the competition held at Barclays’ head offices in Canary Wharf on Friday 13 June.

The competition was aimed at developing students’ money management, employability and enterprise skills.

Level 2 Beauty students Genesis Williams, Janell English, Shantelle Layman-Boscio and Danielle Perry developed the idea of a ‘Pop-Up Salon’, a mobile salon offering low cost beauty services for people who cannot easily access such treatments, including those in hospitals and retirement homes.

All profits raised from the venture were later used to offer the services of the 'Pop-Up Salon' to patients and visitors at Great Ormond Street Hospital, including face painting for children and hand treatments for parents.

During the competition the students were given five minutes to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges, including Chris Hearn, head of education at Barclays, and Sylvia Perrins, CEO of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services.

Williams was glad to have taken part in the business challenge and said: “It was awesome and we enjoyed every minute of it.”

English added: “We all learnt so much throughout this whole journey and this was the icing on the cake.”

Coron Zammito, Hair and Beauty curriculum manager at Harrow College, who guided the students through their enterprise challenge said that she was impressed by the business aptitude her students had displayed.

“The team were fantastic and very professional. They were brilliant representatives of the Hair and Beauty department. I was extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

There were seven teams taking part in the final, and although Harrow College did not secure first place their entry was commended by the judging panel.

“It’s encouraging to have received so many high quality competition entries and clear that students have benefited from the enterprise focused resources provided to colleges through this year’s Barclays Money Skills ‘weeks’ programme,” said Perrins.

Sonny Peart, Business and Professional Studies curriculum manager at Harrow College, has completed the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of the charity Myeloma UK.

Peart ran the 26.2 mile course in the Scottish capital in an incredible three hours 51 minutes and 38 seconds.

So far, Peart has raised £1,685.94 for Myeloma UK. The charity has particular significance for Peart as his mother was diagnosed last year with AL amyloidosis, a rare, incurable bone marrow condition in which abnormal proteins which the body cannot break down accumulate in various organs, gradually damaging their function.

Peart said that although the race was gruelling at times the whole experience was worth it.

“From the taxi driver who tried to get me close to the marathon start before nipping off to watch his girlfriend in the half marathon, to the EMF2014-finisher-T-shirt-clad folk dotting the city the day after the race, everyone conspired to make me and other runners feel welcome. I was even able to laugh inwardly when running past a house from which blared 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. No doubt they do that every year.

“I enjoyed my race, my time in Edinburgh and my months of training, supported by friends and family. [They] helped me improve my running beyond measure, and helped me raise more than £1500 for Myeloma UK.”

If you would like to sponsor Peart and donate money to Myeloma UK you can do so here: www.justgiving.com/sonny-peart.

Myeloma is a cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies that help fight infection. In myeloma, these plasma cells become abnormal, multiply uncontrollably and release only one type of antibody which has no useful function.

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on providing valuable information and support to people affected by myeloma. It has a strategic partnership with the National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) at the Royal Free Hospital in London, the only centre in the UK specialising in amyloidosis. 

Harrow College students have celebrated the end of the academic year at the ESOL Sports Day.

The annual sporting event, curated by ESOL students and staff, was held at the college’s Harrow Weald campus on Wednesday 18 June.

During the day students who are currently studying on ESOL courses took part in their own mini-World Cup football tournament, track and field events and a game of tug-o-war.

Spectators and competitors were also treated to food stalls with cuisines from around the world, as well as people offering henna hand art and caricature portraits.

After all races and events had concluded the winning students were presented with their medals and trophies from Harrow College Principal Tony Medhurst.

“ESOL Sports Day is one of the highlights of Harrow College’s summer calendar. Watching students participate in track races, football tournaments and tug-o-war has been great fun, not only for those participating but those watching from the sidelines as well,” said Medhurst.

•Learn more about our ESOL courses, which are specifically designed for students with English as a second language. 

Harrow College is pleased to announce that its proposal for a new build project at its Harrow Weald campus has been approved by Harrow Council’s planning committee.

The new teaching block will offer enhanced facilities for the college’s learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD students).

The new building will include a centralised flexible learning zone and courtyard, sensory room, additional classrooms and increased facilities specifically for LLDD students.

The development will be towards the back of Harrow College’s Weald campus and involves the redevelopment and part demolition of the existing Gaskell building which has been identified as an unsuitable facility for LLDD students.

Students from Harrow College have made the annual visit to the heart of Britian's wartime code-breaking effort.

AS Maths and BTEC IT students attended the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday 19 June.

The students were given a tour of the site, its museum, as well as shown the Enigma machine, which was used during the Second World War to encipher and decipher secret messages and helped shorten the war by two years.

As part of the tour the students took part in a talk which gave an insight into the mathematical aspects of the Enigma machine, as well as take part in a giant chess game to illustrate the need to think logically and recognise patterns as a means to decode messages.

Student Amadeusz Sobczynski said that the visit had given him a greater understanding of the war effort.

"What was most interesting for me was discovering the way a host of nations, including in particular Poland, went about revealing the secrets of the Enigma machine to help shorten the war. We saw reconstructions of, arguably, the two most important machines in decoding secret messages, the Bombe and the Colossus, and I was astonished by their complexity. They are physical proof of how much hard work the decoders from Bletchley Park had to do."

Bletchley Park, which had in recent years been left to fall into decay, was re-opened this month following a restoration project funded by the National Lottery, Google and internet security firm McAfee.

Students from Harrow College have taken part in the Discovery Channel’s annual volunteer activity day.

The channel, which specialises in programming that satisfies viewers’ curiosity and aims to make a difference in people’s lives, invited Harrow College learners to their offices for its annual ‘Impact Day’ on Friday 20 June.

During the ‘Impact Day’ Discovery employees volunteer for activities that benefit local communities and the environment.

This year Discovery asked Harrow College learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD students) to come to their offices to make clocks with them.

During the day, 30 Discovery volunteers designed and painted two styles of clock with the help of Harrow College students, who mixed paint and advised on colours and design.

The students will sell the clocks through their shop, The Paint Pots shop, at the college’s Harrow Weald campus, which was opened last month by the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Nana Asante.

The shop is run and stocked by the LLDD students with the aim of assisting them with their learning in regards to customer service, stock taking, building business initiatives and working with the Harrow community to sell locally produced products.

Tony Medhurst, principal and chief executive at Harrow College said he was delighted that Harrow College took part in the Discovery Channel’s Impact Day.

"We are proud of the social enterprise skills our students display and it was a pleasure to share those skills by making clocks with volunteers from Discovery.”

Harrow College students have taken part in a competition to produce a promotional video for Grim’s Dyke Hotel.

The BTEC Level 3 media students showed their offerings before a judging panel at Grim’s Dyke on Tuesday 24 June.

The students were asked to conceive and produce a three-minute promotional video showcasing Grim’s Dyke Hotel’s unique selling points, its facilities and its historical past and location.

The winning entry came from students Shanaz Khan, Upasna Dewan, Iqra Aden and Fatima Ahmed.

Special mention also goes to first runners-up Zainab Sanusi, Tracy Wahome and Marvin Stewart, and second runners-up Jade John, Ahmed Mohamed and Hamduni Said.

The winning video will be featured on Grim’s Dyke Hotel’s website as well as being used at trade shows, conferences and chamber of commerce networking meetings.

Each member of the winning team will be given a three-course meal for two at the hotel’s restaurant, as well as afternoon cream tea for two. Runners-up will each receive an afternoon cream tea for two.

Raymond Poole, media, humanities and media lecturer at Harrow College said: "This has been quite a learner journey for the students, working to a very specific client brief to deadline in a competitive process - just like in the media industry.  The judges were genuinely impressed with each team's efforts."

Harrow College students have been celebrating their academic achievements with their friends and teachers at this year’s annual Student Awards Ceremony.

Over 120 students attended Harrow College Student Awards Ceremony, at Kenton Hall, Kenton, on Wednesday 25 June.

During the event students from the across the college were celebrated for their achievements in the arts, sciences, humanities and construction. There were also students who were awarded for their courage, bravery and commitment to Harrow College.

Tony Medhurst, principal and chief executive at Harrow College said that the event was a fantastic opportunity to appreciate students' talents.

“Harrow College’s annual Student Awards Ceremony aims to acknowledge the achievements of students that have excelled throughout the past academic year,” said Medhurst. “I am always proud of the wealth of talent, commitment and courage among our student body that we recognise at the Student Awards and I would like to wish them and all our students the best of luck for their respective futures.”

Keynote speakers included Martin Francis, communications officer and spokesperson on children and families at Brent Green Party, and Kerys Nathan, creative director, photographer, designer, writer, performance coach and motivational speaker.

Audience members were treated to a short video by film students and entertainment from student Sinclaire de Souza, who played the guitar and sang a rendition of Nickelback’s Lullaby.

Student Helen Scout also performed covers of Doris Day’s version of Dream A Little Dream Of Me and Linda Ronstadt’s Different Drum.

A host of students were also recognised for completing their programme with the Raw Talent Academy, founded by former The Apprentice winner Lee McQueen.

The Raw Talent Academy aims to provide employability skills and work opportunities to young people. The 12-stage training course includes topics such as in goal-setting, motivation and the power of knowledge.

This year 16 students from Harrow College collected certificates after completing the course with three students being offered paid internships at the Raw Talent Academy offices this summer.

The full list of the night's winners and their awards are as follows:

Department of Science, Maths, Technology and Creativity

Science

Sarah Shwea (Outstanding Achievement)

Abdussamad Rashid (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Maths

Sara Haider (Outstanding Achievement)

Uzayr Malik (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Raju Konduru (JD Booster Prize for the Most Promising Talent in Maths)

ICT

Corneliu Coroama (Outstanding Achievement)

Sahil Vastani (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Pritam Gohil (Maureen McEvoy Award)

Art and Design

Petrina Moore (Outstanding Achievement)

Abhishek Bhasin (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Hair and Beauty

Zohra Soujataly (Outstanding Achievement)

Khushali Meghani (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Department of Foundation Learning and Skills

Building Lives

James Barrett (Outstanding Achievement)

Graham Anderson (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Entry and LLDD

Christina Fitzmaurice (Outstanding Achievement)

April Leah Doughty (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Nishil Khimasiya (Mel Pimm Awards)

Skills Centre

Sediqullah Mohammed Naiem (Outstanding Achievement)

Bradley Austen (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Whitefriars Training Centre

Janak Mepani (Outstanding Achievement)

Vijay Patel (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

ESOL

Roxana-Tatiana Ciocoi (Outstanding Achievement)

Gabriel-Ovidiu Cirdei (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Department of Development, Enterprise and Innovation HE and International

Marie Darnell (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Department of Business, English, Media and Health Studies

Business and Professional

Rubatharshini Robinson Depaul (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

William Shears (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Michael Fadare (Outstanding Achievement)

Anca Purcaru (Eastwood & Greene Business Student of the Year)

English

Dominic Marchmont (Outstanding Achievement)

Jermaine Wilson (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Media and Humanities

Brendan Chivasa and Ryan Kemp (Outstanding Achievement)

Divyan Mehta (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

A2 Media group (Film of the Year)

Health and Wellbeing

Til Shrestha (Outstanding Achievement)

Nicolette Loftus (Recognition of Effort and Progress)

Raw Talent Academy winners

Nasiem Abdulkadir

Iqra Aden

Mustafa Ahmed

Melika Amiri

Uzoamaka (Nina) Anyaegbunam

Katherine Carlin

Devanir Cordeiro Soares Junior

Benjamin Donnan

Andrei Catalin Furnica

Benedicta Jalloh

Farah Khan

Sameer Khan

Shamila Mahirban

Mina Mangal

Sujit Rai

Jermaine Wilson

Ilyas Ahmed

Cross College Awards

High School Link Learner of the Year (14-16 years)

Malika Khan

Lesley Pinchen (Learning Centre Award)

Chirag Shah

Tutor Group of the Year

Group HE41:

Rida Al Waly

Eduard Asamoa Kokote  Dawu

Jyotika Babu

Nasir Bakhtani

Hao Chen

Gabriel-Ovidiu Cirdei

Elena Diana Curea

Hassiba Emad

Raihana Emad

Omar Alberto Garcia Manzano

Arjun Gurung

Rashid Hasrat

Jerisan Jegatheeswaran

Thushjanthini Raveendran

Deepak Rawat

Thushanthy Selvaratnam

Sagar Sharma

Sakshi Sharma

Dean Slotos

Student Ambassador of the Year

Yvette Adu-Mante

Mike Howley (Most Enterprising Student Group Award)

Tutor Group: HACOENSO

Granit Mustafa

Anca Purcaru

Benjamin Donnan

Mustafa  Ahmed

Sujit   Rai

Khyzra  Riaz

Andrei  Furnica

Pinak Thapa

Yousef Jasem

Rishi  Chavda

Benjamin  Robertson-Kay

Alicja Palewska

Jermain Rodrigues 

Sportsperson of the Year

Simon Clack

Environmental Contribution Award (Group)

Group Name: Harrow College Low Carbon Café

Jack O'Connor

Janek Mepani

Dilan Patel

Zechariah Simeone

Warsame Dahir

Anthony Hughes

Daniel Allen

Gabriel Pohoata

Aaron Jacobs

Apprentice of the Year

Sophie Clarke

Apprentice of the Year

Akash Miah

Work Placement Student of the Year

Laurence Langley

Charity Challenge Group

Tutor Group: H054

Janell English

Mona Patel

Shantelle Layman-Boscio

Danielle Perry

Genesis Williams

Outstanding Progress in Teacher Education (Protocol)

Jenna Wilkinson

International Student of the Year

Ananthan Rajasingham

College Student of the Year

Daniel James

Access Learner of the Year

Nicolette Loftus

Principal’s Awards

Courage and Commitment

Priya Ramaiya

Contribution to College Life

Chloe McIntosh

Contribution to the Community

Tutor Group: Starting Out Students

Amy  Theed

Troy  Collins

Clarise  Van der Merwe

Serena  Satija

Shradha  Savani

Lena  Karunakaran

Piraseeth   Kenkarajah

Governors’ Award for Outstanding Achievement

Farishta Sadeghi

Jordanne Whiley has won her first Wimbledon wheelchair doubles title with her tennis partner Yui Kamiji.

The Paralympian and former Harrow College student won 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Court 17 against Dutch duo Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot on Sunday 6 July.

Whiley, who studied sign language at Harrow College, said she was thrilled at winning the slam.

“Wimbledon was fantastic and the crowds were amazing. I've wanted to win Wimbledon since I was a little girl so to finally do it is unbelievable. Hopefully more people will recognise wheelchair tennis now.”

Whiley and Kamiji have already won the Australian Open and French Open and will now take part in the US Open.

Last May, Whiley took home the silver medal, alongside teammate Lucy Shuker, at the World Team Cup final in Antalya, Turkey.

Whiley also competed in the Paralympic Games in London in the 2012 and took home the bronze medal in the women’s wheelchair tennis doubles. It was the first time a British woman has medalled in the sport.

Harrow College is pleased to announce its new partnership with higher education provider RDI.

RDI will be delivering a programme called OnlinePlus of degree-level study to Harrow College students through a blend of online distance learning and on-campus weekend seminars.

Applications are now being taken for degree courses in Business final year top-up, Computing final year top-up and Psychology, starting this October 2014.

OnlinePlus combines the flexibility and affordability of online learning, with expert tutor support and interaction of face-to-face weekend seminars which will be held at Harrow College’s Harrow on the Hill campus.

Pat Carvalho, vice principal at Harrow College said: “Harrow College is committed to enhancing the learning experience for new and existing students. Our new partnership with RDI will provide learners with the opportunity to reach their goal of completing a degree through distance learning.”

Since 1990, RDI has been supporting learners worldwide in their higher education studies and helping them fit their learning around their lives.

RDI partners with a number of UK universities to provide access to a broad range of degrees, masters and MBA programmes by online distance learning.

As online learning specialists, RDI are passionate about helping thousands of students every year realise their goals and make a difference to the world around them and are excited about partnering with Harrow College to offer this new opportunity from October 2014.

Dr Phil Hallam, CEO at RDI said that he hoped the partnership would assist in progressing the careers of learners at the college.

“We are delighted to be working with Harrow College to launch the new OnlinePlus mode of study. By working together we are able to offer the local community an affordable and flexible way of achieving a university level degree.

“OnlinePlus is perfect for people who want the flexibility to study when and where they want, delivered at an affordable price, with direct access to your academic tutors.’

Hackney Building Lives Training Academy – a collaboration of partners including Harrow College – has won the CITB Training Initiative of the Year award at the Construction News Awards.

Over 1,300 people working in and around the construction industry attended the awards ceremony, which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, on Thursday 17 July.

Building Lives were awarded the gong for Training Initiative of the Year by a judging panel fronted by 60 industry experts.

Steve Rawlings CEO of Building Lives said: “This achievement is all down the immense dedication and continuous hard work of the Building Lives team. We receive this award graciously on behalf of the entire Building Lives partnership, which includes a range of social landlords, contractors and colleges. Together we really are Building Lives. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Harrow College is the largest college partner working with Building Lives in three centres in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Haringey.

Building Lives is an employer-led training provider aiming to close the gap between training and employment.

The organisation is working in conjunction with Harrow College as well as many contractors, sub-contractors and charities including, Crisis, Job Centre Plus, CITB, Mayor’s Fund For London, Homes for Haringey, Hackney Homes, Balfour Beatty, Avondale and Dunham UK Ltd, to name but a few.

Learners at Harrow College have been celebrating after receiving their GCSE results.

In total, 363 students received A*-C grades in subjects including Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths and Physics.

Student Beatriu Asamoa Kakote, who doesn’t have English as her first language and only moved to the UK in 2012, has achieved A grades in GCSE Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.

“I’m so amazed by my results,” said Kakote. “I’m now hoping to study my A-Levels at Harrow College.”

Nishma Dinesh Thakor, who achieved Biology A*, Chemistry A*, Maths A*, Physics A and English Literature B, was also pleased with her GCSE results.

“I’m so happy and excited,” said Thakor. “I was really scared before I got my results but now I know what I got I want to jump up and scream. I now want to do A-Levels at Harrow College because I loved the teaching here. I’m hoping to study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and either Economics or Psychology.”

Student Hussein Merali said that he was “really happy” with his four As in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.

“I wasn’t expecting to get these marks,” said Merali. “I came out of the exam playing over all the mistakes I could have made but I’m really happy with these results.”

Harrow College is proud of all the hard work its GCSE students have put into passing their exams and the college wishes them all the best with their journey into further education.

Vanisha Varsani and her three siblings, Bindya, Urvashi and Vinay, will all be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

The 17-year-old quadruplets will set off on their journey to ascend the African mountain on Friday 22 August. They anticipate it will take them six days in total to climb one of the highest mountains in the world.

Vanisha Varsani and her family will be climbing the 5,895m high mountain in aid of the Friends of Kera (UK) charity.

The charity helps disadvantaged and disabled children by providing them with wheelchairs, hearing aids and Braille for the visually impaired. It also helps organise sports events to bring the children together.

“We chose this charity because we have a little sister with special needs who is fortunate enough to have all the resources available to help her thrive,” said Vanisha Varsani. “Unfortunately not every disable person has the same opportunity.”

The four siblings hope to raise £3,000 for the charity. So far they have received sponsorship in the region of £2,268.32.

If you would like to donate towards the Varsani sibling’s cause you can visit their Just Giving page. 

Vanisha Varsani, who is currently studying for A-Levels in ICT, Psychology and Biology, explained why she was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

“This is a once in a life time opportunity to climb the highest free standing mountain in the world. I was also keen to push myself to the limit physically and mentally for this challenge. Not only am I challenging myself but also raising thousands of pounds for an amazing charity that helps disadvantaged children with special needs.”

Students from Harrow College have been busy making plans for university after receiving their A-Level results.

Many subjects including Art and Design, Drama and Theatre Studies, English Literature, Further Maths, Government and Politics, ICT and Sociology achieved 100% pass rate.

Student Mateos Grigorian, who took A-Levels in Economics, Geography, Drama and Sociology and gained three Bs and C, said he was “over the moon” with his results.

“My hard work paid off and now I plan to go to university. My teachers at Harrow College have been so helpful and although my course was challenging it’s definitely been rewarding.”

Student Kashish Aswani Khudabadi was also pleased with her three Bs in Biology, Chemistry and English Literature and Language.

 “I am so pleased with my grades. I’m now going to study business and management at Queen Mary University. The staff and teachers in Harrow College have been very supportive. All of my teachers in the English and Science departments have helped me a lot and I am grateful to all of them. Studying Science and English at Harrow College has been a wonderful experience thanks to my teachers.”

BTEC students at Harrow College also celebrated their results.

One student who excelled in his BTEC in Media was Emeka Uzoh, who achieved a triple distinction.

“I feel extremely happy with my results,” said Uzoh. “I’m now planning on going to London Metropolitan University to study animation.”

Harrow College staff and governors are extremely pleased with the hard work the students have displayed throughout the year and wish them every success in the future.

Honorary Alderman Keith Toms has officially opened Harrow College’s new science block at its Harrow on the Hill campus.

Honorary Alderman of Harrow and past mayor of the borough, Keith Toms, opened five new science laboratories on Wednesday 3 September 2014.

Alderman Toms said that the new laboratories offered science students an enviable learning opportunity.

“It’s important that young people, particularly in the field of science, have the best facilities available. I’m sure that what I’m looking at today offers nothing but the best for the kids of Harrow College.”

Former Harrow College science student Matiullah Hamidi, who is currently working in the new laboratories before he continues his studies in civil engineering at City University, London, said: “I think the new facilities are much more suitable for students studying science. Working in these new labs has taught me a lot about handling chemicals and equipment like X-ray machines and radioactive materials.”

The £800,000 development completes a larger £1.5million, two-year programme, which has replaced a total of nine old laboratories across the college’s two main campuses at Harrow Weald and Harrow on the Hill.

The new state of the art facilities will benefit students of chemistry, physics, biology and related science subjects. In total there are two new chemistry labs, two new biology labs and one new physics lab.

Nick Evangeli, science learning advisor at Harrow College, said the new laboratories would offer students a more enjoyable learning experience.

“Having new labs enables us to compete with other local colleges that have upgraded to more modern learning environments. These labs will enhance our student’s learning experience; they are light and breezy, the desks are better, the chairs are more comfortable and the new air- conditioning will ensure a pleasant working environment. I am looking forward to seeing our students enjoy their learning in these labs.”

Dr Judith Abbott, director of finance and resources added: “As a former scientist myself and having personally studied in world class facilities at Cambridge University and Imperial College London, I am delighted that we have been able to make this very significant investment to transform the learning environment for our science students here at Harrow College.  I hope that these beautiful new laboratories will encourage many more students to study science, which is a national priority, here at Harrow College.”

Harrow College is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the London Mayor’s office via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for its Gateway Asia II project.

The ERDF, which is allocated by the European Union, has awarded the college £1.2m towards Gateway Asia II.

The ERDF funding will be used to implement a programme of business that aims to engage and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their knowledge and export skills in emerging markets.

The award will go towards assisting 110 SMEs accelerate export and bi-lateral trade opportunities in emerging markets in the Asian diaspora and East and West Africa.

Gateway Asia II will primarily assist SMEs that have some awareness of trading opportunities but face strategic barriers to growth.

The college will jointly deliver the project with Gateway Business Consultants and Harrow in Business.

Alf Desire, business development manager at Harrow College said: “The Gateway Asia II ERDF programme represents the college’s largest bid win. The work undertaken on the programme will further demonstrate our commitment to working with our local business community. This is a key area of development for the college that nestles nicely within our own enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability agenda.”

The Gateway Asia II programme follows on from the previous, successful project Gateway Asia, which was led by West London Business.

Harrow College is pleased to announce that it has been chosen to become a City & Guilds TechBac pioneer centre.

The TechBac programme of study aims to support young people in developing the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.

Students aged between 14- to 16-years-old, and who are interested in construction, are being offered the opportunity to enrol on the Construction TechBac from September 2014.

The new curriculum will provide learners with a professional pathway to their chosen career and give them the opportunity to achieve the technical qualifications and skills they need to progress.

TechBac courses, which have been developed and endorsed by industry, will carry UCAS accreditation which will allow students to progress to higher education.

Thomas Brosnan, Skills Centre lecturer at Harrow College said: “Harrow College is really excited to be a TechBac pioneer centre. Offering this qualification to our 14- to16-year-olds really does expand our provision in the locality enabling young people to succeed and develop their skills further within the construction industry making them a more rounded and employable individual."

Kirstie Donnelly, UK managing director at City & Guilds added: “We are delighted to be working with Harrow College to deliver the TechBac. City & Guilds has long believed that young people are not getting enough opportunities to interact with employers, making them ill equipped for the world of work and leaving businesses without the right talent to succeed.

“Furthermore, the education system is hooked on academia, breaking the natural links that exist between education and employment and leaving some young people without the means to succeed. The TechBac will rebuild those bridges to employment and give ambitious young people the chance to embark on a curriculum that will allow them to progress to wherever they want to go.”

• For more information on TechBac visit their website.

WilsonJones Catering, educational caterers at Harrow College, has been shortlisted in the 2014 EDUcatering Excellence Awards.

WilsonJones has been nominated for contract caterer of the year, while Darren Neal, group development chef at WilsonJones, has been nominated for newcomer of the year.

The awards ceremony, hosted by EDUcatering magazine, will take place at the Royal Garden Hotel Kensington on Monday 13 October.

WilsonJones is a family-owned business and independent catering company based in Surrey, which specialises in catering for the educaton sector.

Speaking about his nomination Neal said that he was excited at the prospect of being included in EDUcatering Excellence Awards.

“The Educatering Awards are the highlight of the education catering calendar,” said Neal, “so saying I feel over the moon would be an understatement. WilsonJones are all truly delighted that the new concepts and initiatives that we have implemented at Harrow College have been recognised. We feel like we are already winners just to have been shortlisted.”