Kwasi joins tea party at Bishop Wand

Kwasi visited Bishop Wand School last week to attend a tea party alongside a group of local senior citizens and year 11 students. The students organised the event as part of their coursework, their objective being to foster a better understanding between older and younger people in the community. Speeches were given, games were enjoyed and students led guests on tours around the School.

Kwasi said, "It was a real pleasure to attend this event. The guests seemed to really enjoy themselves and the students did an excellent job in organising things. The idea of reaching out to the community to develop closer relations with senior citizens is a very positive and thoughtful initiative."

Kwasi calls for debate on airport capacity

In a recent article for the Heathrow Villager, Kwasi commented:

Just recently, the question of airport capacity has been in the headlines, and really that's a good thing. Yes, the issue is controversial, but it would be foolish if we didn't start to talk about it. We do need to have a debate.

Passenger demand for London's airports is anticipated to increase from 140 million passengers a year, to 400 million a year by 2050, with demand for air travel to emerging markets like China and India set to double in just twenty years. If we want to do business with the wider world, so important in this day and age, we'll have to come to terms with this relatively quickly. If we don't, it seems likely that our economy, locally and nationally, will suffer. Paris and Frankfurt are already ahead of the game; they have more annual flights to the three largest cities in China than we do.

So what's the solution? Most people are agreed that some expansion in aviation capacity will probably take place. The shape that this takes is, in many ways, the bigger question.

Boris's island airport idea has received a lot of attention. Of course, it makes good press copy. Such a scheme, though, would take a very long time to build and could have damaging knock on effects. Obviously, we wouldn't want jobs being dragged from the local area. Building on the current infrastructure of London's array of existing airports makes more sense. That certainly doesn't mean the government should suddenly build a new runway at a particular location. But these issues, as they affect so many people, should be talked about openly. Majority local opinion needs to shape solutions. Of course, some people will be thinking "I've heard that before." But what if we allowed airport operators to freely and fully negotiate compensation wherever and with whom development unfavourably affected? This might mean that some locations would prove commercially unviable. It could also mean that development might occur in places which may have been previously overlooked.

What is clear is that, for our economy to grow, the aviation industry will have to grow too. There's no getting around that basic fact.

Brooklands College

Kwasi visited the College's Ashford campus in December to see the Principal, Maureen Kilminster, meet students and learn more about their studies in a range of courses, from business and construction to hairdressing and beauty.

Kwasi said:

"It's crucial, as a country, that we invest in the practical skills of our young people, so I'm delighted Brooklands are able contribute in this way."

Visiting Riverbridge, Spelthorne's new Primary School

Kwasi spent a morning visiting Riverbridge, the Borough's new split site primary school. With a new logo and uniform, it only opened in September after Kingscroft Junior, Shortwood and Knowle Park Infant Schools were amalgamated. He met the Headmistress, Maggie Robertson to talk about the merger, which has been no small task, and visited the School's Knowle Green and Park Avenue bases in Staines to talk to pupils about what they'd been learning and his role as an MP.

In an article for the Surrey Herald and News Kwasi said:

Kingscroft Junior, Shortwood and Knowle Park forged their own identities and sense of togetherness over time, which are essential ingredients for the success and well-being of any school, engaging children in a feeling of purpose and pride, which is so important.

But while these foundations meant that opening Riverbridge wasn't at all like building a school from scratch, it's obviously been a logistical challenge to manage the transition and create a new identity against this backdrop; of course, it's often tricky to make changes to the status-quo.

Although the School's new uniform and logo mark an important aesthetic and symbolic change, Riverbridge has engaged in the tougher task of fostering a deeper sense of unity and shared ethos across the School's bases. This has depended on a lot of hard work, and from what I could see, it's really starting to pay off.

I certainly felt a real sense of well-being and happiness at Riverbridge. Children were smiling and seemed to really enjoy being there. That's a real credit to staff, parents and everyone involved with the School.

Riverbridge is a great addition to the Borough, and I have no doubt that with further support, and encouragement from the community, it will only go from strength to strength.

Remembrance Sunday

On November 13, Kwasi attended the Remembrance Service and parade in Ashford, on what was a beautiful sunny day.

Kwasi reflected:

"The morning was faultlessly organised and hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to the brave men and women who have given their lives to pro­tect our freedom, which was fantastic to see."

Kwasi visits BP in Sunbury

Kwasi went to BP's International Centre for Business & Technology in Sunbury-on-Thames, to find out more about what goes on at the site, which is the largest privately owned Business Park in the UK, employing over 5000 people!

Kwasi was hosted by Mikhael Bhudri, who is the Head of Communications & External Affairs for BP in Sunbury, was given a presentation on the role that the ICBT plays in supporting BP's global operations and technological capability, and learned about the Company's plans to engage with the local community in the run-up to the London Olympics and beyond.

After the visit, Kwasi said:

"In many ways it's a privilege that BP is based in my constituency; the Company is a British flagship, major local employer and global centre of innovation. Meeting Mikhael and his team was a useful way to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes, and I was particularly encouraged to hear about the local community projects being developed."

Kwasi takes part in Local Democracy Week

Kwasi joined pupils from seven local secondary schools at Spelthorne Borough Council's Offices in Knowle Green, Staines. They were taking part in events organised as part of Local Democracy Week, a national campaign which aims to promote democracy and electoral participation.

In an article for the Staines and Ashford News, Kwasi commented:

It was great to see so many children taking part in activities designed to encourage engagement with electoral processes and the workings of Parliament.

In a mock election, pupils were divided into teams of five or six, each representing an imaginary political party with different ideas. Each party, led by one pupil and would-be Prime Minister put their ideas forward and tried to drum up support and votes, which were cast in a ballot box at the end. Their enthusiasm was really impressive.

Finally, The Computer Grants Party, represented by Jay Simpson of Matthew Arnold School, and the Apprenticeship Choice at 14 Party, represented by Daniel Donohue of St Paul's College, emerged tied when the votes were counted.

To decide a winner, Jay and Daniel each made a final thirty second pitch on behalf of their parties. Both spoke concisely and really confidently, until Daniel was finally elected by show of hands. Congratulations to him for his brilliant effort.

The Council did an excellent job organising things, and I think the idea of engaging young people in democracy in this way is a really positive thing to do.

By getting children excited about political processes and by showing them how they can make a difference, they're much more likely to participate in our democracy when they get older. This can only be a good thing, and is what good democracy relies on: getting as many people involved as possible.

Bishop Wand wins O2 competition!

Here's some brilliant news: It's been announced that Mrs Hanson, a Science teacher at Bishop Wand Church of England School in Sunbury, has won the national O2 Learn Competition for her film "Rocket Science". At a special assembly, the School received £100,000 in prize money, which will be used to build an exciting new outdoor learning complex.

On hearing the news, Kwasi said: "Many congratulations to Mrs Hanson, Bishop Wand School and their fantastic video, which has captured the imagination of the kids at the school and the surrounding community. The prize money and the outdoor learning facility they will use it to invest in, will offer a valuable boost to the school and help them go from strength to strength."

Kwasi wishes Bishop Wand, Science teacher the best of luck

Kwasi recently learned that Mrs Hanson, a Science teacher from Bishop Wand Church of England School in Sunbury, is in the running to win £100,000 for the School, after her short film "Rocket Science" was shortlisted for the national final of the O2 Learn Awards.

Kwasi says:

"It's really exciting to hear that Mrs Hanson's film has been shortlisted for the competition; it's obviously a great endorsement of her enthusiasm for science, teaching and learning, and having watched it, it's clear that a lot of time has gone into making it with the help of students. I certainly think the film stands a great chance of winning. I wish Mrs Hanson the best of luck and would encourage everybody to watch it online and get behind her."

The winner of the competition will be decided by public vote and announced on Friday, October 14.

To watch the film and cast a vote visit www.o2learn.co.uk

Kwasi leads adjournment debate on proposed waste and recycling centre

Kwasi led an adjournment debate in Parliament last night on a proposed waste and recycling development in Shepperton, arguing that the views of local residents and Spelthorne Borough Council should be considered paramount in planning decisions relating to it.

Kwasi says:

"I sympathize with the deep concerns people have about this development, and it is my job to give voice to them. I led the debate in Parliament to do this at the highest level and to make sure that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is fully aware of local opinion and the arguments in hand before he takes the decision to block the development, call it in for his determination or allow it."

The official transcript of the debate is detailed in the daily Hansard, 5 Sept, Column 145