Follow us on Twitter @LovePaddington, to be the first one to find out what we’ve got in store for you on 7th of July at Westbourne Summer Festival 2013.
Over the next few weeks, we will be gradually revealing the acts that will be performing on the stage. And not just that! We will also be posting about the brilliant attractions, workshops and the beach decorations that will be appearing at the festival.
Get involved and find out everything through our Twitter page.
This year’s theme has been decided and the Westbourne Summer Festival is being transformed into a beach with a real ‘live’ beach to help create the mood.
Come along and enjoy ‘Costa del Westbourne’!
Westbourne Summer Festival is back this year with more fun for all. Expect live music, performance, activities for young and older, delicious food and plenty of local information. So put Sunday 7th of July in your diary, and watch this space for more details closer to the time.
This year’s festival will be part of series of events taking place in north Paddington, under the umbrella of Paddington Festival, which will combine film screenings, stand-up comedy, dance, music and much more over the summer period between 15th June and 31st of August. For more information and the programme of events check the website paddingtonfestival.co.uk
Westminster Academy has been awarded an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ following its inspection in March. This excellent news is testament to the recent successes achieved by the Academy, with 75% of students achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths in 2012 compared to 17% of students in 2007.
Ofsted Inspectors spent two days at the academy, visiting a wide range of lessons and speaking to students and staff. They examined all aspects of Academy life and observed improvements in every area since the last visit two years ago when the Academy was graded Satisfactory (Ofsted 2010). The report states: “This is an outstanding school. (…) teachers have outstanding subject knowledge and plan interesting activities which motivate students”. Westminster Academy Principal Smita Bora was praised for the school’s commitment to ensuring every student is treated as an individual and given the support they need to achieve their potential.
The Sixth Form at Westminster Academy offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and a wide range of vocational courses. In recognition of the improvements students have been making and the generosity of the sponsors, the Academy is offering three Dangoor Challenge scholarships worth £15,000 each for the first three students to gain a university place at Oxford, Cambridge or Imperial College from August 2015.
Ofsted was also impressed by the variety of ways in which Westminster Academy prepares students for the future: “Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is greatly enhanced by an outstanding range of extra-curricular activities. As a result, students have high aspirations for their futures”.
Good news for local people who are currently looking for work – City West Homes in partnership with Paddington Development Trust have secured funding from the European Social Fund to provide a dedicated employment support service to Westbourne residents.
The ‘Westminster Works’ programme is designed to support local unemployed residents living in your area into work or training. It also offers free professional employment advice in a convenient location.
If you are interested, or would like further information, please contact Ayesha Begum, CityWest Homes employment team on 020 7245 2242 or e-mail asbegum@cwh.org.uk.
Westminster Academy has recently celebrated a success in the school performance tables, having achieved their best results ever, leaping from 17% of students achieving 5 A*-C including English and maths in 2007 to 75% of students achieving these grades in 2012. Such a dramatic rise in results represents the largest improvement in the borough of Westminster this year and has led the Academy towards being one of the most improved schools in the country.
This news comes as a reward to Westminster Academy’s students, staff, parents, sponsors and the community, who have supported the academy since it opened as a single-sponsor academy in 2006. The progress students are making puts Westminster Academy in the top 11% of schools in the country for the value added.
Among some of the outstanding GCSE or equivalent results were those of Anita Zejnullahi, who achieved 6 A*, 3 As and 2 Bs. Anita chose to stay on at the Sixth Form at Westminster Academy where she is applying her academic skills to the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The IBDP, a rigorous course in which Westminster Academy has a record of producing consistently above world average results, is a logical step for students of Westminster Academy. The recent International School Award, received from the British Council, is testament to this, as is the award of three Dangoor Challenge Scholarships for the first three students to gain a place at university at Oxford, Cambridge or Imperial College in August 2015.
The journey of Westminster Academy has not been without its challenges, but this success shows that the aspirational and inclusive vision that is at the heart of the Academy’s work is being translated into tangible results and will inspire all students to strive to attain similar standards of achievement.
Everyone is welcome to come to our austerity Christmas and Eid Get Together. There will be nibbles, mince pies and drinks, face painting and card making for families, run by the Westbourne Children’s Centre and the fabulous students of Westminster Academy, and a warm welcome from all of us to all of you. Unfortunately Father Christmas can’t afford the hay for the raindeer this year but we hope he will put a look in next year when times aren’t so tough. The Get Together will be held at The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, W2 5ES from 5pm to 7pm on Friday 17th December.
Monday 28th June to Friday 2nd July – Come and check out your local club
Ever wondered what’s going on at your local youth club? Now’s your chance to find out. There will be a whole week of open days at youth clubs in Westbourne and close by. The main event will be at The Stowe Club on Wednesday 30th June from 3.30 -7pm with givaways, free food, smoothie bike, free massage sessions and a chance to tour a sexual health clinic, see The Cut Magazine being produced and find out about Model Behaviour and other projects. The other clubs open days are:
For more details on any of the open days please contact Allison Bennett on 020 7266 8252 or email allison@pdt.org.uk
Sunday 27th June 2010 1-5pm on Westbourne Green, Harrow Road, W2 (just next to the Stowe Centre)
The Westbourne Green Summer Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with the usual bouncy castle, teddy bears picnic, family learning activities, tug of war, community stalls, food, ice cream and fantastic local and national entertainment. As a special feature we are thrilled to announce that female pop band, Serese, who are about to release their first album, are headlining at the festival. To see them in action go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNB1QPnbMxM
Canalside Chillout – Friday 9th July 2010 5pm -8pm (along the canal between Delamere Terrace and Harrow Road)
As an extra event to celebrate ten years of summer festivals we are holding a Chillout Evening on the Canalside with Beauchamp Lodge who will be selling food and drinks from the barge. www.beauchamplodge.co.uk There will be a string quartet and Academy Sport will be offering activites for children. For more details of both of these events please contact Allison Bennett on 020 7266 8252 or email allison@pdt.org.uk These events are both part of the wider Paddington Festival which takes place across North Westminster between June and August. For more details please go to www.paddingtonfestival.co.uk
