Student College Agreement

Student-College Agreement: South Thames Colleges Group Code of Conduct 2023-2024

1 Introduction

At STCG we strive to ensure all students achieve their potential. We hope to accomplish this through the values and working practices of every member of the college including teachers, pastoral staff, senior management, and the students.
This document aims to outline the values of the college group, which includes the expectations of both staff and students. We feel it is important to follow these expectations/rules to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all students and staff.

1.1 What students can expect at the South Thames Colleges Group

The Student Code of Conduct is agreed with student representatives, and we expect all students to know what is in the Student Code of Conduct, to follow it and generally to behave in a respectful, reasonable and acceptable manner and be courteous to other students, members of staff and visitors.

1.2 As staff we will:

Value people equally respecting our democratic values of freedom of speech, appreciation of different beliefs, the rule of law and individual liberty and be kind, hard‐working, respectful and polite at all times;
Give you clear, accurate and fair information, advice, guidance and support to help you choose a programme of study and include clear information about fees and financial support including bursaries;
Enable good progress and high achievement by delivering high standard of teaching and learning, considering our students’ neurodiversity.
Give you a good start to your studies with us through an induction programme and then support you by giving clear targets that help you progress;
Provide learning resources and identify support which meet your needs; This includes differentiated learning resources that considers and validates the student's learning style and differences.
Ensure that assessments and progress reviews with you are fair, clear, regular and positive;
Give you regular and punctual feedback on your learning, verbally and in writing on your work
and in your ILP/Moodle course site to include progress review reports for parents of students up
to the age of eighteen via parents’ induction and progress review events;
Provide you with access to a range of enrichment and careers advice and university admissions
advice services during your programme of study.

The College understands that for some students, their journey through college may not be straightforward or that circumstances may arise in which the student requires more support. We want to work together with the student and their family/carers to support the student to the best of our ability.

2 South Thames Colleges Group Values

2.1 As students you are expected to:

2.2 Behaviour

Value people equally respecting our democratic values of freedom of speech, appreciation of different beliefs, the rule of law and individual liberty and be kind, hard‐working, respectful and polite at all times;
Build resilience and understand that sticking at it and maintaining good learning habits are essential to your success, which includes good attendance, learning behaviour and commitment to study as set out in the ABC procedures and the willingness to act on the feedback the College gives you and the targets we set together;
Observe the Group’s Equal Opportunities Policy and value all members of the Group and visitors regardless of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or age;
Comply with any rules or reasonable requests which may be set by Group staff in specific areas e.g. the Learning Centre, any practical workshops, in/or during work placements;
Meet the acceptable standards of conduct or performance as set out in any written information issued under the student disciplinary procedures;

Students reaching the age of eighteen during the College academic year (September‐ August) give us their consent to contact a parent/guardian and send them information about their progress and/or behaviour and any other relevant course specific information for the duration of their course. When a student reaches eighteen mid-way through a course they may remove their consent by writing to the College.

2.3 We want our environment to feel welcoming and safe for all staff and students and therefore ask that you do not engage in;

Antisocial, aggressive and /or loud behaviour at any time including when travelling to and from College, and on any of our sites that either disrupts the learning of others or could give the Colleges Group a bad reputation. This includes the use of social media through posting either text, including sexting, or images, including video of such behaviour;
Verbal abuse of people which is either bullying or harassment, including inappropriate and/or unwelcome comments, requests and messages on grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, pregnancy, marital status, disability/learning difficulty or socio‐economic status of another student, member of staff, visitor to the College or a member of the public. This includes use of social media through posting either text or images, including video;
Failing to meet the acceptable standards of conduct or performance set down in any written information issued under the student disciplinary pro policy and procedures.
Physical, violent, dangerous, threatening, bullying, and intimidating conduct. This includes, for example the carrying/storing of offensive weaponry, including fireworks and knives, any conduct involving acts of indecency and vandalism.
Dress in a way which is unacceptable or unsafe in a Group environment.
Stealing or have unauthorised possession (with intent to steal) of any property belonging to
another student, the Colleges Group, any employee of the Colleges Group or third parties
connected to the Colleges Group (included in this is the non‐payment of fees);
Gambling in any way.
Behaving in a way or commit an offence that brings the Group into disrepute wherever and whenever the offence occurs, including behaviour outside Group premises e.g. in the local area, on transport to and from any Group premises and at work placements;
Receiving criminal penalties, for example: serious acts of violence, sexual assault or rape and/or failure to disclose a criminal conviction or caution, unless it is spent.

If we feel that your behaviour does not demonstrate our college values and rules, we will take action as per the guidance in our ABC document.

2.4 Working and Learning

To achieve the values of the Group we ask you to:

Be completely familiar with the admissions guidance so that you complete your enrolment on time and pay all fees promptly when due;
Provide us with accurate and up to date contact details such as full name, address, contact telephone number/s, etc. at enrolment and ensure you keep these up to date by informing us of any changes;
Complete all parts of your programme of study including work experience and placements; iv. Physically attend 100% of classes and tutorials punctually explaining the reason for any absences and provide supporting evidence for such absence or lateness as required;
Follow college rules at all times, anywhere in the college. Mobile phones to be used with the knowledge and consent of teacher, or librarian, for example, for spell check, reminder for the day, self-instructions, calming app, or other resources necessaries to help the students to succeed;
Complete 100% of class‐work, homework and assignments as directed by members of staff and to submit the work to the set deadlines and to the very best of your ability every time ‐ aim high and set out to always meet and then beat your target grades;
Seek help and support from a Tutor or Student Support Services if necessary;
Take responsibility for your own learning by ensuring you communicate often with your teaching
and tutorial staff, for example, by taking full part in our system of induction and progress review
events;
Make learning successful for yourself and others by being a reflective, cooperative and
collaborative learner;
Use ProPortal to record your progress, achievements and future plans regularly setting and
reviewing SMART learning targets within ProPortal;
Accept that the receipts of any allowances, grants, sponsorship funds or support funds are
dependent on regular and actual attendance, satisfactory completion of class and homework. For many students this means compulsory Mathematics and English, which you must complete to the very best of your ability.
College recognises that students have differences in their learning style and neurodiversity. This means that students will work with college staff to identify and agree on strategies to help access learning e.g.
Use of assistive technology/phones/devices for learning purposes e.g. communication, reminders, strategies, spelling, calming apps
Use of strategies to support access to the physical environment in agreement with college e.g. hats/hoodies to support sensory processing needs, anxiety
Maintain good attendance and not physically attend below 85%
To ensure we achieve the values of the Group we ask you not to:
Use mobile devices during lessons without permission from staff to enhance learning in college
Use hats/hoodies without official permission
Adopt antisocial behaviours that cause risk or harm to the person, others of learning environment
Cheat, or use plagiarism on exams or assignments

You must:

Have ID cards visible and shown when requested
Follow the rules on off-site activities

2.5 Health Safety and Security

The safety of all students and staff is really important and at our college we want to create an environment, where those who study and work here feel safe and secure. For this reason, we ask you to...

Wear your up-to-date group identify card or pass visibility, for example on your lanyard or pinned on your clothes. Present your identify card as required on entry to college and to show your card if requested by a member of staff;
Familiarise yourselves with the Health and Safety rules and emergency evacuation procedures and act at all times with due regard for your own safety and that of others
Follow specific health and safety rules and regulations applicable to use of specialist areas and/or equipment of the Group;
Be responsible for the security of personal items of equipment and clothing;
Use any Group car parking facilities in accordance with Group rules and not park in reserved
spaces.

We ask you not to...

Wear hats or hoodies whilst at college without formal permission.
Allow another person to use your College ID and/or disrespect the Group premises, facilities,
equipment and environment.
Bring or encourage intruders into the Group.
Possess (other than those prescribed for medical conditions), supply or distribute alcohol or drugs
or other illegal substances on the premises.
Be under the influence of intoxication as a result of alcohol or illegal drugs (including prescription
drugs used in an unauthorised manner).

Fail to comply with the general and specific Health & Safety Regulations which include failure to misusing fire equipment, smoking which includes ‘vaping’, except in designated areas and the more detailed Health & Safety Regulations in specialist areas such as engineering.

2.6 Looking after the Environment

It’s important to look after the college facilities and learning equipment so everyone can access these to the best of their ability. To ensure this, we ask you to:

Treat the Group buildings, facilities and equipment with care.
Seek approval before displaying any notices or posters around the Group premises.
Consume food and drink in designated areas only.
Report any damage to Group property or equipment to a member of staff.

we ask you not to:

Cause damage to any Group buildings, equipment, books or furnishings, or any property of others (including the dropping of litter or chewing gum or putting graffiti on Group property).
Carry out any acts of vandalism against the property of the Group, its staff, students, or visitors.

2.7 Use of Information Technology (IT)

The use of technology is an important part of learning when at college. So you get the best out of your college experience we ask you to:

Check your college email account regularly and at least once a week in term time so that the College can pass on key information to you.
Access the internet for educational purposes only.
Download information that is relevant to your course only.
The Group has rules to ensure the safe use of information technology.

We ask you not to;

Use internet chat lines.
Access information on pornographic sites or to display obscene pages.
Access any other offensive or illegal online material such as extremist or violent content.
Abuse e‐mail facilities and not to send others offensive material; iv. Photocopy more than one
copy of any material, unless authorised by a member of staff.
Interfere with computer software or data belonging to, or used by, the Group.
Change the Windows settings on any computer or load software or ‘spam’ e‐mails or ‘broadcast’
messages or attempt any form of ‘computer‐hacking’.
The Group reserve the right to include any other issues not defined in this list as serious or gross
misconduct should that occasion arise.

2.8 Generative AI (ChatGPT)

Students are responsible for ensuring that their assessments are written in their own words and properly attributed to sources, including any use of generative AI technology.
Inappropriate use of generative AI, such as copying and pasting answers without proper referencing, is strictly prohibited and considered academic misconduct.

2.9

All these expectations can be summarised as being kind, hard‐working, respectful, responsible and polite at all times.

Student-College Agreement