Earlier this year Lodge House in Lodge Road, Hendon, was just a shell without a hat.

A miserable looking building with no roof and no signs of life -- it had been left alone for five long years and was in desperate need of attention.

Meanwhile, over in Golders Green, The Tuition Centre, one of the country's leading independent sixth form colleges, was blossoming and desperately in need of new, larger premises.

Bernard Canetti, the centre's principal, saw Lodge House, visualised its potential and in March this year decided to buy. The building required extensive renovation, which resulted in the overall transformation costing around £2million.

From the outside the result is a much-welcomed improvement, but it is what goes on inside that keeps the centre within the top five independent sixth form colleges in the country.

For fees ranging from £3,495 for one A level to £8,635 for six or more GCSEs, the service offered by the centre is clearly out of the remit of most parents, but as its success shows, there are a growing number who are prepared to pay any price to get their children through the GCSE/A level quagmire.

Mr Canetti said he is proud to be a part of Hendon and feels it is quite a scoop for the area to have the centre on its doorstep. "We are really pleased to be in Hendon and hope to be here for many years to come," he said. "I think the building looks great and the students seem to love it."

For information on courses offered at the centre call 0181 203 5025.

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