Harrow College student Vanisha Varsani and her three siblings, Bindya, Urvashi and Vinay, have completed their climb of Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

The 17-year-old quadruplets took five days to climb the 5,895m high African mountain and a further two days to descend it.

Vanisha Varsani and her siblings were part of a team of 18 climbers raising money in aid of Friends of Kera (UK) charity.

In total the group raised a staggering £45,000 for the charity, which helps disadvantaged and disabled children by providing them with wheelchairs, hearing aids and Braille for the visually impaired.

Speaking of her expedition Varsani said: “Kilimanjaro was an amazing experience which our team and I will never forget. We’re so pleased we were able to raise money for such a worthy cause as well.”

If you would like to support Friends of Kera then you can donate to the Varsani siblings' Just Giving page.

Students from Harrow College have attended a motivational talk given by Jackson Ogunyemi, better known as Action Jackson.

Action Jackson held talks at the college’s Harrow on the Hill campus on Wednesday 8 October and Harrow Weald campus on Thursday 9 October.

Action Jackson founded Fix Up Seminars in 2001, which delivers workshops focused on motivating students, teachers and parents.

Student Leila Rahravan, who is on the BTEC Creative Media Level 3 course said she found the talk given by Action Jackson rewarding.

“I think this talk was pretty good and has helped me. Sometimes I feel I’m not motivated at college, but this talk has given me a renewed focus.”

Action Jackson added: “The journey [through education] can be tough. Students need encouragement along the way to stay focused, not just to continue the journey but to finish strong.”

Harrow College is proud to announce that John Green, learning support assistant at the college, has been awarded a Jack Petchey Leader Award.

Green works with Harrow College students who have leaning difficulties and disabilities.

For the past two years he has played a significant role in the college’s sustainability objectives by creating a flower meadow and pond with the students.

Green worked tirelessly with the students to build the pond from scratch.

The Jack Petchey Leader Award is an award designed to complement the main Jack Petchey Achievement Awards for young people. The Leader Award aims to give credit to adults who dedicate their time and support to young people.

Established in 1999, the Jack Petchey Foundation gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25.

Jack Petchey CBE is a businessman and philanthropist whose Foundation recognises young people who have excelled outside academia.

Harrow College enrichment football team has secured their first win of the season against Barnet and Southgate College in the MSFA 1st XI League.

Harrow College’s enrichment football squad won 7-2, playing at home at Harrow College’s Weald campus, on Wednesday 15 October.

Special mention goes to Harrow College player Christian Labiran who scored a hat-trick during the match.

Goals also came from Harrow College players Jordan Camacho, Fabrizio Avendano, Joseph Chidyausiku and Kennedy de Jesus Cordeiro Resende.

Phil Nagler, enrichement coach at Harrow College and manager of Harrow College's enrichment football team said: “We were sharp right from the start and, although our quality was very good, it was our hard work and team effort that ultimately won us the game. We never stopped working and all the boys ran themselves into the ground”.

Harrow College students hoping to make their mark in the world of employment have taken part in an audition day for recruitment and coaching company Raw Talent Academy (RTA).

Trials to win a spot on RTA’s Employability Academy coaching course took place at the college’s Harrow Weald campus on Wednesday 22 October.

Founded by former The Apprentice winner Lee McQueen, RTA aims to nurture employability skills and talent among young people.

RTA’s Employability Academy aims to give students the chance to experience a job application process, as well as taking two groups of 15 students on an in-depth five-stage coaching course built around their current classes.

During the day-long audition students were asked to get into five teams and conquer The Apprentice-style tasks, which included critiquing anonymous CVs; trying to sell products to an audience, such as broken umbrellas; creating a TV advert for a product and re-branding a well-known energy drink.

Student Kanwal Munir said that attending the auditions was a great experience.

“These RTA auditions are a great way of gaining life skills within the business and entrepreneurial sector, especially because these skills aren’t included within the curriculum. Winning a place on the Employability Academy coaching course would be a great opportunity to improve my employability skills.”

This is the third year Harrow College has partnered with McQueen and his business Raw Talent Academy to improve students’ chances of securing employment.

McQueen himself will deliver the coaching alongside Raw Talent Academy’s experienced coaches, sharing advice on building relationships, an employee’s role within an organisation and the importance of knowledge, entrepreneurship and commercial awareness.

McQueen said that it was beneficial for students to attend RTA’s employability auditions as it helped them hone invaluable employability skills.

“I think it’s important for the students of Harrow College to experience employability auditions. A lot of these kids haven’t had a job before and don’t have much experience of the interview process. What Raw Talent Academy is aiming to do is make these students more confident when they face potential employers. The students that win the audition round today will be part of a course that will enhance valuable employability skills.”

Lee Janaway, head of department for business, English, health and wellbeing at Harrow College added: “We are extremely pleased to work with Raw Talent Academy and Lee McQueen again, to give our students the opportunity to develop key attributes and skills that will prepare them for employment.

"We really value the importance of developing students' skills and knowledge in employability and enterprise as we prepare them for life after college. Last year’s cohort of students who went through this course thoroughly enjoyed the bespoke training and it was evident from feedback from the students, employers and teachers that this training had impacted on their progression choices.”

Students from Harrow College have made a visit to the University of Westminster to see what life in higher education is like.

BTEC Applied Science students visited the university's biochemistry and pharmacology department in central London, on Wednesday 22 October.

As part of the field trip students experienced working in a large university laboratory.

They also undertook a series of practical activities to develop their understanding of the key concepts fundamental to research in the disciplines of biology and biochemistry.

Student Hasib Karimzadah said that he enjoyed taking part in the laboratory exercises.

“It was a great experience to learn about university," said Karimzadah. "The practical experiments were really interesting. It was great to see how different chemicals could produce such different reactions and products with such different properties. The taster day is definitely something I would recommend to a friend.”

Students also attended a talk hosted by the university on the career opportunities available in the sphere of biology, biochemistry and pharmacology.

Student Mika Zulu said: “The university taster day was great because I gained more experience about studying at university and the environment was friendly, which has encouraged me to think more about what I should study after college.”

Michael Worgs, curriculum manager for Science added: "The University of Westminster has offered our students a glimpse of university life and how science can be fun, interesting and lead to a fulfilling and useful career. The science department at Harrow College encourages our students to think about their careers after college and this taster day was a great introduction to what options are available to our students."

Students at Harrow College have taken part in a host of activities to fully appreciate what life is like for the disabled and less able-bodied.

The ‘Exploring Ability’ workshop, part of Harrow College's Diversity Week prgramme, took place in the main hall at the college’s Harrow Weald campus on Tuesday 4 November.

The aim of the workshop was to demonstrate to students the difficulties that some disabled students face daily.

Participating students were presented with a number of activities which impaired their senses.

Tasks included trying to open doors while in a wheelchair, writing down instructions being read out while wearing sound-muffling headphones and walking through an assault course while blindfolded.

Anca Purcaru, student president at Harrow College said that it was important for students to learn how hard everyday activities can be for the less able-bodied.

“It’s very easy to overlook how difficult life can sometimes be for those who are disabled. Workshops such as this are a great way of demonstrating to students what some of their fellow peers are experiencing.”

Sandie Petrie, enrichment co-ordinator at Harrow College added: “It’s important for students to understand how it can be extra hard for some students at college. The activities that are taking place today help to emphasise what some disabled students experience on a daily basis.”

Students from the Harrow College Football Academy were today invited to visit White Hart Lane as guests of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

More than 30 BTEC Sport students from Harrow College were invited to collect their Foundation football kits at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club with an exchange of the official plaque as confirmation of the partnership.

Tony Medhurst, principal and chief executive at Harrow College said that the partnership would be the start of a valued relationship with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

“We are pleased that our students are representing the college through this fantastic opportunity and believe that they will provide a winning formula to our growing football academy. To see Harrow College students being associated with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation is a true credit to the staff that are leading this initiative. I hope that the students will continue to be inspired to work hard on and off the pitch.”

Harrow College Education and Football Development Centre links football theory, academy standard coaching and affiliated league and cup competitions with a range of academic studies for students aged between 16 and 18 years old.

Andy Rogers, Senior Manager Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said: “On behalf of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation I would like to thank the staff and students of Harrow College for their support in launching this brand new partnership.

“Through our Education and Football Development Centres, we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact sports participation can have in helping to support young people in a range of engaging, educational activities. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to creating opportunities that change lives, we’re extremely proud to celebrating this new partnership with Harrow College.

“We look forward to working with the staff at the college to deliver education and high quality football coaching for the BTEC Sport students over the coming years.”

The partnership between Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and Harrow College includes:

• A permanent team of qualified staff from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and Harrow College will deliver the coaching and teaching elements of the programme
• All coaching staff has appropriate FA qualifications in Football, are emergency aid trained and are DBS checked to an enhanced level
• Classroom sessions will fit around the football training and playing element of the programme
• Learners will receive up to 10 hours of Tottenham Hotspur Academy standard coaching each week at the Vale Farm sports ground
• A physiotherapist will be available for all students

All students at the Harrow College Football Academy are currently enrolled on full time BTEC Level 1, 2 or 3 Sport courses.

Next year the partnership between Harrow College and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation will further strengthen with the introduction of a ladies’ football team joining Harrow College’s Education and Football Development Centre.

Harrow College has successfully passed its first audit for its environmental management system.

The college has also retained its ISO 14001 certification, which establishes that the college is environmentally responsible.

Greville Payne, lead assessor at QMS International who assessed the college said that he was impressed with the college’s commitment to green initiatives.

“The management team demonstrates an excellent commitment and the college have worked very hard to get the EMS up to a high standard,” said Payne. “[Harrow College’s] green initiatives, not least in the area of biodiversity, are exceptional. The new build with its BREEAM Excellent aspirations is very exciting and I look forward to seeing its many green aspects next year.”

Students from Harrow College have watched a film offering a candid snapshot of a single day on planet Earth.

The students watched the screening of Life in a Day, directed by Kevin Macdonald (State of Play, Last King of Scotland) and produced by Liza Marshall and Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner), on Wednesday 5 November.

The film is comprised of 80,000 YouTube video clips, which have been contributed by people from 192 countries.

Life in a Day aims to give a glimpse of peoples' every day experiences as a global society.

The film was screened as part of Harrow College’s Diversity Week to show students a perspective on lives that are different to their own.

BTEC Level 3 creative media production student Jacob Spanner said that the film was thought-provoking.

“Life in a Day was great at showing how people’s lives are incredibly different and a stark contrast to my own. I thought it was a really interesting piece of film and it made me think a lot.”

Harrow College will be at the biggest jobs and careers event in London promoting the college and the courses and apprenticeships it has to offer.

The Skills London 2014 show will take place at the ExCel London Exhibition and Convention Centre on 21-22 November 2014.

The event will be open to 15- to 24-year-olds and will offer over 180 exhibitors including employers, colleges training providers and advisors.

There will also be skilled demos bringing the world of work to life, as well as information, advice and guidance to students who are looking to progress their education and careers.

To pre-register for free entry into the event visit Skills London 2014.

Students from Harrow College have continued their celebration of different cultures by attending a Diversity Fair.

The event took place at the college’s refectory on Thursday 6 November.

During the fair, students were asked to describe what diversity meant to them and explore the aspects of other cultures they enjoy, such as food, music and film.

Students were also given the opportunity to sample food from around the world and learn about notable figures throughout history that have not let their disabilities stop them from achieving success.

Harrow College student Kanwal Munir said that the fair was a great way of getting students interested in other cultures.

“It’s good to see so many students trying out food from different countries and learning about the diverse cultures that make up the college.”

Harrow College student Alicja Palewska has won a challenge set by the college’s Enterprise Society and the Entrepreneurial Education Group to create a business idea from a £10 investment.

Palewska, who is studying towards her BTEC Business Studies Level 3, had the idea to sell homemade Halloween-themed cupcakes.

The aim of the £10 challenge is to explore the entrepreneurial mindset of students and encourage them to start and run a small business of their own.

Students are asked to submit a business proposal detailing their idea and how they plan to make the most of their £10 investment.

On successful completion of the project students pay back their initial £10 investment and a further 20% of the profits they make in order to fund future £10 projects. Students get to keep the remaining profit they make to reinvest in their business idea.

With her budget of £10, Palewska sold an incredible £56.84-worth of cakes. After taking into consideration the initial £10 investment and the 20% commission, Palewska took home a profit of £37.47.

Palewska said that she was overjoyed with winning the challenge.

“I’m really happy and proud of what I have achieved. I am looking forward to taking part in more competitions like this in the future.”

Kuukua Graham, business and professional studies lecturer at Harrow College added: “It is important for students to take part in an enterprise activity such as the £10 Challenge. It is a great way for students to exhibit their unique talents and abilities through the use of a limited amount of money in order to make profit”.

Students from Harrow College attended the safe drive, stay alive event at the Harrow Arts Centre, on Wednesday 19 November.

Over 80 students saw a powerful production which underlined the dangers to new drivers including peer pressure, driver distraction and drink driving.

The event included a filmed reconstruction of a car crash that was interspersed with real life testimonies; including an ambulance paramedic, a fire-fighter and a police officer. The students also heard from a bereaved parent and a car crash survivor who spoke openly about their personal experiences.

The performance was organised by the Road Safety Unit at the London Borough of Harrow. Sandie Petrie, enrichment co-ordinator at Harrow College said this is a performance our students will not forget.

"I am sure that every time they get into a car that they will remember what was said about the importance of wearing seat belts, not being distracted by others in the car and driving safely."

Maths savvy students from Harrow College have taken part in two challenges flexing their numerical skills.

The first competition was the UK Senior Mathematical Challenge, which took place on Thursday 6 November.

The second competition was the UK Senior Team Maths Challenge, which took place on Monday 17 November.

Eight students attended the UK Senior Mathematical Challenge, which took the form of an exam without the aid of a calculator.

Taking part were students Abdifitah Alasow and Samad Rashid, who were awarded silver certificates, and Viktoria Noel and Xiao Chen, who were awarded bronze certificates.

During the UK Senior Team Maths Challenge four Harrow College students took part, including Chen and Noel, as well as Olugbemi Moronfulu and Farhana Pinki.

The challenge included a crossnumber task and a mathematical relay race, which saw the Harrow College team eventually come in twelfth place out of all the schools and colleges that attended.

Students from Harrow College have attended an emergency training session at the Harrow on the Hill campus, on Wednesday 27 November.

ESOL science students were taught how to put someone in a recovery position, administer CPR and act as first responders in the event of a heart attack, cardiac arrest or choking and bleeding.

The training was delivered by Steve Malde who works as a volunteer for the British Heart Foundation and the London Ambulance Service.

Ameeta Jethwa, ESOL lecturer at Harrow College said: "My students have been learning about the functions of the heart in their lessons and this was a good follow up session that teaches them how to save a life. As they are science students who want to develop careers in the medical field, this was a fantastic opportunity for them."

Harrow College has welcomed a visit from its Tanzanian educational partner VETA (the Vocational Educational and Training Authority) who are the national agency responsible for vocational education and training in Tanzania.

The delegation met with Harrow College’s senior staff on Thursday 27 November.

The visit further bolsters Harrow College’s commitment to the international educational and business sectors.

Harrow College successfully completed a British Council project in Tanzania in 2012 and has since been advising VETA on skills development issues.

The delegation comprised of high level post holders, including Zebadiah Moshi, director General of VETA, Prof Idrissa  Mshoro, board chairman of VETA, Geofrey Sabuni, director of assessment and certification at VETA and Adeline Macha, corporation secretary of legal matters at VETA.

Afshan Baksh, head of higher education and teacher training at Harrow College, who has family roots in Tanzania, said: “VETA have expanded greatly since the partnership began in 2009, but the need for vocational training centres still does not meet the demand in Tanzania. Harrow College has played a major part in supporting skills development in Mikumi and in Morogoro regions and we hope to continue to work on a national level in Tanzania.”

Students from Harrow College have welcomed a talk given by reformed drug addict and gang member Paul Hannaford, on behalf of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

The mentor and lecturer spoke to Harrow College Sports and Health and Social Care students in the lecture theatre at the college’s Harrow Weald campus on Thursday 4 December.

Hannaford spoke about how he turned from a typical teenager and talented footballer into a heroin addict and convicted criminal responsible for a number of gang-related and violent crimes.

After serving a total of 15 prison sentences and developing thrombosis – a direct consequence of his substance abuse - Hannaford turned his life around after entering a drug rehabilitation facility.

He now spends his time warning young people of the dangers of gun and knife crime, gang culture and drug addiction.

Hannaford has reached out to over 60,000 young people with his story in a bid to prevent them from falling into the same spiral of addiction and crime that he experienced.

Lee Janaway, head of department for Business, English and Health and Wellbeing said: “Paul has given a highly inspirational talk on the perils of knife crime and drug addiction and why students should be aware of the how small acts of unlawful behaviour can soon escalate into a much more serious problem.”

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation is the charitable arm of the club.

Harrow College has partnered with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to provide first-class football training for students.

• Read more about Harrow College and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s Education and Football Development Centre.

Students from Harrow College have hosted their annual arts and craft fair for the people of Harrow.

Harrow College’s Winter Fair took place at St Anns Shopping Centre in Harrow on Thursday 11 December.

BTEC Architecture and Art and Design students sold and marketed their handmade arts and crafts to shoppers. Items on sale included lamps, tote bags and ceramic tiles.

Sukhmeet Singh, who is currently a BTEC Level 3 Architecture student, said that the fair was a great way to display his talents.

“I’m selling a lamp which I designed and made in class. By taking part in Harrow College’s Winter Fair, me and my fellow classmates can show off what we have learned in class and help raise money for our department.”

John Wischhusen, creative arts and multimedia lecturer at Harrow College added: “The Winter Fair is a great opportunity for students to explore their entrepreneurial skills and experience the process of developing products for a real market. I know from their class work that they really enjoyed making these products and they rose to the challenge of sticking to tight deadlines and design briefs.”