Category Archives: Education

Hillingdon u3a update

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It seems that, although u3a was coined as an acronym for University of the Third Age, the ‘university’ word carried too many implications. What follows is a more accurate description gleaned from the Hillingdon u3a website:

Based in West London, Hillingdon u3a provides many educational, creative and leisure opportunities for its members in a friendly environment. This is achieved by its members running over 80 interest groups. You can see the list of these in the Groups page. Hillingdon u3a is well established having formed 24 years ago and now has over 850 members across the Ruislip, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Hayes and West Drayton area. It also has an active social programme of monthly meetings, visits, walks, concerts, theatre trips and a regular members’ newsletter.

FOTE festival 20th September

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From Friends Of The Earth
HILLINGDON CLEANER GREENER FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
UXBRIDGE TOWN CENTRE
ST MARGARET’S CHURCH
WINDSOR STREET UB8 1AB
11 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
FREE ADMISSION
COME AND FIND OUT ABOUT
HOME SOLAR   
HEAT PUMPS AND INSULATION
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
CHILDREN’S’ FUN AND GAMES  CARE AND CAMPAIGNS FOR NATURE
FOR STALL AND ENQUIRIES
CONTACT NICKI 07757 762512  info@hcgfestival.org

Memorial Service for Trevor Jaggar, founding headmaster of Vyners School

On behalf of Rhys T. Jaggar (son):

We would like to inform you that a Memorial Service for Trevor Jaggar, founding headmaster of Vyners School and resident in Ickenham for 50 years prior to his death in late September 2020, will be held at Jordans Quaker Meeting House, Buckinghamshire (https://www.visitbuckinghamshire.org/attraction/jordans-quaker-meeting-house) from around 11am on Friday May 6th 2022. After the Quaker Meeting of around 60 minutes, there will be an interment of the ashes in the Burial Ground and lunch will be provided for attendees. It is anticipated that the event may last for up to 4hrs.

Anyone interested in attending might be able to contact me at rtj1211@googlemail.com, for the purpose of gathering reasonable estimates of expected numbers for catering purposes.

“Hillingdon Hoard” webinar

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Archaeologists working in Hillingdon on the HS2 project have uncovered a fascinating rare set of Iron Age potins, an early version of the coin, dating back to the 1st century BC. 

If you would like to find out more about this discovery, a free webinar on 19 July will explain all. You can register for it here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festival-of-archaeology-hillingdons-hidden-history-tickets-157616668699

Proposed changes to Vyners admissions policy

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You may well already be aware of the proposed changes to Vyners School admissions policy for year 7 admissions in 2021. If not they can be found at
https://www.vynersschool.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=110

These will give precedence to those pupils attending Ryefield school who live within 2km of Vyners over local children who live nearest to the school.

We were not informed directly of these proposed changes;  we were informed by concerned parents as were those residents in roads closest to the school. This despite the following statement on the school website that

Vyners School’s Governing Body has supported the changes to the admissions criteria subject to consultation with stakeholders.

The consultation is for the attention of:

    • parents of children in the locality of Vyners School between the ages of two and eighteen;
    • other persons in the area who in the opinion of the admission authority have an interest in the proposed arrangements;
    • all other admission authorities within the local area;
    • the local authority;
    • any adjoining neighbouring local authorities.

Our schools representative has endeavoured to arrange a meeting with the head but has been informed that no meetings will take place till after the consultation finishes on 24th January.

We therefore feel, as an Association eligible under bullet point 2 above, that this consultation has not been properly undertaken.

We are very concerned about the impact this will have not only on those children who attend Breakspear,, Glebe and Hermitage (the 3 nearest schools) but also on the village community in the potential for increased traffic and pollution among other issues.

In addition to our concerns about the detrimental impact of the proposal on local people, following a detailed review of the national admissions code, the schools adjudicator annual reports and several adjudicator judgements, we believe that the Trust’s proposals may breach the code in at least three areas:

  • No rationale or justification for the criteria have been offered – impeding stakeholder’s ability to consider whether the criteria are reasonable and fair (as they must be)
  • No tie-breaker criteria (which must be included)
  • Failure to consult on the full criteria. The approach taken by the Trust of only consulting on one criteria means stakeholders are deprived of the opportunity to comment on the cumulative impacts of the criteria as a package and suggesting supplementary new criteria, or consequential changes to existing criteria.

With these potential breaches in mind, we call on the Trust to hold a further, legally compliant consultation.

We would urge that if you share our concerns you write accordingly to the school as below

An email to: jbeater@vlt.org.uk referring to Admissions Consultation in the subject header or a written letter addressed: Admissions Consultation and sent to the school’s address.

Thank you