A Parent s Guide to College

A Parent s Guide to College

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Welcome As a parent myself I know how important it is to me that my sons receive the right education. That s why at Preston s College we take great pride in supporting all of our learners to achieve the qualifications they need, alongside the development of the technical skills and knowledge that employers and universities are looking for. Dr Lis Smith, Principal and CEX Why Preston s College is the right choice for your son/daughter: Rated Good or Outstanding in every area by Ofsted Over 400 courses with 100% pass rate* Links with 4,000 local employers such as Leyland Trucks and the NHS 99% A-Level pass rate for the last 6 years Tutors with real industry experience A range of courses to suit their ability, learning style and ambitions Partner college of The University of Central Lancashire and The University of Derby Develop work skills for careers and university Safe and supportive environment One to one tutorial programme Develop independent living and study skills Our mission is to make all our learners THE most employable. * Includes Vocational, A-Levels, Apprenticeships and Work Based Learning courses. Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

2-3 We support our learners to develop work skills during their studies so they will be equipped with a range of skills to start a successful career after college or university. Work skills are an important part of any career so on our courses your son/daughter will learn and develop skills in: Communication Problem Solving Adapting to Change Team Work Understanding Customers Digital Technology Decision Making Self-motivation Commercial Awareness Social Responsibility Professionalism Resilience Financial Awareness What courses are on offer? Apprenticeships Pages 14-15 Vocational Courses Pages 16-17 A-Levels Pages 18-19

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Myth Buster Talking to parents, students and local schools we found that there are a few myths out there about further education (A-Levels and Vocational qualifications) and about us. So we d like to take this opportunity to dispel some of those myths. MYTH: A-Levels are better than Vocational qualifications FACT: Level 3 Vocational qualifications are the equivalent to three A-Levels in terms of UCAS points, but they are worth so much more in the long term. Vocational qualifications allow for the development of invaluable skills. Rather than being stuck in a classroom learning to pass exams vocational students get to apply their knowledge to real situations. At Preston s College we have a number of real work environments on campus and links with over 4,000 local employers for work experience opportunities. Developing work skills and completing work experience means that your son/daughter will have a strong CV and this makes them THE most employable. MYTH: You need to study A-Levels to get into university FACT: Students studying Level 3 Vocational qualifications such as the BTEC Extended Diploma can gain up to 420 UCAS points (depending on their grades) equivalent to 3 A* at A-Level. UCAS points along with the development of real work skills ensure that our learners can progress to university level study. Apprentices can also progress to university level study with our range of Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4). MYTH: You have to go to university to get a degree FACT: You can study university level qualifications at Preston s College. We have a range of higher education qualifications such as HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Top-Ups. Plus, we are a partner college of the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Derby. This means that a number of our Higher Education courses are validated by a university. For more information on the types of qualifications your son/daughter can progress to, please see page 22. Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

4-5 MYTH: Preston s College is not for high achievers FACT: We support learners of all abilities and have a range of Level 3 courses and A-Levels. Since the adademic year 2012/13 we had nearly 8,000 students progress to a higher level of study. MYTH: Preston s College students don t get the best results FACT: In our latest Ofsted report inspectors stated that Success rates are on an upward trend and success rates are above the national average. For the last 6 years our A-Level pass rate has been 99%. This year the percentage of learners achieving grades A*-C is ten per cent higher than last year, with almost two thirds of learners achieving grades A*-C.

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Ofsted Highlights Preston s College was inspected in November 2013 and was graded as Good or Outstanding in every area. Ofsted looked at our outcomes for learners, the quality of teaching and the effectiveness of leadership and management. Here are some key highlights from the report. Very good, well-coordinated care, guidance and support help learners to stay on programmes and succeed well. Strong leadership, effective management of change and rigorous performance management have resulted in significant improvements in the quality of provision and accountability of staff. Employers value the professionalism that the learners bring to their businesses thus improving their competitiveness and profile with their customers. Teachers have high expectations of their learners and provide good quality support, in and out of the classroom, to help them make good progress. Teachers across all subject areas including work-based learning are well qualified and have strong expertise in their subjects. The college ethos and environment are inclusive and provide a positive learning environment in which all learners are welcomed. Learners are very positive about the quality of their experience at the college. The college has extensive and thorough measures in place to promote the safeguarding of learners, including effective links with external agencies, and fulfils all its statutory obligations. Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

6-7 Results Since the academic year 2012/13, more than 2,000 Preston s College students became employed with over 600 local employers and nearly 8,000 students progressed to a higher level of study after their course. For the last 6 years our A-Level pass rate has been 99%. This year the percentage of learners achieving grades A*-C is ten per cent higher than last year, with almost two thirds of learners achieving grades A*-C. 99% Success rates are on an upward trend and are above the national average. A-Level Pass rate www.preston.ac.uk

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE The Learner Experience At Preston s College every student is an individual and we ll support them to achieve their potential. Alongside group and one-to-one tutorials, there will be a mixture of theory lessons, practical work, work experience and project work. Tutorials Tutorial at Preston s College is a programme of personal and social development that is focussed on supporting your son/daughter to achieve their full potential. Tutorial is the general support mechanism by which students receive assistance and guidance through weekly group tutorials and regular one-to-one performance reviews with their Achievement Tutor. There are four key elements to the tutorial programme: 1. Pastoral Support Help with queries, problems and referrals from any of our qualified support team including counsellors, careers advisors, and welfare and additional learning support staff. 2. Curriculum Support Monitor progress, set targets and keep learners motivated through regular one-to-one tutorials and performance reviews with their Achievement Tutor. 3. Social Development Improves self-esteem and develops key skills in communication and teamwork so that learners are prepared to thrive in their career. 4. Personal Development Individual career planning skills, developing independent study techniques, research skills, employability, enterprise skills development, personal and communication skills. Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

8-9 Maths & English Maths and English are very important skills in life and in work, so if your son/ daughter leaves school without a grade C in both these subjects they will have to study it as part of their college course. Careers Guidance When students apply to study at Preston s College they will have an individual interview at school or at the College s Advice Centre. A fully qualified member of our Careers Guidance Team will discuss their course options and make sure it s the right course for their career goals. Two floors of resources, including computers, study booths, books, journals, newspapers and printing and photocopying services. Learning Resources The Learning Zone provides an excellent environment for supporting learning. Based in our InZone there are two floors of resources, including computers, study booths, books, journals, newspapers and printing and photocopying services. What happen s next All of this support is designed to ensure that our learners are ready for whatever comes next, be that their next level of study at the College, going to University or going into employment. www.preston.ac.uk

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Career Zone for life after college The Career Zone is the bridge between college and the real world. There are Careers experts who really know their stuff and can help with: Choosing a university Completing UCAS application form and personal statement Writing CVs Completing application forms Interview techniques Teaching & Assessment We do things differently at Preston s College. We encourage our learners to develop independent learning skills and employability skills through projects. This means that they get to learn outside the classroom. How does it work? Learners get the core content from their tutor and they work together to create a project. Working in groups or individually, sometimes with learners from other subjects, students apply what they have learnt in the classroom to real situations. As you would expect each project has objectives, a plan to achieve those objectives, an outcome and an evaluation. This reflects the world of work. Here are a couple of examples from the last year. Shamplify Students from hairdressing, science and graphic design collaborated on a project to create a new hair care range. Hairdressing and science students investigated the structure of hair, ingredients and the manufacturing process, while graphic design students developed designs for the logo and packaging. They brought all their hard work together to launch Elements which is now for sale in our training salon. NHS APP for Mental Health Service Health and Social Care and IT learners worked together to design an App for Android tablet devices, to support mental health service users regain independent living. Work Experience As well as projects students at Preston s College are expected to develop their work skills by gaining work experience. This can be through our links with local employers or at on-site shops and services we call these Real Work Environments. Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

10-11 Real Work Environments on campus provide a service to students, staff and the general public. CARS CARS is a college enterprise providing real-work experience for students in the automotive technologies department. As well as offering mechanical repairs CARS offers additional services such as servicing, tyre fitting and fault finding. The High Street Office A real work environment for our business students, where they can participate in a range of tasks and activities as an office employee. ReVive & Elements Apprentices and Level 3 students get to provide a professional service in our Wella accredited commercial salon, ReVive. Level 1 & 2 learners develop their skills in our training salon Elements. Vincent s The Real Work Environments for our catering and hospitality students come under the Vincent s brand. Open during term time the outlets provide lunch services and host special events arranged by our students. There is also a butchery, bakery and café providing a wide selection of local sourced products and freshly baked items. www.preston.ac.uk

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE The istem Connection What is STEM? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Our new istem Centre is open! As well as housing cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art classrooms for our STEM learners, there are also opportunities for STEM skills to be developed across our entire range of courses. So if you son/daughter is studying hairdressing and beauty, sport, or even catering, they will use aspects of STEM subjects in their learning and will work on projects within the istem Centre. This could include activities such as analysing and evaluating sporting practice, creating new hair products or using new technologies to create fancy food dishes. Employers we work with:

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A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Apprenticeships Why choose Preston s College for Apprenticeships? We are the largest Apprenticeship provider in the area, so we know a lot about Apprenticeships and the local job market. We work with over 4,000 employers and have dozens of Apprenticeship vacancies at any time, throughout the year so there is lots to choose from. Plus, to help your son/daughter secure the right Apprenticeship they can access our new service, The Job Zone. The Job Zone is a recruitment service for employers in the local area, they come to us to advertise Apprenticeship vacancies, this means that we have employers ready and waiting to hire your son/daughter! We can help: Get their CV noticed Find an employer Apply for vacancies Interview preparation Interview feedback What Apprenticeships are available? We offer a wide range of Apprenticeships covering 11 industries: 1. Automotive Technologies 2. Business 3. Catering & Hospitality 4. Early Years 5. Engineering 6. Hair, Barbering & Beauty 7. Health 8. Science 9. Sport, Exercise & Fitness 10. Visual & Performing Arts 11. Construction For our full range of Apprenticeships and to see our current vacancies visit www.preston.ac.uk/thejobzone Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

14-15 Why choose an Apprenticeship? If your son/daughter knows the career they want to pursue, and prefer to learn by doing rather than sitting in a classroom, then this could be the option for them. On an Apprenticeship programme not only will they gain a nationally recognised qualification, they will learn on the job, meaning that they receive a wage. We are the largest Apprenticeship provider in the area. For more information on Apprenticeships come along to one of our open evenings on 10th November 2015 4-7:30pm 16th March 2016 4-7:30pm

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Vocational Qualifications Why choose Preston s College for a Vocational qualification? We have a new approach to education which involves learning not only the technical knowledge for industry but developing the skills that employers and universities are looking for. While studying a Vocational qualification with us, your son/daughter will benefit from real work experiences either in our on-campus shops and services (e.g. hair and beauty salon, automotive services, theatre, music studios) or at a local employers (e.g. early years providers and hospital). So they get to apply what they learn in the classroom to a real work environment. What Vocational qualifications are available? There s a wide range of courses available covering a range of sectors. As an overview, here s the subjects that we cover: Automotive Technologies & Engineering Business & Accounting Catering & Hospitality Construction Digital & Computing Technologies Hairdressing, Barbering & Beauty Therapy Health, Social Care & Early Years Science Sport, Exercise & Public Services Visual & Performing Arts Visitor Economy (Travel & Tourism) For more information on Vocational courses please see our prospectus or visit www.preston.ac.uk Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

16-17 Why choose a Vocational qualification? Vocational courses offer the opportunity to develop practical skills in a specific subject area. All our Vocational qualifications are nationally recognised and developed with employers which means your son/daughter will get real industry skills that are in demand. What s more is that Vocational qualifications such as BTECs and NVQs are accepted by universities for a wide range of degree courses so no matter what subject they choose, they will have the opportunity to progress onto higher education. While studying a Vocational qualification with us your son/ daughter will benefit from real work experiences.

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE A-Levels Why choose Preston s College for A-Levels? We teach so much more than just how to pass exams. Not only are our results fantastic (99% pass rate for the last six years) but we prepare our learners for life after college and university. On our courses your son/daughter will develop skills for academic study and their career. Through our enrichment programme they will develop their knowledge and experience real life situations rather than just being stuck in the classroom. It s a challenging programme but your son/daughter will be supported every step of the way. One to one tutorials help them stay on track to achieve their potential. What s the entry criteria? Five GCSEs at A*-C grade including English and maths. At A-Level a number of subjects will require a grade B at GCSE in a related subject. Please check individual subjects for additional entry criteria in our 2016/17 FE Prospectus or visit www.preston.ac.uk Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk Why choose A-Levels? A-Levels are an academic qualification so it is commonly seen as the first choice for those wanting to progress to university. For some professions such as in medicine or veterinary fields you have to study science A-Levels. A-Levels are also a good choice if your son/ daughter wants to study a range of subjects or if they are unsure which career is for them as they can study up to four A-Levels to increase their options after college. Assessment is nearly always by exam so your son/daughter must be comfortable with this method of assessment.

18-19 What A-Levels are on offer? Biology Chemistry Physics Maths Computer Science English Language & Literature History Law Business Studies Media Studies Psychology Sociology www.preston.ac.uk

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Keeping in Touch Application & Enrolment Process When your son/daughter has applied to study at Preston s College they will receive an interview with one of our careers advisors. Throughout the year we will send your son/daughter information to remind them what they need to do in order to secure their place at college. We will also send you information at key times so you know what stage their application is at. Parents Evenings When your son/daughter starts college you will be invited to attend at least two parent evenings. You ll receive information on when these will be held nearer the time. As a guide, this year they are being held in September and February. Progress Reviews You will receive three progress reviews during the year, which will be posted directly to you. These reports will highlight your son/daughters performance. ProPortal You will be able to access up-to-date information on performance, attendance and punctuality via ProPortal. The portal can be accessed from our website. Once your son/daughter has started their course you will be able to register for the service. Want to keep up-to-date with college news and events? Follow us on Twitter @prestoncollege Like us on Facebook /prestoncollege Or sign up for our parent s newsletter by visiting www.preston.ac.uk/parents Telephone 01772 22 55 22 Email info@preston.ac.uk

20-21 Frequently asked questions What bus do they catch? Preston s College is well served by several major bus routes in Preston including the number 19 (Royal Preston Hospital), the number 23 (Sherwood Asda) and the Preston Orbital (88A and 88C) bus routes. Bus timetables can be found by visiting the Preston Bus website or Traveline. How much is the bus service? This year the bus pass is 50 per term with the third term refunded if attendance is above 90%. This may change for students starting their course in September 2016. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information. What will the timetable be like? Timetables are designed to make sure our students have time to complete independent study, work experience, projects and enrichment activities. If your son/daughter leaves school without a grade C in maths and English then they must study it at college, so it will be built into their timetable. So, they may be in college three days a week with two days set aside for independent study. What is the entry criteria? Entry criteria depends on the course. Please check course information in the prospectus or online at www.preston.ac.uk As a reference, here is a short overview of each level. Entry Level: There are no formal entry requirements. Level 1: Four GCSEs at grade E or above including English and maths. Level 2: Four GCSEs at grade D or above including English and maths. Level 3 (BTEC/Vocational): Five GCSEs at A*-C grade. A GCSE at grade C in either English or maths with a minimum grade D for the other subject also required. Level 3 (A-Levels): Five GCSEs at A*-C grade including English and maths. At A-Level a number of subjects will require a grade B at GCSE in a related subject. What support is available? Student Services offer advice, information and guidance to all students. If we don t know the answer we will find someone who does. Typical issues that we assist with include: Money to study e.g. grants, loans etc Welfare, benefits advice and information Advice on personal difficulties Progressing to further courses of study Preparing for interviews In addition to student services you can also access support from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) team. The SEN team provides support to students who have a learning difficulty or disability. They work closely with colleagues across college to ensure that students receive the support appropriate to their individual requirements.

A PARENT S GUIDE TO COLLEGE Qualifications Explained Your guide to the diverse range of qualifications and progression opportunities available at Preston s College. BTEC Providing your son/daughter with both practical skills and sector specific knowledge, BTEC courses consist of theoretical study, written work and hands on tasks. BTEC courses are particularly suited to individuals who prefer coursework to exams and who have a fairly good idea of what sector or profession they would like to pursue. Anything else I should know? BTECs are accepted by universities for a wide range of degree courses so regardless of subject, students have the opportunity to progress onto higher education study after college. TECHBAC The City & Guilds TechBac is a complete programme of study that is designed to sit comfortably alongside GCSEs and AS/A- Levels or as a standalone programme. It is a technical qualification that will provide your son/daughter with the perfect combination of subject knowledge plus the workplace skills that employers are looking for. What is equivalent to TechBac? The Level 2 TechBac is equivalent to either 3 or 4 GCSEs which enables your son/ daughter to take additional subjects. The Level 3 TechBac is equivalent to 2 or 3 A-Levels.

22-23 A-LEVELS A-Levels offer a direct route to higher education study as well as the flexibility of studying a range of different subjects before specialising in a specific field or career. A-Levels are a prerequisite for certain professional occupations such as medicine, physiotherapy, psychology, forensics, law, dentistry, or economics where a higher education degree is a requirement. ACCESS COURSES Access courses provide students who are 19+ years of age with the opportunity to gain access to a higher education degree. Access courses are designed specifically for those who left school without A-Levels and are looking for a route into Higher Education study. HIGHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATES (HNCs) Higher Education Certificates are designed to give students the skills and knowledge required by employers. HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMAS (HNDs) HNDs are work related higher education qualification which are highly valued by employers. HNDs provide students with a practical route into university and employment. FOUNDATION DEGREES Foundation Degrees are equivalent to the first two years of a university degree. Designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge employers are looking for, Foundation Degrees provide an alternative route into university. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMES Professional programmes are for those who know the profession they want to work within and need a certain qualification to do so, or are trying to progress within their careers.

Useful numbers Student Services: 01772 22 56 56 Support for Learners Team: 01772 22 53 28 Advice Centre: 01772 22 55 22 Reception: 01772 22 50 00 For more information visit www.preston.ac.uk @prestoncollege /prestoncollege