We are delighted that your young person has chosen to study with us.
We'll do everything we can to support them during their time at college and help them reach their full potential and career goals. As a parent or carer, your support plays a vital role in ensuring they have a positive experience and a successful outcome. This page outlines what you can expect from us - and what we ask from you - so we can work together to help your young person thrive.
College is a key step towards greater independence. It’s designed to help young people develop confidence and self-responsibility in preparation for their next steps, whether that’s university, an apprenticeship or employment. With this in mind, we’ll normally communicate directly with learners by email or text using the contact details they gave us during their application or enrolment.
If your young person is aged 17 or under (or they've given consent for this to continue once they turn 18), we’ll also keep you informed about their progress and may contact you directly if we need your support. Like you, we want to see your young person achieve. If they face any bumps along the way, for example, if they haven’t engaged with the application process, are finding it difficult to settle in or are struggling to meet expectations, we'll get in touch so we can support them together.
We also encourage you to read our parent charter, which sets out our approach and expectations on how we'll work as a team to support your young person's success.
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What to expect from college life
Each learner follows a full study programme, which includes their main qualification, English and maths (if they haven't yet achieved a grade 4, more information here), work experience and tutorial sessions covering key personal development topics. Their timetable will look different to school - most courses will only be in college 3 - 4 days a week and they'll often be expected to study independently, whether that's in the evening or at the college's learning resource centre (LRC).
Each course has a named course director who will be supporting your young person with their vocational subject. You can find the name of the course director for your young person's course under the "Enrolment" tab on the student portal. You can find further details on how to access the student portal below.
Outside of the course director and vocational team, there are a range of wraparound support services available to help learners succeed and reach their potential at college. These include:
- Student mentors, safeguarding and mental health teams - supporting learners who may be facing personal challenges, offering one-to-one guidance and referrals to external organisations where eneded
- Additional learning support - providing both transitional and in college help for learners with learning differences and / or disabilities
- Work placement and careers coordinators - holding regular one-to-one meetings with learners, supporting them with next steps, organising careers fairs and supporting meaningful work placements
- Higher education champion - helping learners explore university options and supporting UCAS applications, higher education providers and personal statements
- Admissions advisors - offering impartial advice and guidance on course options and progression routes, supporting both applicants and current learners to ensure they're on the right programmes
- Student, financial and business support - answering general queries, assessing and awarding financial support and transport, processing UCAS applications and work closely with curriculum teams on areas such as attendance management and educational visits
- LRC specialists - supporting learners with study skills, research and digital support
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How you can support their transition and time at college
Starting college is an exciting step and your support can make all the difference as your young person settles in. There's a lot to take in and do during the summer and the first few weeks of college, so helping them stay organised and focused is key. Here are some ways which you can support them (and us!):
- Work through the starting college checklist together - this includes key tasks such as uploading GCSE results, ensuing both parents or carers are listed as contacts, booking enrolment, applying for financial support and more
- Encourage indpendence and routine - to arrive on time, to attend and engage with all college activities, to check messages from their course directors or other college staff daily and to plan study time alongside other commitments
- Talk through their goals and ambitions - whether that's heading towards university, an apprenticeship or a career, regular conversations can keep them motivated and help them make the most of what the college offers
- Check in about college regularly - this can help pick up any issues early. If they're struggling, support is available and either encourage them to speak to a member of staff or contact us directly
- Help them stay on top of deadlines and attendance - we expect a lot of our students to help prepare them for work, please encourage them to attend and engage with all college lessons and log absences if they really are unable to attend
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Communication, updates and the student portal
Most communication from college is sent directly to the student by email or text, using the contact details they provided at application or enrolment. It’s important that they check these regularly and keep us up to date if anything changes. Outside of their initial enrolment, learners are unable to change contact details for parents or guardians on the student portal; this must be requested by you, alteratively your young person must come and see us in student services to request the change which we'll look to verify first.
If your young person is aged 17 or under (or they've given consent for progress sharing to continue once they turn 18), you can expect:
- Updates throughout the admissions process, particularly for key messages (starting college information) or events (applicant welcome days, open days)
- A welcome message once your young person has enrolled
- Details of each of the three formal progress reviews, in October, after Christmas and near Easter, including a more substantial second progress review document
- An invitation to a parent's evening in the spring term to discuss the second progress review
- Occasional updates if your support is needed to help your young person stay on track
- Access to attendance data, messages sent, praise, work experience and much more through the student portal (if access has been given, see below)
Accessing the student portal
Although the college has a legal obligation to share general progress and concerns with parents and carers of learners aged 17 or under, you'll need to speak to your young person about giving you access to their student portal. This will give you a live view of everything they can see - including communications from the college, course applications, course status, attendance data, praise and concerns, progress reviews and any key highlights from their time at college.
It's really easy for your young person to give access, once they've logged in to the student portal, they should go to "Emergency Contacts" and edit your record to give access you access to the portal. You'll then receive an email with details on how to log in. By giving you access to the student portal, they'll also be given you consent for you to remain as a contact who we will share progress with after they turn 18.
What happens when my young person turns 18?
The college no longer has the legal basis required to continue to share progress with you once your young person turns 18, they can give consent for this communication to continue. You and your young person will be sent regular messages in the lead up to their 18th birthday with details on how to update this consent on the student portal. Regardless of consent, in the event of a safeguarding, welfare or a medical emergency, we will still continue to contact you as the listed emergency contact.