Schools/colleges

SEVEN physically disabled students from Sunbury Manor School were invited to Ernest Bevin School in Tooting to meet Paralympian runner Tim Predergast and British and Commonwealth Judo competitor Tom Davies.

The students attended a question and answer session, posed for photos and played seated volleyball with students from the college and the athletes themselves.

The day was rounded off with Sunbury Manor suggesting a re-match on home ground with Ernest Bevin students and the athletes and a date is to be confirmed.

The Spelthorne Junior School choir performed Christmas carols for BP staff at the oil giant's Sunbury headquarters.

Their visit was made as part of a link-up with the company, which for the last two years has sent volunteers to the school to help children with reading.

Sunbury Manor School has been forced to close until next month after more than 70 pupils became infected with norovirus, otherwise known as winter vomiting disease.

Head teacher Louise Duncan said problems became apparent on Friday December 5, when several children reported they felt sick. On Monday (8) the situation worsened significantly and by Wednesday (10), 20 children per day were being sent home forcing the decision, following consultation with health authorities, to close on Friday (12).

Zoe andSam Preston won their events at the London Schools Trampoline Competition on December 7, ensuring that they qualified for the semi finals at the Southern Zonal Competition in January.

Zoe, representing Sunbury Manor School and Sam, representing Spelthorne Junior School have both won through this event for the last three years running.

St Paul's Catholic College, Sunbury, students learned how to eat and cook healthily when a charity food bus rolled into Spelthorne for the first time.

The school is the first in south east England to sign up for the Food for Life project, a scheme run by charity Focus on Food.

It aims to teach kids the value of eating healthily, where to source their food, how to cook it and the technology behind food production.

Olympic gold-winning rower Andy Hodge left children at Springfield Primary School in Lower Sunbury starry-eyed after paying a visit and showing off his medal.

Andy, who is Molesey Boat Club captain, was part of the coxless fours team that took home the top gong in Beijing and was only too pleased to share the story of his success to the delighted kids earlier this month.

He first visited the Nursery Road school in June and inspired the pupils with his ideals of hard work, enjoying what you do and aiming high.

Sunbury Manor School took part in a Shakespeare festival in October in which pupils performed a 30 minute abridged version of Macbeth at the Leatherhead Theatre.

Drama teacher Peter Rose said: "It gave the students experience of performing at a professional theatre and the opportunity to study and delve into the works of Shakespeare.

Head teacher Louise Duncan was beaming after 72% of her students attained five or more A*-C grades.

She said: "We knew from the way the students worked in the lead up to the exams and from their attitude and behaviour that we were looking at something very special this year. They really are a credit to themselves, their families and the school."

Students at St Paul's Catholic College in Sunbury could be the "most improved school in Surrey" according to head teacher Simon Uttley.

He said: "We are delighted with a 20% increase in our GCSE performance in one year - possibly placing us as the most improved school in the County. St Paul's have achieved 71% 5 A*-C with many fabulous individual performances."

Groveley Road Recreation Ground in Sunbury Common is the latest in a long line of parks to get a brand new play area.

The new equipment, designed and built by Kompan UK caters for children up to 14. The equipment chosen for the park is designed to be sustainable and recycled materials are used where possible.

There are all different types of swings as well as a basket swing where a group of children can play together.