MINISTER SHOWS HE IS CAPABLE OF CRAFT SKILLS ON A VISIT TO CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE

Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell, visited Capel Manor College in Enfield, Middlesex to unveil the College's Beacon and latest Centre of Excellence awards.

Capel Manor College is Greater London's specialist centre for those interested in Landbased and Related Green skills and education. The College has centres across London.

The Minister visited as part of his policy of meeting learners and seeing for himself how colleges use their funding from the LSC.

Minister of State for Lifelong Learning,
Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell,
Head of School for Floristry and Balloon Display, Gill McGregor
and Head of College, Madeline Hall.

When unveiling the awards, the Minister referred to the College's reputation for providing quality learning experiences which help learners to progress their careers.

The Minister was presented with a buttonhole made by students from the London School of Floristry. He also was given a leather belt made by students and staff from the Cordwainers 'College' (which is now incorporated into the London School of Animal Care and Saddlery) as a reward for double binding a piece of leather (see top picture).

He commented on the effective use of practical resources and spent a lot of time talking to students from all the College's curriculum areas and of all ages from the 14 year old HEAVEN Academy students to the mature career changers.

Before leaving, the Minister commented that he had found the visit very interesting and informative and he encouraged staff and students to keep up the excellent work they were doing.

Head of College, Madeline Hall, said, "It was a really interesting experience. The Minister was obviously genuinely interested in the students and staff and I hope he was impressed by the enthusiasm our students have for the vocations they have chosen".

Note for editors:

Capel Manor College has been awarded Beacon College status (the highest award a college can achieve to recognise its excellence). As part of the award the College agrees to share good practice widely and this is something the College looks forward to doing.

Capel Manor College has also been awarded Centre of Vocational Excellence status for its Floristry and Business Enterprise work. (The College is also a CoVE for Horticulture, Landscaping and Garden Design.)

For further details please contact

Denis Burnham
Capel Manor College
Bullsmoor Lane
Enfield
Middlesex EN1 4RQ
Tel: 08456 122 122
Fax: 01992 717544
www.capel.ac.uk