Schools/colleges

CARING students at Haydon School are the first in the world to achieve a qualification which will enable them to help other pupils with their problems.

Today (22) the 19 students, who study at the school in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, will complete their last day of training to achieve the Student Practitioner of EmoTrance qualification.

EmoTrance stands for emotional transformation, and it helps the students to identify where emotions are being held in the body. The emotions can build up like a pressure cooker and can lead to outbursts of anger, frustration or crying.

The students were already peer mentors at their school running open clinics for other students for them to talk about their problems, such as bullying, exam stress and home life situations.

There are many Adult EmoTrance Practitioners worldwide in 21 countries but this new qualification is the first of its kind.

The trainer, Kim Bradley, from Emotional Freedom Training, said: "It has been an immense privilege to teach such young minds these skills that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives.

"EmoTrance is all about becoming the master of your emotions and not at the mercy of them. Being put in the driving seat of your feelings at such a young age is a fantastic gift".

As well as 19 students receiving such an accolade, 15 teachers were taught the basics of the technique for handling day to day stress and feeling overwhelmed with work, as well as handling difficult people including students and their peers.

A FORMER Haydon School pupil has made it through to the finals of the Young Film Critic Awards.

Tom Slater, who completed his A levels at the school in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, this year is a finalist in the 15 to 19 year olds category.

Tom, who is now at university, submitted a review of the film Burn After Reading.
The Awards ceremony is being held on October 15 at Bafta in London where the winners will be announced.

The Awards are part of National Schools Film Week.

SPORTING legends made a special visit to a junior school to encourage children to get active.

Olympic 400m runner, Jamie Baulch, and Commonwealth Triple Jump Champion, Julian Golley, joined children at Field End Junior School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, on Friday (2) to inspire them to play more sport via the in-school programme, Super Schools.

Sponsored by organic children's food company, Ella's Kitchen, Super Schools provides a unique programme of activities for schools across England and Wales.

Super Schools allows children, aged four to 13, to have a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to meet the athletes, listen to a motivational talk from them and take part in a series of sponsored activities, raising money for their school.

With the increasing focus on healthy eating and exercise and the growing trends in obesity and diabetes among children, there is no better time for the new director of Super Schools and Olympic Silver Medal winner, Jamie Baulch, to get kids excited about sport.

He said: "Super Schools is a tremendous programme as it motivates children to take up sport and hopefully encourage them to achieve something amazing.

"With children in the UK leading increasingly sedentary lives and obesity on the rise, it's really important that we help kick-start a child's interest in sport at an early age."

The school also benefits from the visit. Each child is encouraged to raise sponsorship money to take part in the activities and the money is put back in to the schools, often being passed to the sports department for new equipment - a vital resource given the average school annual budget for sports is only £200.

A STUDENT who has been in a wheelchair since he was six has done exceptionally well in his GCSE results.

Ben Wright, a student at Haydon School, in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, got an A* and three As among his results.

The incredibly modest 16-year-old has been in a wheelchair since he was a child after he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

He said: "Being in a wheelchair doesn't really affect me because there are lots of lifts and ramps in the school. My arms are a little weak but I can still write and type and I don't really have any other problems.

"I think I've got the same advantage as everyone else.

"Some of my results were better than I expected so I was really pleased with those.
"My parents are really happy as well and I might have a meal later to celebrate.

"I'm going to stay at Haydon to do A-levels in ICT, travel and tourism and geography. I would love to become a meteorologist."

Head teacher, Steve Robson, said: "He is an amazingly modest young man.

"He has come 22nd in the year and we have nearly 300 kids. That is quite an achievement and I we are very proud of him.

"We are very glad to see he is coming back into our Sixth Form."

In total 90 per cent of students got five or more A*-C grades.

Ishani Barai, got 13.5 A* grades and one A grade and Nimai Vadgama got 13.5 A* grades.

There were also 27 students who got 10 or more GCSEs at A* or A.

FOR the first time ever at Haydon School students managed to achieve more A grades than any other grade in their A-level exams.

A huge 30 per cent of the grades awarded to pupils at the school in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, were As.

The overall pass rate was 98 per cent with 76 per cent of grades being A-C.
Ashvin Babbar and Nigel Youngs did particularly well in their exams, both achieving straight A grades.

Nigel is off to Edinburgh University to study veterinary medicine after getting A grades in biology, chemistry and maths and Ashvin is going to study dentistry at Kings College London.

A JUNIOR school show was transformed with eye-catching scenery thanks to some talented sixth form art students.

When the students from Queensmead School, in Queens Walk, South Ruislip, were asked if they could paint the scenery for the Year 6 show at Field End Junior School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, they were keen to volunteer.

Andy Child, assistant head at Queensmead, said: "We teach the students to help out as much as possible in their community because we believe in trying to make a positive impact on others' lives."

Eight students helped out for two days painting different sections of the "Piper Rats" scenery and finished before the deadline.

"We're proud of what we've achieved and truly thank Field End for giving us the opportunity for this amazing experience," said Michelle Choi, one of the Sixth Form helpers.

MEMBERS of a successful after-school cycle club invited pupils from other schools to take part in a fun afternoon of cycling.

The Year 6 Fun Cycle Club at Field End Junior School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, hosted an inter-school cycling event yesterday (Tues).

Pupils from Moorcroft School, in Bramble Close, Hillingdon, and Coteford Junior School, in Fore Street, Eastcote, also took part in the event.

The cycle club started at the school in September 2007 with the aim of providing an environment where children can have fun while learning cycling skills and basic safety techniques.

It takes place after school every Tuesday and is now seen as a leading example of how cycling can be promoted within junior schools in the borough.

This is the second year the inter-school event has been held and this year it highlighted that cycling can be available to the majority of people regardless of disability.

Sheila Pikulski, headteacher at Field End, said: " We are very proud of our Fun Cycle Club and this year's event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate difference and to further promote the school's vision for inclusion.

"We are really grateful to everyone who was involved in making it a day to remember for all taking part - not least the pupils and students from the schools represented on the day."

CHILDREN got involved in making totem poles as part of an annual arts week.

Pupils at Coteford Infant School, in Fore Street, Eastcote, took a break from their usual lessons to do lots of exciting art activities.

Deputy headteacher, Kim Sahi, said: "Throughout the week we had lots of artists in school to share their great work and teach the children new art skills.

"We were really lucky to have a visit from a local artist from Harrow called Lawrence Mathias who worked with each of our classes to create beautiful and bright totem poles.
"He used everyday objects including stools and tables and transformed them.

"Our children got very involved with helping to cut pieces of wood and make their own designs.

"These are now a permanent feature in our conservation area for us all to enjoy."

SAVING money is a skill not usually associated with primary school children but pupils in the borough are being given the opportunity to change that.

First Savers Clubs have been launched at two more schools with the aim of not only getting children to save their money, but also to teach them about appreciating the value of money.

The scheme was launched at Newnham Junior School in Newnham Avenue, Eastcote and Dr Tripletts CE Primary School in Hemmen Lane, Hayes, launched its club on October 1.

Brian Paul, headteacher at Dr Tripletts School, said: "I think the scheme will give them the chance to learn about the importance of money at an early age. They will learn to save money instead of spending it for the sake of it."

Hillingdon Credit Union started the clubs to help children save within their schools and learn a range of other skills, including recording deposits in savers cards and appreciating the value of money, saving and future capability.
John McDonnell MP attended the launch at Dr Tripletts School and Nick Hurd MP attended the Newnham School launch, and they have both agreed to become patrons of Hillingdon Credit Union.

Whitehall Junior School in Cowley Road, Uxbridge, is also involved with the scheme.

SEVEN year old Kyle Stocker beat R.Croft 10-7 from Scotland in his finals match at Raynes Park. He was awarded his trophy by Andy Murray, the current world number tennis four.

Some 75 David Lloyd clubs took part with a representative from each club playing a regional then national final.

Kyle plays at Excel Pro tennis in Eastcote and is coached by Glen Norman. He attends Newnham Jnr School in Eastcote