Harrow College’s commitment to the education of international students was further bolstered by an official visit from His Excellency Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi the Undersecretary of Ministry of Education for Education and Curriculum, The Sultanate of Oman.

HE Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi visited Harrow College on 24 January 2014 in a trip co-ordinated with the assistance of the British Council. Also in the delegation were:

• Waleed bin Khalid Al Rashdi, Assistant Director of HE Undersecretary for Education and Curriculum
• Suliman bin Saif Al Kindi, Director General of Information Technology Ministry of Education
• Dr. Bader bin Humood Al Kharusi, Assistant Director General of National Career Guidance Center
• Dr. Muhammed bin Rashid Al Hadidi, Assistant Director General of Educational Evaluation, Ministry of Education
• Dr. Hanan bint Ibrahim Al Shihi, Director of International Educational Programs Office, Ministry of Education
• Dr. Suad bint Mubarak Al Fori, Assistant Director of the Technical Office for Studies and Development

The delegation was visiting London for week-long meetings at the Worldwide Education Forum which brought together key government agencies from across the world. Oman and the UK have a joint government group which also convenes regularly to discuss collaboration on a number of areas including education.

The visit to Harrow College was to specifically look at our approaches in the following areas: embedding enterprise skills into the curriculum, supporting LLDD learners, teaching and learning, pathways between vocational and academic education routes and finally careers advice and guidance.

HE Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi is responsible for overseeing the development of curriculum in Oman. His visit to Harrow College allowed his team to experience first-hand what the college has to offer students in Oman and how we may be able to support developments in vocational training in Oman.

Tony Medhurst, principal at Harrow College, gave a presentation to HE Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi and his colleagues on an array of activities at the college, showcasing the good practice which we have built-up. Harrow College students also addressed the Oman dignitaries.

Business Studies and IT students presented their business start-up ideas and experiences of participating in the Barclays Challenge and IT Career Academy. Students also took the opportunity to ask the delegation questions about education in Oman as well as questions to find out more about what the delegation were hoping to achieve from the visit to Harrow College.

Guided by the international department at Harrow College, HE Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi and his team were also shown the Image salon and careers department and introduced to teaching staff and students from those departments. The Image Salon is a perfect example of how the College creates an enterprise within the curriculum. The Image Salon provides students with a simulated work environment but at the same time is a business within its own right.

Afshan Baksh, head of HE and international development at Harrow College said: “This visit, by a wider group of key dignitaries, came as a follow up to a visit that was made to Harrow College by Dr Sana Al Balushi who visited the college to look at the work we are implementing around careers advice, developing soft skills and entrepreneurship. HE Dr Humood bin Khalfan Al Harthi and his colleagues were clear that approaches used at Harrow College would be hugely beneficial in Oman.”

More than 70 Harrow College students attended a talk given by a representative from the London Mayor's office in the hope of becoming tomorrow's low carbon emission pioneers.

Dr Katherine Eames, research and curriculum lead at Kingston University, spoke to Harrow College students in the Weald Lecture Theatre on 14 May on behalf of the Mayor and his Low Carbon Prize.

During the talk Dr Katherine Eames gave Harrow College students a taster of one of her university lectures to get them to think about climate change and sustainability.

The 2013 Mayor's Low Carbon Prize, in partnership with Siemens, is a competition looking for innovative ideas from London's students to help cut the capital's CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2025. The winning entries will see a share of a £20,000 development fund with paid internship opportunities at Siemens.

Harrow College currently has one entry placed in this year's contest. Nolan Francisco Trinidade, who is studying A2 Science, is hoping that his unique idea of retaining heat within your home will see him help cut carbon emissions and take a place in the final.

Nolan Francisco said it had been “a rewarding and worthwhile experience” entering the Mayor’s Low Carbon Prize competition.

Dr Katherine Eames added: “I very much enjoyed my visit to Harrow College. It was fantastic to have so many people come to the talk and ask such interesting questions.  I do hope that students from the College will get involved in the Mayor’s Low Carbon Prize either this year or in future years.”

The winners of the Mayor's Low Carbon Prize will be announced at Sieman's urban sustainability centre, The Crystal, on 13 June. Prizes will be awarded by the fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood and entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden.

The prize resonates strongly with Harrow College's commitment to a sustainable future. Last year Harrow College was the first general FE college to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, and is also one of the first FE colleges to join the Carbon Trust Five Year Carbon Management Programme.

Nick Evangeli, science learning advisor at Harrow College said: “We consider sustainability to be important at Harrow College , we are implementing a Carbon Management Plan and have been shortlisted for the TES Sustainability award.”

SLDD students at Harrow College have been keeping an eye out for birdlife as part of the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch.

The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a simple activity to help get young people closer to birds visiting their school grounds.

Students are invited to observe the birds on campus for an hour, documenting which birds they can see.

At Harrow Weald campus no less than seven different species of bird were detected, including blackbirds, carrion crows, blue tits, robins, great tits, long tailed tit and female lesser spotted woodpecker.

The SLDD students regularly maintain and replenish the bird feeders around the college with food which helps with the survival chances of Harrow’s local bird population.

Two Harrow College students are celebrating after coming third in their regional heats at the WorldSkills UK national competition.

Of the hundreds of people that took part in the event at Portsmouth College on 10 May, Janell English and Lydia Robertson were successful in taking accolades home for Harrow College.

Every year students, accompanied by their tutors, are invited to compete in their specialist skills at the national heats. The WorldSkills competition, which has been running for the past 60 years, aims for excellence in vocational training.

Janell English, who is on the Nail Services NVQ2 course, took third place in the nail enhancements category. Lydia Robertson, who is studying on the Theatrical, Special Effects and Media Hair and Make-Up Diploma course, took the same position in theatrical and media make-up and body painting. Both wins represent an overwhelming achievement for Harrow College.

Speaking about her experience of the competition Harrow College student Lydia Robertson said: “I was very apprehensive on the day, however, as soon as I got started I did my best and I was very pleased with my result. I learnt so much from entering this competition and I hope that I can go through to represent Harrow College in the finals in November.”

Lydia Robertson’s entry (pictured) of a monkey shows just how high standards were for entrants.

Coron Zammito, curriculum manager for hair and beauty at Harrow College, praised the students for their hard work and dedication. “The Worldskills competitions are a fantastic arena to showcase their work. The students have spent weeks practising and it was all worth it when we achieved third place in both of the competitions,” said Coron Zammito. “The students were a credit to Harrow College - so professional and a pleasure to take along.”

Both students will have a three-week wait to see if they have a chance to compete for a medal in the WorldSkills’ international competition. The top 12 highest marks from across the UK determine who will make it to the finals at the NEC Birmingham on 14-16 November.

Coron Zammito added: “If either of them do get through it will be a very intense training programme for them with their tutors to ensure we can get a medal in the final.” 

Notable mentions go to Marlenna Piponias on the Nail Services NVQ2 course and Tasha Patel who is on the Theatrical, Special Effects and Media Hair and Make-Up Diploma course, who also took part in the event.

In a cultural meeting of minds, students have come together to share the culinary delights and traditions of their home countries for Harrow College's International Food Festival.

Taking place at Harrow on the Hill campus on 14 May, the annual foody feast saw Harrow College's diverse student body join together to share and discuss the food of their cultures.

Students and teaching staff experienced food from regions including Pakistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Bulgaria, Spain, Algeria, Romania, Sudan and Bangladesh.

Kathleen Hughes, EFL lecturer said the food festival had successfully brought together students from different backgrounds: "Food brings everyone together and the students have shown a lot of interest, in particular to the English dishes. This year they spent time researching food, including international, fair trade and ethical eating. It's all helped the students build upon their confidence, as well as their interest in taking part in the food festival."

Speaking of his experience of the food festival Alam Anowarul, an EFL student from Bangladesh said: "I'm really enjoying today. I've tried English corn beef and flapjacks - the food is very nice. It's great to meet lots of student from different countries."

Aliia Malggazhdaroba from Kyrgyzstan, also currently studying on the EFL course added: "I have made traditional food for other EFL students to share, including an olive salad, beef and rice, egg plant with tomato, garlic and mayonnaise. It's good to meet other EFL students at this event and to try out different foods."

As well as discussing the delicious foods on offer, students also danced to music originating from their countries. The International Food Festival has run for four years and it is a great opportunity for the EFL students to meet each other and also to meet students from their own country.

Harrow College students with a flair for business have been invited to attend a Harrow Borough for Business event.

Taking place at Harrow Civic Centre on Wednesday 19 March from 6pm – 9pm the free event will bring together Harrow businesses, support organisations and business experts.

The event will also launch the Business Friends of Harrow Programme.

Attendees will be offered the opportunity network with entrepreneurs in the Harrow area and get free advice from business support organisations.

The event will also host the final of the Business Den competition, where finalists will pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts.

To enter the Business Den competition submit your written application by Friday 14 February and prepare a pitch for a live audience at the Harrow Borough for Business event.

For more information on the competition visit www.harrow.gov.uk/business.

Places for the event are limited so advance booking is recommended for this free event. You can book here.

The first wave of Harrow College students, who have English as a second language, have been awarded certificates recognising their great achievement in completing the Six Book Challenge.

Bookworms Sana Qayumi and Layla Tahir, both ESOL Young Foundation Entry 2 students, received their awards at the Learning Centre at Harrow on the Hill campus on 15 May. The pair were presented with a certificate and a book of their choice.

“I’m very happy that I have completed the challenge,” said Tahir. “It really has inspired me to carry on reading.”

The Six Book Challenge is a charity with a mission to inspire people to read more and invites people to read six books in six months and record their reading in a diary.

Mazie Lyn, ESOL lecturer at Harrow College said of Qayumi and Tahir’s achievement: “I think they’ve done really well. It’s been a great way to introduce students to the world of reading in the target language that they’re learning. It’s strengthened their reading ability and helped with their vocabulary.”

This is the second year Harrow College has run the reading scheme. There were 316 learners enrolled this academic year and, to date, 82 students have finished the challenge with just two weeks to go.

Angela Brown, deputy learning resources manager at Harrow College said: “This year has been extremely successful with many learners continuing to borrow books and read after completing their challenge. The aim of the scheme is to develop a love of reading and the Learning Centre team feel that this has been achieved.”

The next generation of directors at Harrow College have been recognised for their film credentials in a prize-giving ceremony.

BTEC Level 3 Media students Kheybar Helali, Danilo Singh and Arun Sahadeo each received a cheque from Harrow College for £50 at a ceremony on Tuesday 4 February, celebrating the video they made which helped Harrow College win a sustainability award at the Green Gown Awards.

Student Helali said that he was happy to be a part of the filming process. “I’m thrilled that our video helped the college win a sustainability award. This prize means a lot.”

Currently in its ninth year, the Green Gown Awards aim to recognise sustainable initiatives implemented in universities and colleges across the UK.

The students were specially selected by Vishal Raja, who works in the media department at Harrow College, to produce a short video promoting sustainability at the college.

“Kheybar, Danilo and Arun’s contribution on the Green Gown Awards video was outstanding,” said Raja. “Their professionalism, organisation skills and positive attitude during the filming and editing process saw the filming team produce an honourable video.”

You can watch the the video here: http://youtu.be/EUE_Dj14sso

The team will be working together again to produce a video on the Green Travel Event that’s due to take place at the canteen at Harrow Weald campus as part of Sustainability Week from 24-28 March 2014.

Harrow College won the award for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Green Gown Awards for its project ‘Sustainability on a Shoestring’.

The project helped reduce energy usage in existing, old energy inefficient buildings on a limited budget, by investing in low cost initiatives and facilitating behavioural changes among students and staff.

The college joined the Carbon Trust Five Year Carbon Management Programme for FE colleges in 2011 and produced a plan with over 30 projects and a 25% carbon reduction target.

In 2011 Harrow College was the first general FE college to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, and was a finalist in the Times Educational Supplement FE Sustainability Awards in 2012.

The winners of the Jack Petchey Awards have been revealed for the 2012/13 academic year, highlighting some of Harrow College’s most altruistic students.

This year’s prize winners include Khalid Pela, Ismail Mohamoud, Jade Crichlow, Pooja Bhudia, Joell Fears-Caines, Yasin Rayes and Pranav Raj. They will all receive a grant of £200 to spend on extra-curricular activities, such as school trips, a pin badge and a certificate. They will also get the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony in January next year, where they will receive a medallion from the Mayor of Harrow, councillor Nizam Ismail.

Gill O’Brien, learner services administrator at Harrow College said of the award winners: “It is great to see young adults at Harrow College unselfishly giving back to their communities in this way. It’s inspiring and well deserving of recognition. One of our latest awards is to a student for helping young children to box, something he commits a lot of his spare time and energy to. Another student has been volunteering for many years in a Barnados shop and has also been heavily involved in volunteer work for the Olympics and Olympic legacy projects, as well as the forthcoming Commonwealth games.”

The students involved have all excelled in activities that have benefited Harrow College, their local community and fellow students. This year’s winners were able to raise funds for Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, volunteered at charities including Barnados and St Luke’s Hospice, taught boxing to children and assisted in the production of Harrow College films and video footage.

Established in 1999, the Jack Petchey Foundation gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. The Foundation gives young people with high aspirations the opportunity to develop their potential and shape their future by becoming an integral part of society.

Jack Petchey CBE is a multi-millionaire businessman and philanthropist keen on recognising young people who have striven to help others outside their academic schooling.

Since it has been established the Jack Petchey Foundation has awarded grants totalling over £70 million to worthy causes.

Harrow College students will gain first-hand experience in managing their finances in an initiative driven by a leading UK bank.

From Monday 10 February to Friday 14 February 2014, students at both Harrow Weald and Harrow on the Hill campuses will take part in a series of tutorials, classes and activities to learn how to better manage their money.

Some of these activities include a supermarket challenge to teach students the cost of a shopping basket and a recycling event called the ‘Rubbish Diet’ that will show students how their food waste affects the environment and their budgets.

Barclays Money Skills Week will also help students understand how best to fund their university education and save money by joining the National Union of Students.

The financial capability programme is part of a national scheme called Barclays Money Skills Week, which aims to help young people learn how to budget, manage their money more effectively and develop their enterprise and employability skills.

The scheme has been developed by Barclays and the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and aims to reach 150,000 students this year.

Harrow College students have presented Age UK Harrow with a cheque for £300 following a fundraising day.

Level 2 Ladies Hairdressing students presented Victoria Silver, vice chair of Age UK Harrow and councillor for Kenton East, with the cheque on Thursday 6 February 2014.

Following a Christmas-themed day of fundraising held on Thursday 19 December 2013 the students raised a total of £300 for Age UK Harrow.

Student Chloe Dundon championed Age UK as a cause among her classmates. “I really wanted to support Age UK Harrow because I think it’s a worthy cause. During the winter months the elderly really suffer. We wanted to do something to help them at this time."

The fundraising day involved students making food for clients and cutting their hair for a small donation fee.

Silver said the contribution the students had made would make a difference to those who depended on the services of Age UK Harrow.

“Age UK Harrow is thrilled young students at Harrow College have stepped up to support and celebrate older people in Harrow," said Silver.

Ellie Zaeni, hair and beauty lecturer at Harrow College added: “I am extremely proud of how the students worked together as a team on this event and most of all for raising this money.”

Special mention goes out to students Nadia Barry, Beatrice Biney, Sabrina Cabey, Katia Dos Reis, Chloe Dundon, Nikki Heap, Leigha Price, Tara Quinn, Casey Watson, Amy Young and Christina Downie who all took part in the event.

Hackney Building Lives Training Academy – a collaboration of partners including Harrow College – has won an award for Best Partnering Scheme at the Housing Excellence Awards 2013.

Over 2,000 people from the construction industry attended the ceremony at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club in Manchester on 15 May. The Housing Excellence Awards highlights and rewards those who are leading the way in the social housing sector.

The award for Best Partnering Scheme confirms the brilliant work that students at Harrow College are achieving on the Building Lives project.

Launched in April this year by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Building Lives is an employer-led training provider aiming to close the gap between training and employment.

Building Lives is working in conjunction with Harrow College, Hackney Homes, Manor House Development Trust, Lakehouse, Mulalley and Mansell, and many other construction companies and subcontractors. It is a unique collaboration of partners helping people into work, while benefitting the local community. 

Martin Coupe, managing director of Building Lives said that winning the award for Best Partnering Scheme proved how invaluable a partnership with Harrow College was: “We’re so pleased to be recognised for this award. We really appreciate all the hard work that Harrow College students, and our other partners, have put into making a scheme like Building Lives work. Their input has been invaluable in helping the local community in Hackney, as well as helping young people gain essential vocational skills.”

One Harrow College student who can attest to the great work Building Lives has done is Rene Gomez, who is currently on the Level 2 apprenticeships framework in maintenance operations course.

“Building Lives has opened my eyes up to the construction business,” said Gomez. “The tutors that we have at the centre have helped me to develop my skills. I used to know how to do a little bit of carpentry, but nothing like I know now. It makes me feel really good to know that I’ve helped the local community.”

Building Lives has already helped 50 previously unemployed local people aged 16-65, by providing 12 weeks’ pre-apprentice training and supporting them into paid apprenticeships within the construction industry. It will continue to offer 50 paid apprenticeships every year, delivering accredited multi-skilled construction courses and short employment focussed courses, combined with paid onsite work experience.

Steven Porter, head of development enterprise and innovation at Harrow College said of the Building Lives scheme: “We really value the opportunity of working with Building Lives to assist struggling young people and adults take their first career steps into the construction industry. Both Building Lives and Harrow College look forward to working with other London boroughs in the foreseeable future on similar projects.”

Students at Harrow College have been taking part in a series of activities and tutorials to learn how to better manage their money.

Barclays Money Skills Week started today, Monday 10 February and will continue until Friday 14 February 2014.

A series of stalls giving students information on how to save money and learn money management skills have been set up in the canteens at Harrow Weald and Harrow on the Hill campus.

One such stall was being run by Debra Alexis, Harrow’s bin doctor at the Rubbish Diet Challenge. The Rubbish Diet Challenge aims to help households reduce their bin waste and increase the amount that they recycle.

“Initiatives such as Barclays Money Skills Week at colleges such as Harrow College are important as they let people know they can save money and learn how to be more environmentally friendly,” said Alexis.

Barclays Money Skills week aims to help young people learn how to budget, manage their money and develop their enterprise and employability skills.

The scheme has been developed by Barclays and the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and aims to reach 150,000 students this year.

For more information on The Harrow Rubbish Diet Challenge visit www.therubbishdiet.org.uk

Teams of students from Harrow College have taken part in the May Gurney Challenge to uncover transport solutions for the future.

Thirty students from the Level 1 electrical and plumbing group attended Harrow Skills Centre on 17 April to put their engineering and innovation skills into practice.

The May Gurney Challenge is an interactive event created to challenge perceptions within the construction industry and raise awareness of the opportunities available to apprentices, trainees and graduates. May Gurney is one of the biggest contractors in Harrow that offers young people an introduction into civil engineering.

The students were asked to get into small groups to research, design and present a form of eco-friendly transport that could be used by future generations, with prizes awarded to the most innovative ideas.

Learners Shabaz Hussan, Aaron Smith and Perry Webb, who wanted to design a jet-powered, solar- and radiation-panelled car, were awarded the prize for best overall team.

Shafiq Walji and Artus Vaitekuns, who had designed a triple deck motorway, were awarded the accolade for best concept.

Meanwhile, Ivan Alele, who conceived of the idea of magnetic levitation on motorways with hybrid cars, was presented with the best overall student award.

Mary-Ann Allison, skills administrator at Harrow College’s Skills Centre said that the tasks presented to students highlighted their creative thinking and showed that they were truly inventive.

“The May Gurney representatives who came and worked with the students were so enthusiastic,” said Allison. “The majority of our over 16 students are very shy and occasionally find it difficult to express themselves, but this challenge proved us wrong. It was great to see such innovative ideas coming from such determined students.”

Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified and experienced contractors to deliver and manage quality catering services at Harrow College.

The contract will commence on 1st August 2014 and will be for an initial period of 3 years with a possible two-year extension.

The criteria for contract award will comprise of the tender submission, overall value for money, local contract resources that encompass the variety of services and demonstration of a commitment to develop the service in a manner that will encourage use of the facilities across two campus. Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) legislation will apply to the contract.

Expressions of interest to request a pre-qualification questionnaire must be received by no later than 12 noon on 7th March 2014 to: Rasheid.shalash@harrow.ac.uk.

They say that when a man is tired of London he is tired of life. But that’s not something that you could accuse Laknath Peiris of.

So in thrall of London is the learning facilitator at Harrow College that for his latest exhibition ‘Vibrant London’ he has chosen the capital as his muse.

This Saturday 25 May sees the opening of Peiris’ show ‘Vibrant London’ at the HotHouse Gallery at Harrow College’s Harrow on the Hill campus.

As well as encompassing oil and acrylic paintings of striking London landmarks, Peiris will also be displaying works incorporating his passion for painting elephants and other forms of wildlife.

“With my latest exhibition I wanted to display the feel, colours, moods and life that makes this world-famous city so vibrant,” said Peiris. “In all my paintings I want to express what I see and use bold colours, different textures and brush strokes to create a breath-taking and stunning image.”

Peiris is a self-taught artist, who has had a keen love of painting and drawing since his childhood. His works have caught the attention of private collectors as far as Australia and Southeast Asia. Much of Periris’ other works are displayed at Bayswater Road Sunday Open Art Exhibition.

More details on opening hours for ‘Vibrant London’ at HotHouse Gallery below:

WHAT: Vibrant London Exhibition

WHERE: HotHouse Gallery, Lowlands Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3AQ

WHEN: May 25 – June 4

OPENING HOURS:  Sat 25 May & Sat 1 Jun: 10am-12pm // Mon 27-Fri 31 May: 10am-3.30pm // Tue 3 Jun: 10am-1pm // Wed 4 Jun: 2pm-4pm

NB: Gallery closed every Sunday and Monday 2 June

Are you starting to think about your options?

The next open evening will be 19th March 2014 from 4-8pm. Visit our Harrow on the Hill campus to find out about our broad course range. Whether you're keen to study an A-Level, BTEC, Apprenticeship, Traineeship or HND, come along to find out about your potential opportunities at Harrow College.

You'll have a chance to explore the range of facilities whilst meeting current students and tutors that will be able to give you an authentic account of their experience at the College.

We look forward to meeting you!

Wednesday 19th March, 4-8pm

Harrow on the Hill campus, Lowlands Road, Harrow, HA1 3AQ. 

If you'd like to confirm your attendance, please do so here.

Paralympian and Harrow College student Jordanne Whiley has beaten stiff competition to win big at the first ITF 1 Series in Atlanta, Georgia, which took place on 1-5 May.

Whiley, who is currently studying sign language at Harrow College, is now ranked eighth in the world. She took home the titles for both the women’s wheelchair tennis singles and doubles.

For the wheelchair tennis singles final Whiley competed and won against her doubles partner Lucy Shuker, sealing a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over her challenger.

The pair later went on to win together in the women’s wheelchair tennis doubles against the world number 2 and number 5 – Sabine Ellerbrock and Sharon Walraven of the Netherlands. Whiley and Shuker took home a 6-1, 5-7, (10-7) victory.

Whiley said of her win at Atlanta: “It was a great win for me and it moved me to eighth position in the world rankings, so I'm on target for the US Open in September.”

Whiley competed in last year’s Paralympic Games in London 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.

She is currently taking part in the World Cup in Turkey and will face Germany in the semi-finals on 23 May.

Hair and beauty students at Harrow College have come together to raise over £1,300 for Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre.

In total, 26 therapists and stylists donated their time and expertise to provide over 90 treatments for local residents at the Image Hair and Beauty Salon at Harrow College on 18 May.

Therapies on offer included facials, manicures, massages and an array of make-up and hair care treatments.

Sonia Hirani, who is on the Level 3 Beauty course at Harrow College said: “It was a privilege to be a part of the day and to make clients feel relaxed. We had some lovely feedback about our treatments so everybody was happy.”

As well as hair and beauty treatments the pamper day attendees took part in a raffle, ‘guess the weight of the cake’ competition and a lucky dip.

Coron Zammito, curriculum manager for hair and beauty at Harrow College said: “The Hair and Beauty team have done it again. Everybody who took part worked hard to ensure the day ran very smoothly and efficiently. Thank you to everybody involved at Harrow College and to the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre team.”

The next Pamper Day in support of Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre will take place in the next academic year.

Deaf learners at Harrow College have taken part in a lecture presented by the Deaf Education Advocacy Fellowship (DEAF) aimed at helping their transition into university.

Esmail Patel, director at DEAF, was invited by Harrow College to speak to students in the lecture theatre at Harrow Weald campus on Wednesday 12 February 2014.

Patel helped learners understand their options for support and finance at university. He also advised about the differences in syntax and grammar between English and British Sign Language. BSL does not share the same status as spoken or written English which means users of BSL often to not have full access to information and services, including education, health and employment.

Patel also let students know that institutions such as the University of Wolverhampton provided fantastic facilities for deaf learners, ahead of an official visit by students at Harrow College to the university campus in May this year.

“Although we have come across many deaf learners who are confident in applying for university, we find that once they get into higher education they are not empowered or have the confidence to succeed,” said Patel. “At college students experience a wealth of support, but at university and the real, hearing world, deaf students can find it incredibly tough. The service we provide at the Deaf Education Advocacy Fellowship helps students with their interviews, finances and how to deal with UCAS.”

DEAF is a community interest company helping deaf and disabled people with education and employment opportunities, by building self-confidence and encouraging a positive attitude. Their aim is to break down the barriers faced by deaf and disabled people.

DEAF supports deaf and disabled people at home and at work and offer help and advice to those wishing to work with deaf people and support organisations that want to provide better services to their deaf and disabled employees and customers.

For more information about the work that DEAF does please visit: www.deaf-fellowship.org/

If you would like to know more about how Harrow College can support deaf learners, as we are a centre of excellence for deaf education, please contact tcritchley@harrow.ac.uk