9 September 2011 - Student recruitment surge and hard work of SCOLA staff!

This week was one of the college’s busiest times for enrolments. The team work amongst both support and academic staff has been evident and it is great to see staff working together so tirelessly as a team so that SCOLA can deliver on our promises and values. Over 1000 enrolments were taken by the dedicated enrolment team at SCOLA. At times prospective students had to patiently stand in a queue, but this was quickly rectified by SCOLA support and academic staff who helped to clear the queue as quickly as possible. SCOLA has many new programmes this year and is always happy to listen and engage with students who have ideas that they would like to share.

8 September 2011 - The Big Event

SCOLA ran its first annual Autumn BIG EVENT at Manor Park, Sutton, on Saturday 3 September 2011.
The event brought together 15 partners from various areas together and resulted in over 1000 people visiting the different stalls. The Marketing team is seeking official feedback from all involved to ensure that we improve and do what we do best even better next year.

On the day the great sense of team work, the wonderful atmosphere and the positive vibes felt by the volume of people who came and enjoyed the event was a real testament to the success and effectiveness of the college’s efforts. The Principal thanked staff for the time and hard work they put into ensuring the event was the success it was, saying “ I know how much work is involved in arranging an event like this and especially at one of the busiest times of the year for us. I am proud to say that once again SCOLA exceeded expectation and delivered to a high standard. I have already received many positive comments from our partners who mentioned our professionalism and the approachable and friendly manner in which we conducted ourselves and ran the event. A very rewarding and enjoyable time was had by all.”

It was great to see everyone working together in such harmony and with such energy. A true sign of an excellent organisation and a great mark of the mutual respect we have for each other as colleagues, the dedication and commitment we have to the work we do and the pride we take in doing a job well.

8 September 2011 - Thank you from a happy student!

Thanks and appreciation has been received from Elspeth V. Clarke M.B.E., a student studying at SCOLA. Elspeth wanted to thank those who had contributed to a great course - Spanish A2 - Thanks to ... Caroline O'Reilly (Programme Manager - MFL/Cultural Studies); Jenny Sims (Director); the exam supremos - Rhona Edmonds and Jane Waldman and the super tutors - Alicia and Natalia, as well as the friendly staff on reception and the caretakers who welcomed her in a jolly, friendly way on the day of the exam!

Alicia wanted the Principal to know how much she enjoyed her time at SCOLA - 'it was like a breath of fresh air'.

Thank you to SCOLA staff for making Alicia's experience of SCOLA so memorable!

27 July 2011 - Blog That Book Project

This Skills for Life project entitled 'Blog that Book' encouraged students to write a review of a book that they had read on a monthly SfL blog. This project needed some incentives to get it started BUT students enjoyed it (much to their surprise I think) and one tutor has already commented that one of her students is already reading and drafting her blogs for next year – fantastic! Student comments we have received are:

“…the first book that I have ever read from start to finish in my life”
“I read this big book and it gave me confidence and enthusiasm with 445 pages and it is so interesting. I want to read more books rather than watch T.V.”
“The book excited me and when I told my husband and children around the dinner table, they said, it was as though I was there.”
“…I wanted to read more and more of this book”
“… now I can read that helps me with my college work and it gives me confidence to read books. Now I know how to write a book review, that makes me happy.”
“I loved The Dare so much that I’m going to read his other five novels.”

This project has improved student's confidence in their reading, writing skills and style, as well as increased their confidence in the use of ICT. For non-library users it has promoted an active interest in libraries, and has also encouraged their imagination and creativity!

Well done!

12 July 2011 - Regional Conversation Meeting

Today, SCOLA’s Principal, Saboohi Famili, attended the second phase of the regional conversation meetings conducted by Rob Wye, LSIS Chief Executive. This event took place at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London, Tottenham centre.

The purpose of the regional conversation meeting was to ensure that the LSIS strategic plan provides a robust and balanced statement of priorities for services, support and research and is properly informed by and commands real support from the LSIS Council, and from the sector. LSIS is looking at five broad areas of activity for future investment:
• improving teaching and learning;
• improving capacity for curriculum design and development;
• turning policy into practice;
• enhancing leadership, governance and management; and
• doing more with less money.

This was an informal opportunity to discuss the role of LSIS at national level and across the region.

8 July 2011 - Day 5 at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Another great day at the Hampton Court Flower Show despite the weather! The SCOLA stand still looks good and SCOLA prospectuses proving to be very popular with the public! Lots of positive comments and big crowds taking pictures of the SCOLA exhibit by Level 2 Floristry students.
Thanks to Debbie Sykes, tutor, and the Level 2 students for their wonderful exhibit.

Saboohi Famili
Principal

08 July 2011 - Learners speak about what adult education means to them

John Faulkner, Saboohi Famili and Joanne Barnett of SCOLA presented at the RSC London eFactor Showcase, Senate House, London University.
Despite costing the taxpayer a fraction of the money spent on other educational sectors (schools, FE and Higher Education), millions of learners in the UK benefit from participating in adult education each year. Adult education offers a flexible and welcoming environment in which people can realise their potential. It is often a valuable late option for those whose first experience of education was not a positive one. There are many theories and strategies as to what lifelong learning should be and how it should be funded. Perhaps a good way to start to think about this question is to listen to what actual participants in adult education think.
Here is a selection of short films produced by SCOLA, an Adult Education College in the London Borough of Sutton, in which students talk about what their experience of adult learning means to them:
Basic Skills (2min 38 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/4/l0bb8n-3df0
Teaching and Learning Support (2mins 30 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/2/vucOdoZfM34
Independent Learning and Support (2min 26 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/6/NodZEIHcKfs
Computing and Digital Design (2 mins 46 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/8/gZ6BVepcJzo
Art & Photography (2mins 23 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/user/sco1a#p/u/9/8nW5FMMPixo
This SCOLA film project was showcased by RSC London at their e-Factor Event on June 28th 2011.
On 28th June 2011 RSC London held an event at Senate House, London showcasing some of the excellent work being done by post-16 learning providers across London. The theme was the effective use of technology and featured presentations ranging from virtual desktops in Bromley Adult Education to advanced VLEs in Haringey, Enfield, and North East London College.