Minister of State goes back to school!

Jim Knight, Minister for Schools and Learners, returned to his old school, Eltham College in South-East London, to witness a number of projects between the Independent and State Sectors. The partnership which involves teachers and technicians from Eltham College as well as from Darrick Wood School (Bromley), Archbishop Tenison's School and Woodcote High School (Croydon), has been running a "Serious Fun with Science" Club for disadvantaged children from six local Primary Schools sponsored by the charity Shine. Mr Knight witnessed the final session in the Chemistry laboratory taught by Mr Paul McCartney, his old teacher when he was a boy at Eltham, before awarding certificates to all the pupils.

Earlier in the day the Minister had visited Mottingham Primary School to enjoy a singing workshop led by Sixth Formers from Eltham College with the Year 5 and 6 children. He then enjoyed lunch with other members of the Eltham Sixth Form who are acting as Peer Mentors in Mathematics with Year 11 pupils at the Haberdashers' Aske's Knight's Academy as part of their Community Service Programme.

Mr Knight thoroughly enjoyed the visit and commented that he was very pleased to see all the good work that pupils and staff from his old school are achieving. "It's fantastic to see pupils and staff from different schools working together in so many positive ways". Headmaster, Paul Henderson added: "All children deserve the opportunity to discover the joy of learning, and at Eltham College we are discovering new ways of helping others while at the same time learning more about ourselves."