Community - The Learning Centre

French and German language sessions are offered three times a week at the British Airways Community Learning Centre, to primary and secondary schools from the local community. Sessions aim to improve students' confidence in communicating in a foreign language. A mock aircraft helps to create an authentic training environment.

Language and Cultural weeks are run twice a year combining language learning, music, art and dance. Languages we have previously covered during these weeks include French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and Russian. March 2008 will focus on India and Hindi. The aim is to promote awareness and tolerance of other cultures.

The British Airways Language Flag Award scheme is a vocational oral language test which is available to any school in the UK. The test complements GSCE coursework, promotes confidence in speaking and links languages at school with the world of work.

British Airways Language Flag Award for Schools and Colleges (PDF, 84 KB)

"Explore the World of British Airways" is a British Airways developed ICT interactive package where students can discover the airline's heritage or plan a trip around the world. Working with the e-skills council we also have sessions linked with CC4G (Computer Club for Girls).

We offer customer service courses to primary and secondary schools in the area around Heathrow airport. Students who sign up for these courses work on their communication skills and learn about the importance of good customer service.

Our global education weeks are aimed at exploring the various cultures of the many countries we fly to. The children who take part in these weeks get involved in lots of practical activities and listen to guest speakers. The sessions are supported by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We've set up two courses aimed at helping people in the local area who need support in returning to work.

Ready Steady Start 1 and 2 are module programmes and can be run over weeks or days. These take place at our Community Learning Centre and are offered free of charge.

• Ready Steady Start 1 focuses on confidence and assertiveness training, customer service and communication skills.
• Ready Steady Start 2 is for people actively looking for work who need support. The course teaches those who take part how to write a CV, how to write a covering letter, interview techniques and how to prepare for a job interview.

Over 50% of students who have completed the course are now employed in the Heathrow community.

Our environmental education programmes involve studying a range of different habitats within 240 acres of Harmondsworth Moor Parkland including meadows, rivers and woodlands. All of these programmes span the curriculum and help develop a range of key skills.

Biodiversity at Harmondsworth Moor

Our Learning Centre offers holiday programmes to children in the Heathrow area. These range from practical sessions in our 240 acre parkland to interactive IT training and global awareness programmes.