Schools/colleges

Workshops for creative writing and poetry will take place at Royal Holloway, University of London as part of a literary festival.

The Runnymede International Literary Festival, R:Fest, takes place from Tuesday, March 16 until Saturday, March 20 at 8pm.

For more details call 01932 425670 or visit www.runnymede.gov.uk

Six schools from Spelthorne and Runnymede started a competition on Saturday (6) for the chance to win their very own allotment.

The competition, which is co sponsored by the Staines Informer was launched at The Elmsleigh Shopping Centre and will see pupils competing for a raised bed allotment and seeds, gardening equipment and expert advice on how to get started.

Pupils from Buckland Primary School, in Berrycroft Road, Staines, Kingscroft Junior School, in Park Avenue, Staines, Manorcroft Primary School, in Manorcrofts Road, Egham, Shortwood Infant School, in Stanwell New Road, Staines, Hythe Primary School, in Thorpe Road, Staines and Stanwell Fields School, in Clare Road, Stanwell, will be encouraging people to vote for their schools.

A psychology researcher is looking for people to participate in a study of car driving skills in people with coordination difficulties.

Anyone from adolescent to adult is invited, but will need to be over 16, have a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder, also known as DCD, clumsy child syndrome, or dyspraxia. Or anyone without a formal diagnosis who thinks they may have coordination difficulties.

The study involves an online screening questionnaire to determine eligibility, before being invited to visit the department of psychology. For more information email: rita.oliveira@rhul.ac.uk

A Royal Holloway, University of London alumna will be giving a talk at the college on Wednesday, February 24 at 6pm.

Angela Mason OBE, was director of Stonewall for 10 years and her visit to Royal Holloway is part of a series of LGBT history month events that the LGBT staff group are setting up.

ACS Egham International School has received an award to recognise the commitment to offering nutritious and healthy food choices.

The 'The Eat Out Eat Well' Award is part of a scheme currently being trialled by Surrey County Council Trading Standards which rewards caterers throughout the county who make it easy for their customers to make healthy eating options, including schools.

The award has three levels - bronze silver and gold and ACS Egham is one of only five establishments, out of forty inspected, that has been awarded the gold level award.

To achieve the award the schools were assessed against certain criteria that are centred on the principles of a healthy balanced diet, as well as the marketing and promotion of healthier options.

A workshop to discuss the socio-economic impact of a proposed marine protection area (MPA) around an archipelago in the Indian Ocean will take place at Royal Holloway, University of London on January 7.

The one-day event will be opened by Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who also chairs the Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), and will bring together a number of high-profile groups and individuals who have an interest in the Chagos islands, where the MPA is proposed, the islands' residents or marine protection more broadly.

It is considered the establishment of the MPA may require a possible resettlement of the archipelago.

A BBC factual drama was filmed at Royal Holloway, University of London earlier this month.

Tommy's Bar was transformed into Baron's Concert Hall for the as yet unnamed 30-minute programme about a girl who meets someone over the internet, which was filmed on Wednesday, December 16 and directed by college alumna, Richard Turely.

The show will be aired on February 9, on BBC1, BBC2, CBBC and on the BBC iPlayer.

Strode's College has launched its new Continuing Education prospectus of courses for Spring 2010.

The High Street college offers a wide range of courses beginning in January, including book-keeping, salsa, pottery and business start up. There is also a series of free workshops promoting the college's Small Business Programme.

For more information call the administration manager, Maggie Brooker on 01784 228676 or visit www.strodes.ac.uk

A Junior Christmas Carol Concert will take place at the Magna Carta Theatre, Thorpe Road, on Monday, December 14 at 7.30pm.

The concert will be performed by students from Thorpe Lea Primary School.

Doors open at 6.45pm. For further details, contact the school on 01784 456398.

A Royal Holloway researcher will be spending Christmas in a Winter Wonderland as he heads to minus 30 degree temperatures in Antarctica.

James France, of the Department of Earth Sciences, will leave on December 9, and will spend five weeks living in 'Dome C', which is 3000 metres above sea level on the Antarctic Plateau.