huntingdonshire regional college parents' and carers' guide

Parents’ and Carers’ Guide

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parents’ and carers’ guide

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Contents

Helping your son or daughter choose their next steps may seem daunting and with so many

different options it is difficult to know where to begin.

This guide aims to break down the steps of leaving school and answer some of the questions you

may have as a parent or carer.

Huntingdonshire Regional College hasachieved their highest ever success rates.

Welcome

3. Where to start?

4. When to do things?

5. Where to go after school?

6. Qualifications guide

7. Apprenticeships

8. Helping you come to College

10. Support

11. Events and activities at College

12. Application process

13. Common questions

14. Adult learning

L@HuntsCollege C/HuntingdonshireRegionalCollege 01480 379106 huntingdon.ac.uk 3

There are lots of ways you can help your son or

daughter choose their future. Here are a few ways you

can help them pick their career path:

• Find out what your son or daughter enjoys studying,

students will normally achieve higher results in the

subjects they enjoy and they will be able to continue

into a career that fulfils them.

• Research into the job roles and industries your son or

daughter is interested in by using the internet and

speaking to people working in the industry. By doing

this you will gain a good insight into what is involved

and where the career will take them. It will also

ensure the industry and job role is what they are

expecting.

• Find out what qualifications your son or daughter

needs to work within the industries they are

interested in and look for local colleges where they

can study for these qualifications.

• Talk to your son or daughter about the different

qualifications they could do – do they see themselves

going to university or do they think an apprenticeship

may be more suited? Turn to page 6 to find out about

the different qualifications they could study at

Huntingdonshire Regional College.

• Start looking together at prospectuses and around

your local colleges. Visiting Open Days can help you

get a feel for the college and talking to staff and

current students can help to answer any questions

you may have. Visit www.huntingdon.ac.uk to find

out when our next Open Day is.

Where to start?“The College hasgood facilities andthe tuition andsupport has beenexcellent.”

You can go to university with

vocational qualifications. You can

gain up to 420 UCAS points

with a BTEC Level 3 qualification

– equivalent to 3 A Levels at

A* grade.

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Year 9 During Year 9 your son or daughter will be

choosing their options for GCSE. When discussing

their GCSE options start to think about their

future beyond school. Studying relevant GCSEs

can help your son or daughter when starting

their career.

Let your son or daughter get a head start by

coming to College at 14!

We work with local secondary schools to provide

practical, hands-on learning designed for 14 – 16

year olds. The courses provide your son or

daughter with the opportunity to learn industry

specific skills and gain an insight into the career

they are interested in. Students come into

College for either one morning or afternoon

every week and after completing the course your

son or daughter can choose to progress onto a

College course or an Apprenticeship. For more

information or to request a prospectus visit our

website www.huntingdon.ac.uk or call us on

01480 379106.

When to do things?

Year 10Start collecting prospectuses, course

information and think about the different

options your son or daughter has after they

leave school. Find out about the qualifications

and apprenticeships that are available in the

local area. Talking to other parents whose

children have recently finished school may help

answer some of the questions you have.

Year 11There will be plenty of opportunities to visit

College Open Days throughout the year. Open

Days are a great way to see the College and find

out what it would be like to study there. Once

your son or daughter has made their decision

they can then apply for the course. For

information on the application process at

Huntingdonshire Regional College please turn

to page 12.

The number of young people

unemployed has reached over 1 million.

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Find out when our next Open Day isby visiting our websitewww.huntingdon.ac.uk


Raising the participation ageThe government have made changes to the age

at which young people can leave education and

training. From 2013 young people will be

required to stay in education or training until

they turn 17 and from 2015 the age will go up to

18.

However this does not mean your son or

daughter will have to remain in school, post-16

options include:

• Full-time education

(this could be at a college or school)

• An Apprenticeship

• Part-time education or training if they

are employed.

Choosing the right course, the right

qualification and even the right location can

be difficult. Here are the options your son or

daughter has when they finish school:

Stay at SchoolYour current School offers a familiar setting for

your son or daughter. With many schools now

offering A-Level courses they may feel more

comfortable staying within the surroundings

they know. After A Levels they could choose

to go onto university, go into employment or

start an apprenticeship.

Go to CollegeCollege gives your son or daughter the

opportunity to meet new people and learn in

a more work-based environment. The

subjects on offer at Huntingdonshire Regional

College give students practical, hands-on

learning that can lead into jobs, further

education and even onto university.

Huntingdonshire Regional College offers a

wide range of full-time and part-time courses

from Entry Level (where no formal

qualifications are needed) up to Level 4

(Higher Education).

Be an Apprentice Apprenticeships offer your son or daughter

the chance to learn while they earn, gain a

variety of skills and work towards a nationally

recognised qualification. For more

information please see page 7.

“I really enjoyed thenail course and feelextremely confident inpursuing a careerwithin the nailindustry.”

Where to goafter school?



Qualifications guideWe offer a wide range of courses

at different levels, meaning people

of all abilities can study at College.

We ensure students are

studying on the correct level so

they can achieve great results.

Students with no previous

qualifications can apply for our

Entry Level and Level 1 courses

and those with qualifications such

as GCSEs can start at Level 2 or 3.

For more advice on the right

level for your son or daughter

please call us on 01480 379106.

Entry Level

Entry requirements:

No formal

qualifications are

needed, just an interest

in the subject.

Study options:

• Qualification in your

chosen vocational

subject.

Where next?

• Level 1 Qualification

• Further training

• Work

Entry requirements:

No formal

qualifications are

needed, just an interest

in the subject.

Study options:

• Level 1 Diploma

• NVQ Level 1

• Foundation Learning

Qualification

Where next?



• Work

Entry Requirements:

4 GCSEs (Grade D or

above) or equivalent,

plus interview.

Partner Colleges entry

requirements may differ.

Study options:

• Level 2 Diploma

• NVQ Level 2

• Intermediate

Apprenticeship

Where next?



• Work

Entry Requirements:

5 GCSEs (Grade C or

above) or equivalent,

plus interview.

Partner Colleges entry

requirements may

differ.

Study options:

• Extended Diploma

• NVQ Level 3

• Advanced

Apprenticeship

• Access Diploma

Where next?

• Higher Education


• Work

Entry requirements:

Please see Higher

Education Prospectus

for further details.

Study options:

• A Foundation Degree

• Higher Apprenticeship

• Diploma in Higher

Education

Where next?

• BA/BSc Honours


• Work

Level 1

Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs)

Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels)

Level 4 (Higher Education)

People with five or more

GCSEs at A* - C earn, on

average, 9-11% more than

those without.

Huntingdonshire Regional

College offers a wide range

of Level 2 courses. A Level 2

course is equivalent to 5

A*- C GCSEs.

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“I feel that after completing thisapprenticeship I will have an advantageover other candidates.”

Apprenticeships are fast becoming a popular

route into employment. So what’s involved?

An apprenticeship takes the learner out of

the classroom and into actual work. It is a real

job where they can earn while they learn, gain

a variety of skills and work towards nationally

recognised qualifications.

An Apprenticeship not only trains your son

or daughter in the skills employers want, it

also opens up further career and learning

opportunities. After the programme ends the

Apprentice can carry on working, do more

advanced training or even go on to higher

education.

Apprentices’ work alongside experienced

staff building up the knowledge and skills they

need for a successful career. As an employee

of the company they will have the same

benefits as other employees including holiday

pay.

They take between 1 and 4 years to

complete and cover a wide range of job roles

in a variety of industries.

Call us today on 01480 379105 to find out

how we can help your son or daughter start an

Apprenticeship.

ApprenticeshipsA Level 2 Apprenticeship is equivalent

to 5 GCSEs.

An average apprentices’ wage is £170

per week*

*Apprenticeships Pay Survey 2007.

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Helping you come to College

FinanceYou may be concerned about the cost of your son

or daughter coming to College. There are ways we

can help and College is not as expensive as you

may think.

If your son or daughter is under 19 years old

course fees will usually be free. Additional costs

can include things like equipment, activities and

uniforms; however we can often help with the

costs of these.

We may be able to help with the following costs:

• Transport

• Equipment, uniform and any books

you may need

• Educational trips and other course related costs

Please call 01480 379106 for more information on

how we can help your son or daughter.

Getting to CollegeWorried about transport costs?

Subsidised transport may be available to full-

time students under the age of 19 who live more

than three miles from the College. For further

information please visit your local authority

website or call our team on 01480 379106.

“Coming toHuntingdonshireRegional College hasexposed my hiddentalents. Throughconstant support fromthe College I haveachieved more than Ithought I ever could.”


College DevelopmentHuntingdonshire Regional College has

recently undergone a £3 million

refurbishment, which was finished in

November 2011. The refurbishment saw the

front of the College re-designed and

improved facilities for students including a

new Student Services, additional classrooms

and a new break out area.

Our College Development is not stopping

there! We are continuing to develop our

College and improve the facilities and

student experience. Improvements to date

include a new Common Room for students,

re-decorated classrooms, corridors and

social spaces as well as the introduction of

Starbucks Coffee to our Cafeteria.

Come and see for yourself at our next

Open Day.

We have

invested

millions in our

facilities and

teaching areas.

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The Free College Bus We have introduced a FREE College bus service

around Huntingdonshire helping to make the

journey to College that little bit easier and saving

you up to £450 per year. The bus routes include:

Chatteris, Ramsey, Sawtry, Somersham, St Ives,

St Neots and Warboys. The buses drop students

off at around 9am and will pick students up at

5pm from College. Visit our website,

www.huntingdon.ac.uk, for more information.



Course Tutor

Every full-time student has a named Course

Tutor. The Course Tutor will help them achieve

their learning targets and assist them with any

work related issues.

Additional Learning Support

Huntingdonshire Regional College offers a wide

range of provision for students who may have a

learning difficulty, a disability or require that

little extra help with literacy, numeracy or

language. The Learning Support team will carry

out assessments and discuss individual needs to

ensure the correct support is put in place. If

English isn’t their first language we offer

language support. If you have any concerns

regarding support for your son or daughter,

please call us on 01480 379106 to find out how

we can help them.

Functional Skills

As part of all courses at Huntingdonshire

Regional College students are required to

attend Functional Skills classes. These provide

our students with English, Maths and ICT skills,

helping to achieve success in both College work

and throughout their careers.

Student Services

Our Student Services team are here to help

your son or daughter get the most out of

College. They are here to give the best possible

advice and support to your son or daughter

regarding both personal and work-related

issues. They are able to provide support and

guidance with: transport to College, financial

issues, careers advice, personal issues, and

study skills.

SupportAt Huntingdonshire Regional College we are committed to supporting all students

with their learning.

What support do students receive?

“The tutors are fantastic, supportive andthey are always there to listen to us even ifit’s about a personal matter.”

Are you worried about your son or daughter coming to College?

Call our team today on 01480 379106 to discuss individual needs and concerns.

Student Services organise fantastic events and

activities that run throughout the year. The

events we organise for students ensure they

also gain excellent experiences and develop

social skills outside of the classroom.

Previous events include BCS Dodgeball

Tournament and the Gambia Expedition 2012.

We also hold an annual awards ceremony, Hair

and Beauty show and end of year Art and Design

show to celebrate all the hard work our students

have put in during their time at College.

Events & Activities at College



Your son or daughter can apply for any of our

full-time courses by filling out an application

form, these can be found at the back of our

prospectus. Visit www.huntingdon.ac.uk or call

01480 379106 to request your prospectus. Your

son or daughter may also apply to College with

their school on UCAS Progress.

After your son or daughter has applied to

Huntingdonshire Regional College they will

receive written confirmation and shortly after

this they will receive an invitation to attend an

interview.

The interview is nothing to worry about and is

simply to ensure the course they have applied to

is right for them. Your son or daughter will be

interviewed by one of the course tutors and it

will last about 30 minutes. At the interview your

son or daughter will be able to ask any questions

they have. Parents are also invited to attend the

interview.

After the interview your son or daughter will

find out if they have been successful. Your son or

daughter will be offered either a conditional or

unconditional place. A conditional offer means

they have a place on the course.

An unconditional offer means they will need

to meet the requirements stated in the

paperwork to be able to take the place on the

course. The requirements may be achieving a

certain number of GCSEs.

What happens if my son or daughter does not

achieve the results they were expecting?

Not achieving the results your son or daughter

wanted can be extremely disappointing, however

it does not mean they cannot come to College

and pursue the career they want to. If your son or

daughter does not achieve the results they were

expecting call us on 01480 379106 to find out

what their options are.

Huntingdonshire Regional College accepts

applications right up until the start of the course.

But make sure your son or daughter doesn’t delay

applying for the course, a lot of our courses do fill

up quickly and it’s best to get the application in as

soon as they have made their decision to avoid

disappointment.

If your son or daughter needs any help

applying for a course at Huntingdonshire Regional

College they can ring us on 01480 379106.

Application process“The tutors make thecourse really exciting.The academic study ishard work but HRC isa friendly environmentto learn in.”



What about the safety of my son or daughter?

Huntingdonshire Regional College puts student

safety first. College IDs are issued to all staff,

students and visitors. All members of staff are

CRB checked and given safeguarding training to

ensure the College is a safe environment for

everyone.

How many hours per week will my son or

daughter attend College?

Full-time courses are normally undertaken in 3 or

4 days per week. The College day is 9am – 5pm

Monday to Friday.

How is attendance monitored?

Course Tutors monitor attendance and will

contact students if there is a cause for concern. If

students are going to be absent we ask them to

contact their Course Tutor. This information will be

given to them when they start.

Will I be kept informed about my son or

daughters progress if they go to College?

If your son or daughter is under 18 years old we

will send you two Progress Reports per year and

you will be invited to attend two Parents’

Evenings. If your son or daughter is under 18 you

are welcome to call the College and speak to

their Course Tutor if you have any concerns.

Course Tutors will also call you if the College has

any concerns.

What if they decide they are on the wrong

course?

Students can speak to their Course Tutor or the

Admissions Team if they feel the course is not for

them. The Admissions Team can discuss any

issues with your son or daughter and if

appropriate transfer them onto another course.

What happens once their course is finished?

Throughout the course your son or daughter can

meet with one of our Progression Advisors in

Student Services. They are there to help with

UCAS applications and can also help with CVs

and job applications. The College also has a

Careers Library which is available to all students

and has a range of further and higher education

prospectuses and computers where students can

search for job vacancies.

CommonQuestions



AdultLearning

Huntingdonshire

Regional College offers

over 400 part-time

courses.

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Have you thought about coming back to College?

We offer a wide range of part-time courses, from just-for-fun

courses to those leading to formal qualifications. Our part-time

courses are run at a variety of times making them extremely

flexible. Our courses run throughout the day; during work hours,

in the evening or through distance learning allowing you to study

at a time that suits you.

Why not learn a new language!

We run courses in Arabic, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish and lots

more. So whether it is to learn the basics for a holiday or because

you want to be able to speak a second language, we can help

you!

Do you want to improve your computer skills?

We hold computer courses such as ‘Computing Made Easy’ for

beginners as well as ‘CISCO CCNA’ for those looking to develop a

career in IT. So if you are new to computing or want to develop

your computer skills we offer courses to suit your skills and

experience.

Have you always wanted to study for a degree but do not have

the qualifications you need?

Our Access to Higher Education courses are designed to prepare

you for degree level. Past learners have gone onto study anything

from Teacher Training to Philosophy, History, English and Law.

Are you looking for a change of career?

We offer a wide range of part-time courses that will allow you to

start a new job and maybe even set up your own business.

For more information on our adult learning courses or to

request a part-time prospectus visit our website or phone us on

01480 379106.


“I have found the College experience great, ithas built up my confidence and I would

recommend it to others for sure.”

At Huntingdonshire Regional College we do not close our doors over the school breaks.

This means if your son or daughter needs any help with their application or just needs some

advice over the summer we can help. Call us on 01480 379106.

Please note the College will be closed over Christmas and for a short period over Easter.

Do you still have unanswered questions? Call our team on 01480 379106.

huntingdon.ac.uk | 01480 379106 C/HuntingdonshireRegionalCollege L@HuntsCollege

huntingdonshire regional college parents' and carers' guide

Documents

son ordaughter

qualications guide7

parent mail

career path

startingtheir career

aboutthe dierent qualications

carers guidesign

carers guideyear