Schools/colleges

Schoolchildren of Spelthorne were guests at environmental conferences where the special guest speaker was a Shiwiar Indian from the Amazon rainforest.

Primary school pupils attended the conference at the Spelthorne council chamber, in Knowle Green, Staines on Monday, February 1, with secondary school students attending on Tuesday, February 2.

Guest speaker Juan Kunchikuy, who hails from the Ecuadorian part of the rainforest, spoke to the children about his life in the Amazon, how it is changing due to deforestation and the influences of outside cultures.

AN EXASPERATED Sunbury mother has blasted the student loan firm for leaving her son without money since he started university FOUR months ago.

Student Finance England, branded a 'shambles' by cancer nurse Marie Lynch, has come up with excuse after excuse as to why it still hasn't come up with son Jonathan's money and, with the financial strain now starting to show on her family, Mrs Lynch has decided to speak out.

A TUMULTUOUS few days has ended with hope for thousands of Brooklands students after their new principal revealed he is formulating plans to save the college from closure.

On Saturday, parents, teachers and students, apparently with little optimism, rallied at the Ashford campus, and on Monday there was a protest outside Spelthorne Council headquarters ahead of a scheduled cabinet meeting to discuss the future development of the the seemingly doomed site.

Schoolchildren from all over the borough visited Spelthorne Council's offices on Friday November 13.

Pupils from ten primary schools, including Saxon Primary School, in Briar Road, Shepperton, and Our Lady of the Rosary, in Park Avenue, Staines, visited as part of the Junior Citizenship event, which saw each school deliver a presentation on what sporting activities they would like to see provided in the borough.

OUTSTANDING Sunbury Manor head Louise Duncan - officially one of the best principals in the country - was honoured with a reception with Gordon Brown at ten Downing Street.

Mrs Duncan was being recognised after she finished in the top three in the race to find the best headteacher in the country at the glittering National Teaching Awards Ceremony.

BUPA volunteers turned their attention to Springfield Primary School in Sunbury, helping to clear woodland and gardens.

The team, based in Staines, have gained a reputation for their voluntary work at schools and organisations around Spelthorne, and last Wednesday (15) were represented by ten helpers at the Nursery Road School.

Strode's College are holding Adult Education Enrolment Evening on Tuesday September, 8 from 6pm until 8.30pm.

Visitors are welcome to attend and find out more about the wide range of courses offered for adults by Strode's College and get free information and advice.

Free parking in the student car park, accessed from Runnymede Road off the A30, Egham bypass.

To find out more visit www.strodes.ac.uk or call 01784 228676 for more information.

PARENTS have criticised a decision to keep Sunbury Manor School open after two year eight pupils contracted swine flu, which has now been declared a pandemic.

The boy and girl started to feel unwell on Wednesday last week and were diagnosed with the virus the next day. They were immediately told to stay away for seven days.

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.