Mayfair News

December 2009 Events by Duncan Watson

Traditionally our school closes for two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. This year that meant we ‘shut up shop’ from 18th December 2009 till 4th January 2010. These two weeks provide a welcome break for staff and students alike after all the efforts they have made over the previous twelve months. The holiday is particularly appreciated this year by all those students studying on our new Mayfair College courses in Business Managementand Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management as, after 24 weeks of hard study, they had to sit important exams on 3rd December in order to gain their Certificate level qualification accredited via the Association of Business Executives. This first ‘batch’ of students on our college courses have been instrumental in shaping the academic framework of our University Pathways programme for those that follow; needless to say all staff at the school have their fingers crossed and wish them every success in their exams.

Although our school is closed for two weeks, allowing students and teachers time to relax, our office staff are not quite so lucky. This year during the two-week holiday they will be working intensively to implement vital changes to our administrative systems in preparation for full implementation of the UK Government’s Points Based System in February 2010. As an A-rated Tier 4 Sponsor, Mayfair School takes its responsibilities to the United Kingdom Border Authority (UKBA) very seriously. Amongst some of the changes that will be brought in are: a new state-of-the-art computerised system for monitoring student attendance in class; digitally coded ID cards for every student in the school linked to a comprehensive electronic database to facilitate the above and the introduction of a new position within the office, that of IT Support Officer, a position taken up by our newest member of staff and former student, Inan Aksoy. We hope that most of these systems will be up and running by the start of school on 4th January 2010, but would ask that all our students bear with us for the first few weeks of 2010. It is felt that these upgrades to our administrative systems and procedures are in the long-term interests of everyone at our school.

Of course, I could not possibly finish this round-up of December news without mentioning the pierce de resistance, the ‘jewel in the crown’, the ‘cherry on the cake’, the ‘dog’s….err, wagging tail’, that was the Mayfair School Christmas Party 2009. As with last year’s party, this event was held, on 14th December, in conjunction with PUNK, one of London’s most chique and happening nightclubs. Over 300 of our students (and staff ) attended and a merry, merry time was had by all. If you couldn’t make this year’s party, you can always take a look at the photos on our school’s social programme photo site and console yourself with the thought that you will have another chance to come to our next Christmas Party in December 2010.…be patient, it’s coming!

That’s all for now…I’ll keep you posted with more news in January 2010.

Duncan