University fees, pension cuts for doctors and Olympic refreshment prices were among the hot topics that politicians and a TV celebrity were grilled on at Havering College.

The College hosted a live webcast debate after winning the BBC’s Schools Questions and Answers competition.

On the panel were David Willetts, the universities and science minister, Liberal Democrat peer and former MP, Baroness Susan Kramer, Labour MP Rushanara Ali, writer/broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli and Havering College student Jamie Roper.

James Landale, the BBC’s deputy political editor, chaired the discussion, which went out live.

Mr Willetts said: “It has been an excellent debate. Havering College is a first rate college.” Baroness Kramer said: “I was incredibly impressed by the young people who shared their opinions with great confidence.”

Student panellist Jamie Roper, who is the college Student Union president, said: “I really enjoyed making my points in the debate.”

Lewisham College student Connor Holgate is the 1,000th apprentice to be signed up by The Skills People this year.

The bartender at Shepherd Neame’s Ye Olde Whyte Lyon in Kent has started a Level 2 hospitality apprenticeship with the College.

Connor said: “My ambition is to run my own pub. Being an apprentice will teach me the skills to help me realise my ambition.”

Mark Cook, vice principal for business development at The Skills People, said: “I am delighted that The Skills People have recruited their 1000th apprentice. Apprenticeships really do add value to a business, and I am sure the apprenticeship Connor is undertaking will be of tremendous benefit to Connor.”

Angela Barlow, the trainer at the pub, said: “Our apprentices are long-term prospects, people we expect to be here for a while. We are working quite closely with the BIIAB and this apprenticeship fits very well with the rest of our training structure.”

As part of the ‘Live Below the Line’ worldwide initiative, Christian Aid has partnered with Leicester College to set a tough challenge to its learners – cooking a silver-service standard meal on just £1 worth of ingredients.

Anne Wood, programme area manager for hospitality and food, who put the Level 1 Catering learners to the test, said: “So many interesting dishes were submitted to me. It was really hard to whittle it down to just five of the best entries to be entered into the cook-off!”

Catherine Garsed and Nick Thorley, from Christian Aid’s East Midlands office, were on the judging panel.

Ms Garsed said: “With some clever garnishes, flavourings, presentation and textures they managed to transform very simple ingredients into a feast fit for kings.”

The winners of the event were Ben Dyson and Aaron Wiltshire. They beat off the competition with their dish of vegetable frittata with tomato coulis.

Newham College students let their imaginations run free during a massive beauty performance.

Students’ creations captured sports such as tobogganing and cycling, landmarks like the London Eye, and Hollywood’s golden age.

Tessa Sanderson, an Olympic gold medal winner, took time off from promoting sport from the College to watch the event.

During the evening, she got up and told the audience: “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything in the world. I’m so proud to be associated with this College.”

Lucy Rahman, a hair and make-up tutor, was the show’s creative director. She said: “This show started five years ago in one of our salons and now we’ve got one of the biggest student shows in East London.

“It happens because of a mix of students’ enthusiasm for the creative aspects of hairdressing and the versatility of tutors’ skills.”

London’s most talented construction trainees flocked to Barking & Dagenham College to compete in the London regional heat of Britain’s biggest skills competition, Skillbuild 2012. The trainee’s from 15 Colleges took part in tasks such as bricklaying, carpentry, cabinet making, joinery and plastering under the watchful eye of a number of judges as well as TV personality Tommy Walsh.

Mr Walsh, who began his construction career in the Barking area, was on hand to give the competitors advice and guidance.

When launching the competition Mr Walsh said: “I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to help nurture the skills of our young people and to recognise the value that they bring to the UK economy – investment in nurturing high quality skills is always important, but even more so in these challenging economic times.”

Students from Barking & Dagenham College secured three gold medals and two silver medals from the six competitions they took part in.

Dignitaries from the Uniformed Public Services (UPS) presented students with awards at Hopwood Hall College’s annual Sports Olympiad.

Major Charlie Parr from the Army, borough commander Kevin Talbot from the fire service and inspector Gary Hall representing the police gave the students their trophies.

The competition is in its fifth year and is supported by colleges in the surrounding area; this year eight colleges from Lancashire and the surrounding counties took part. Sporting events included football, cross country running and a tug of war. The day ended on a high note for the College, as they bagged the Overall College Winners Trophy (sponsored by the Royal Air Force).

Terry Morley, the centre director for UPS and sport at Hopwood Hall College, said: “The event has always been a great success; it’s also an excellent way to reward our students and the students from other Uniformed Public Services Courses for all their hard efforts.”

Guests found themselves caught up in a New York gambling racket as students from MidKent College rolled the dice on a special performance of Guys and Dolls.

Councillor Josie Iles, the deputy mayor of Medway, and her husband Steve were among those who attended the performing arts end-of-term show, which was preceded by a red carpet reception in the Medway campus pavilion.

Hospitality and catering students served drinks and canapés to the invited guests.

Myles Stinton, the performing arts lecturer, said he was proud of those who took part in the show.

“The students worked hard and lived up to the high expectations they set for themselves,” he said.

Mr Stinton – a former West End musical director – said he believed many of the students have what it takes to pursue a career in the industry.

“They have all shown the stamina required, it’s just whether they have the grit and determination to go forward.

“You never know who is going to make it because it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, but they’ve certainly given themselves every chance to succeed.”