August 2009 Archives

Early predictions are suggesting that Feltham Community College's GCSE results might have earned it the title of Britain's most improved school.

Jubilation filled the school hall as 42% of pupils achieved five A*-C grades including maths and English compared with just 24% last year.

The struggling school has experienced a remarkable turnaround since head teacher Victoria Eadie took over last September and teachers who have taught at the Browell's Lane school for years were amazed at the results.

Feltham churches have stopped serving communion wine in an effort to halt the spread of swine flu.

Christ Church, Southville Methodist Church and St Dunstan's Church announced in a newsletter last week that they would be following advice from church leaders not to pass around the wine chalice.

The letter said: "At Holy Communion we will be following the advice to the whole Church of England not to share the chalice at present because of concern about spreading the swine flu virus."

A fire caused traffic chaos in Feltham on Wednesday night as Bedfont Road was shut while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Three fire engines and fifteen firefighters were called to the burning a derelict static caravan and garage at 7.25pm and the road was closed between the Clockhouse Roundabout and St Dunstan's Road as firefighters believed there may have been gas cylinders on site.

Soon after, one lane of the road was opened but motorists reported delays of up to half an hour through Feltham, Hanworth, Bedfont and Ashford as they sought alternative routes.

Teenagers were kept from causing mischief on the streets by activities at the Southville Community Centre last week.

Some youngsters were put through their paces by soldiers on an inflatable assault course, while others were treated to workshops in music production dj-ing, DVD making, soccer coaching and bicycle repairs.

They also put on street dance shows, performed a soap opera and held a talent contest - the winners of which performed each night on stage.

Forty-one percent of 11-year-olds in Feltham and Bedfont are overweight and in some schools more than a quarter of children are clinically obese, a study has revealed.

The figures presented to Hounslow councillors last week were described by one
expert as 'frightening'. He warned childhood obesity in the borough was a 'time bomb waiting to explode'.

A measurement programme of Year 6 pupils found that 41% of Feltham and Bedfont schoolchildren are overweight or obese - compared with 33% nationally - while 30% of local Reception age pupils were overweight - against the 23% national average.

An accident hotspot in Bedfont Road has been made safer with the building of a new foot and cycle bridge over the railway.

Four pedestrians were injured in separate incidents at the narrow road bridge last year so Hounslow Council and Transport for London decided to spend £1.5m on the new bridge.

The 3.5m wide bridge, which will keep cyclists and pedestrians away from traffic, was opened last week and has already been branded a success by users.