If you are between 16 and 19 years old, you will join a Study Programme at the College. The aim of your Study Programme is to prepare you as an individual for the next step in either education or in your future career. We place great emphasis on both.
- Your Main Qualification
Most of your Study Programme will include the main qualification, for example: GCSEs and BTEC Diploma at Level 1, 2 or 3.
- English and Mathematics
To prepare you for further/higher education and your working life, it is now a national requirement that you achieve grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE English and Mathematics.
At College you will study GCSE English and Mathematics as part of your Study Programme to give you the opportunity to achieve grade 4 (C) or better.
All 16-19 year old students on any programme who have:
- Grade 3 (D) in English and/or Mathematics will do GCSEs.
- Grade 2 (E) or below will be enrolled on Functional Skills Level 1.
If your Functional Skills Level 1 is achieved at College you will progress onto GCSE.
All others will be assessed at entry using any international qualifications you may have or our own testing.
- Enrichment
As part of your Study Programme we will give you the opportunity to get involved in a whole range of events. For example, you will be able to participate in student social events. Important parts of this programme are our thriving Student Council.
- Tutors
We pride ourselves on the level of support we give to students on all our courses. Structured support comes from the Tutorial system; we also have tremendous, accessible cross College support services. We want you to achieve two main things with us at College: firstly, the most progress you can possibly make on your qualifications; secondly, we want you to develop and grow as a person and make a positive impact in the community.
- Employability Skills
As part of your Personal Development, Behaviour and Attitudes tutorial programme you will be given every opportunity to develop skills and knowledge required by employers to ensure you leave us with both the qualifications and skills to begin and grow in your career.
We know employers are looking for knowledge and additional skills as well as the qualification you study. We have developed a programme to support this including Employability Weeks and Conferences, Inspiring Futures talks by guest speakers and alumni, visits to employers, all designed to develop skills to support and improve your career aspirations and gaining employment. All students also undertake a mandatory work placement or industry placement.
Employability Skills can be defined as the transferable skills needed by an individual to make them ‘employable’. These skills are generic across all employment sectors. Along with good technical understanding and subject knowledge, employers often outline a set of skills that they want from an employee. During your time with us we will work with you to develop these skills: Communication and interpersonal skills, Problem solving skills, Using your initiative and being self-motivated, Working under pressure and to deadlines, Organisation skills, Team working, Ability to learn and adapt, Numeracy, Valuing diversity and difference, Negotiation skills.
