PASSMORES Cooperative Learning Community (PCLC) is delighted that their long serving secondary school lead and CEO Vic Goddard was, this week, invited to attend a royal garden party with the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to education.

Emma Bloomfield, the primary school lead for PCLC and Deputy CEO said: “Our Trust was set up to serve the young people and families of Harlow. We have never had aspirations to work outside of the town and will strive to offer the best education and life experiences we can to every young person in the community.

PCLC provides education for over 3000 young people across Harlow and the biggest compliment we ever receive is when a parent/carer chooses us to look after their child but we are pleased that the work of every person associated with PCLC has been recognised, through Vic, on a national level too.

Mr Goddard said: “Being invited to Buckingham Palace is certainly not something I would ever have expected to happen.

My dad would have said ‘I bet they’ll lock the silver away when they know someone from Penge is invited!’.

Having served the Harlow community for over 25 years it still remains an honour to do so.

“Our town sometimes gets talked down and is given a hard time it really doesn’t deserve.

“To be invited to such an event recognises the work of the whole community where every member of staff, young person and parent/carer want the best for themselves and each other.

“We know that there will always be things we can do better but the most important thing is that we all strive to be the best we can.

“A visit to Buckingham Palace and Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup are not things I’d ever thought I’d experience so it’s been a good week!”