27 August 2010 - Praise for SCOLA's TryIT Centre

How wonderful it was to receive an email from Scott Sheriff who is a voluntary teacher at the Sutton Refugee and Migrant Network and a student on the TESOL course who had this to say about SCOLA's TryIT Centre as the centre has been something of a second home to him over the past year.

"When using the centre, any technical queries or difficulties that I had were dealt with courteously, comprehensively, patiently and professionally. This was hugely beneficially to both my teaching at the RMNS and in my TESOL studies. I'm extremely grateful to Amber, Anne, Derek, Isabel, Jane, John, Marina and Sue for the way in which their expertise repeatedly facilitated the progress of my endeavours and made the centre such a conducive environment in which to work."

Saboohi Famili - Principal

23 August 2010 - Tim Vine's winning joke

Comedian, Tim Vine, our host at Adult Learner's Week in May this year, has won a prize for the funniest joke of the year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The winning joke was 'I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I'll tell you what, never again!'

After a panel of critics short listed 24 jokes, the public picked Tim's one-liner as the funniest. Tim made our Adult Learner's Week presentation ceremony an evening to remember and we congratulate him on his success!

Kasumi Witty - Learner & Client Services Manager

18 August 2010- Meeting with LBS Libraries & Heritage Services

Today the college's Strategic Management team met with colleagues from the London Borough of Sutton's Libraries and Heritage Services. Cathy McDonough (Head of Library & Heritage Services); Martin King (Life Centre Manager); Sarah Groom (Head of Leisure & Arts) and Jon Ward (Facilities Manager - Libraries & Heritage) all gave a brief overview of their area of responsibility and discussions took place around how we can work together in the future.

A very positive meeting that hopefully will lead us to work much more collaboratively, offering an enriched provision for our client groups. SCOLA is already commited to supporting the residents of Sutton with their educational needs now works much more closely with the Council and specifically seek to take the support to various libraries and sites that enables residents to access various learning opprotunities in a better way.

The meeting provided us with a great opportunity to share and explore ideas on how we can extend and enrich our offers and I look forward to working with colleagues more collaboratively in the near future.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

11-14 August 2010 In search of the sun in Cumbria!

We headed north to the beautiful Lake District for a few days. Interestingly enough we did find the sunshine and our days were spent walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. One of the places we visited was the former home of John Ruskin. Brantwood, in my view, is one of the most beautifully situated houses in the Lake District. The house was both a treasure of historical importance and a lively centre of contemporary arts and the environment. There were many displays and activities in the house, gardens and estate which reflect the wealth of cultural heritage associated with Ruskin’s legacy – from the Pre Raphaelites and Arts and Crafts Movement to the founding of the National Trust and the Welfare State. A breathtaking view from every room overlooking the water added to the beautifully preserved house with its original features. The House was filled with Ruskin's treasures: paintings, furniture, objects d'art and his personal memorabilia.On the walls in various rooms you could read inspiring quotations from him. This one took my interest : "Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them." Driving back to London I felt proud to be leading a college that does just that! Leading human souls to what is best - we have seen such good examples of that throughout the year. Looking forward to the A Level results next week. One of many ways SCOLA helps the community in Sutton and beyond.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

14 August 2010 - SCOLA hits the High Street!

Saturday saw SCOLA having prime position in the high street. We set up opposite Boots and managed to dodge the rain all day! Rita Giffen gave a floristry demonstration in the morning, attracting many onlookers who asked questions and wanted more information. Polly Tyrer's cooking demonstration had the public wanting more as they tried her delicious guacamole, pate and houmous, which was made right in front of their eyes! People were amazed at how both Rita and Polly could come up with such wonderful creations - on the high street! All in all, it was a very successful day and a chance to show everyone a glimpse of what the College has to offer. Huge thanks go to Lisa and Rob for helping all day, as well as to Rita and Polly!

Kasumi Witty - SCOLA Learner & Client Services Manager

11 August 2010 - Promoting SCOLA in Times Squares

Armed with our exciting new promotional stand and prospectuses galore, the SCOLA marketing team positioned themselves, ready for action, in Times Square shopping centre. Lots of people instantly saw where we were from and approached us with questions or for a copy of the latest prospectus. Others, admiring our new promotional board, came to see what we offer and were pleasantly surprised. Although a few Sutton shoppers, perhaps fed up with being approached by the various organisations around the High Street, kept their heads down, most were happy to see us and grateful to be reminded to enrol for September! Thanks to Kerry, Maria, Pam and Frances for helping to man the fort and to Rob for helping to construct the stand!

We will be in the High Street on Saturday with cookery and floristry demonstrations so come and see us if you can!!

Kasumi Witty - SCOLA Learner & Client Services Manager

3 August 2010- Meeting Tony Ward

Today I met with Tony Ward from Home Instead Senior Care. A proud manager of a leading domiciliary care franchise company. They provide a range of award winning services which allow older people to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

We discussed various options to find out how SCOLA can help Tony and his staff in developing their skills in providing more comprehensive care for older people with dimentia. We also explored SCOLA working with Tony's team on providing innovative use of technology for the elderly. Exciting times for the newly established company and SCOLA wishes Tony and his colleagues the very best of luck for the future.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

2 August 2010- Meeting Anna Burke from Eco-Actif

Meeting Anna Burke - Director of Training - Eco-Actif was very positive.

Eco-Actif Services is a Community Interest Company (CIC) offering practical help and support for economically inactive people including ex-offenders, people recovering from substance and alcoholic misuse and lone parents. They run a number of successful and innovative programmes tackling the problems connected with long term unemployment and social exclusion. They work with their partners to improve lives and help reduce crime in society.

Anna and I discussed various ways for SCOLA and Eco-Actif to become partners with the aim of providing complementary services to the communities we serve.

I look forward to working with Anna and her colleagues at Eco-Actif.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

29 July 2010 - Laughing Cow Comedy Night in Lodnon

On a tip off from a good friend I went to see Shazia Mirza in London this evening. She was trialling her act for the Edinburgh Festival and a select few had tickets to see her live. Shazia Mirza, an award winning British Asian Muslim Stand up Comedian from Birmingham England, is renowned for her one-liners. I found her controversial act extremely funny. If you haven't seen her in action, a search on You Tube will give you some examples of her genius work. I wish her the very best at the festival and look forward to welcoming her to SCOLA for one of the comedy series we are planning for next year. Watch this space....



Saboohi Famili - Principal

29 July 2010 - A visit from Sandra Pennewiss from TVU

This week seems to be the week of meeting with colleagues from the past. Sandra Pennewiss one of the Skills and Enterprise advisers at TVU visited SCOLA today to explore if there are any opportunities for SCOLA to initiate a Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme.

In her true perfect fashion, whilst discussing possibilities around the partnership, she managed to resolve a few IT glitches on my laptop and show me a few tricks on how to edit movies and create bespoke firefox panels.

I wish her the very best for her future and look forward to exploring working with TVU on a potential KTP.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

27 July 2010 - Kasumi Witty is on the case...

The lecture series at SCOLA is starting to take shape for next year. Well done to Kasumi Witty - Learner & Client Services Manager, for organising experts, volunteers and enthusiasts to come and discuss their ideas for "Lecture Series at SCOLA" with me this week. She has been an absolute trooper in the way that she has gone about taking so many of the new marketing initiatives on board and getting on with organising them for next year. Our lecture series will be very interesting and I am personally very excited to see the calendar shaping up for the new term. So far we have a variety of programmes from Business Management seminars to ADHD to appreciation of classical music on the programme. Watch this space for further details.

Saboohi Famili - Principal

26 July 2010- Meeting Meg Irving from Carshalton College

It was a great joy to see Meg at lunch time. I had the pleasure of working with Meg at Carshalton College for many years and always found her willing to help and in fact she went out of her way to make things happen, at times to the point of being obsessed with perfection...

I was very amused to hear that she now has a wild hedgehog in her garden! As a true animal lover it must have been a treat for her when Herbert (the hedgehog) joined Meg's cat for dinner one night!

Meg didn't need much prompting when I asked her to send me her signature mark website lists and further information about how to deal with students with Tourette syndrome the moment I mentioned I needed some help. It was great to see her and I wish her the very best of luck. Meg if you are reading this I hope you don't find any spelling mistakes!

The lunch at Brasserie Vacherin in Sutton has an award winning chef and was fabulous - highly recommended!

Saboohi Famili - Principal

5 August 2010 - Visiting Phillip Butler at UCL

I had a very worthwhile visit to the University of London today. Phil Butler - Snr e-Learning Advisor - greeted me outside Russell Square after my delayed journey. After a tasty meal we headed off to Senate House to discuss how UCL could support SCOLA in our quest to become a pioneer ACL College in the use of technology.
Phil gave me and a few other visitors a whistle stop tour of the inspiring Senate House building. There are fascinating stories behind each room, which are designed to perfection and are truly beautiful.

Phil, in his usual helpful manner, took me around the office, introduced me to colleagues and has already arranged for Bernard Agdebo and Martin Sepion from RSC- London to visit SCOLA so that we can discuss a way forward. He also showcased and demonstrated various features from moodle and showed me exemplar websites from other colleges. It was great to see him enjoy doing what he does best - helping people use technology empowered tools and systems to grow, improve and progress. A very worthwhile day with great promise for the future.

Saboohi Famili - Principal