CONGRATULATIONS to Uxbridge College, which has just had a outstanding Ofsted report (Top report wins college highest award,Gazette July 16).

Having lived in Uxbridge for 20 years I remember the old technical college, which was good in its day but would be a very outdated and old fashioned centre now if it had not moved with the times.

The college has evolved over the years into two super centres in Hayes and Uxbridge, with state-ofthe-art equipment and a huge variety of courses which cater for a wide range of abilities.

Many of the young students choose to study there rather than at a school sixth form because they feel it gives them more independence,but the college also successfully supports young people with learning difficulties and, of course, adults hoping to brush up their qualifications and go on to higher education.

I started a course there a few years ago and, although I had to give it up for family reasons, I was very impressed with the tutor,the rooms where we studied and the support offered to both young and mature students alike.

Perhaps most importantly, well done to principal Laraine Smith and her predecessors, who have steered the way to help the college reach its present position, and in particular Ms Smith's comment, that she has pledged not to be complacent but to carry on keeping standards high.

We should all be proud to have such a great institution in our borough.

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