A NEW mathematics block has been built at Hockerill Anglo-European College and the St Alban's boarding house for junior girls has doubled in size to accommodate applicants seeking boarding places.o

Work is also well advanced on the college's new science laboratory complex which must grow to accommodate the record number of high achieving places on its IB Diploma courses in the sixth form.

Euro MP Richard Howitt visited the college to inspect the progress being made on the new science laboratories.

He donned a hard hat to lay a ceremonial brick to mark the building of the new block where pupils are taught in both English and French.

The Labour MEP also visited classes and met staff and students.

Mr Howitt said: "Many people will be surprised that science, history and geography are taught in French and German as well as English, but the college's record examination success in the International Baccalaureate speaks for itself.

"I'm delighted to quite literally help build the foundations of these young people's success in their future careers."

The college's head of French, Nicky Ullmann and head girl Lucy Harding appeared on the BBC Radio 4 programme The Learning Curve when the college's modern language faculty was featured.

The live programme, hosted by Libby Purves, described the college as a beacon of best practice.

This year the college is employing five additional language assistants in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.

As well as providing students with first-hand experience in communicating with native language speakers the assistants, as well as Hockerill's French teachers, will be helping to develop the teaching of foreign languages in a number of the town's primary and secondary schools.