A Guide for Parents Their Journey Starts Here
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
A guide for parents Their journey starts here GET SET Suzi Martin, Breakfast Show Producer at Heart North East Radio and former High Tunstall College of Science Secondary School pupil and East Durham College media student. East Durham College | Houghall Campus | The Technical Academy | Peterlee Campus 96% of students would RECOMMEND us to others (QDP induction survey 2016/17) 95% A-LEVEL of our vocational students got into their PASS first choice university (2017) (2016 & 2017) RATE 100% 9/10 students in work OR FURTHER STUDY (Destinations Research 2015/16) Our students have gone on to over 30 different universities in the last five years! GET SET Welcome to East Durham College Applying to college is a very exciting chapter in your son or daughter’s life and as a parent* you are bound to have lots of questions. At East Durham College we recognise the important role you play in advising and supporting your son or daughter and to help we have produced this guide. It summarises some of the key information that you will want to know about the college. We hope you find it useful through each stage of the process. *Please note: we use the terms ‘parent’, ‘son’ and ‘daughter’ throughout this information for simplicity, but we do appreciate that many of you may be carers, legal guardians or step-parents. This information is aimed at anyone who fulfils a parenting role for a younger person who is considering joining East Durham College. Applying to East Durham College: A step-by-step guide Applying Apply by phone What happens after Your son or daughter should Your son or daughter can application? apply for their chosen also call Student Services After receiving your son or course as soon as they have and complete their daughter’s application we decided what they want to application with one of will be in touch with them to do. Some courses fill up our team over the phone offer them an interview with quickly, so we recommend on 0191 518 8222. a teacher from you chosen they apply as soon as course. It’s important they possible. Apply in person attend (you are welcome You are welcome to pop too) so we can ensure the Apply online in and see us at either course they have selected This is the quickest method the Peterlee or Houghall is the right choice based to get an application in to Campus and we will be on their career aspirations. us! Your son or daughter just happy to help your son Interviews can be offered needs to fill in the simple or daughter complete over the phone and in online application form, their application. certain local schools. and it will be automatically submitted to us. Log on to www.eastdurham.ac.uk/ application-form or find the course page and click to The interview process apply from there. The interview is a great opportunity to visit the college and it also helps us to get to know your child’s career aspirations. This ensures that they are placed on the right course and the right level based on their GCSE grades/predicted grades. East Durham College | Houghall Campus | The Technical Academy | Peterlee Campus After interview Sit tight Enrolment If they are successful at After your son or daughter We will write to your son interview we will send have been accepted onto or daughter in the summer your son or daughter a a course it can be a long to let them know their letter to confirm their offer. wait until they enrol with us. enrolment date and time. Successful applicants If they change their mind This will be on or soon after usually have conditions on about the course they have GCSE results day. their place to be able to chosen, don’t worry, they There will also be a few get into college; these can can contact us and we’ll forms in the pack for them be a keen interest in the get that sorted out. to fill in too and post back subject or in some cases Oh, and don’t forget to to us before enrolment. the number, grades and/or let us know if there is a subjects at GCSE. These change of address, email conditions vary depending or telephone number. on the level of course they The college also run wish to be accepted on to. February half term taster It is important they accept day events where we their place as directed invite in everyone that in the offer pack we will has applied. Prospective send them, so we can plan students spend a fun day for the course numbers at college taking part in and they secure their different activities to get a place with us. flavour of the sort of things they will do on their chosen course. This is also a great opportunity to meet other future EDC students. We also run an A-level bridging day before the summer holidays. Creating Outstanding Futures 4 | 5 Study Programmes All 16 to 18 year old Core Aim/Qualification Whilst many sixth forms students at East Durham are cutting back on the College will have the A Levels number of teaching hours opportunity to undertake A-levels are traditional on A-levels, our provision high quality and challenging qualifications where is committed to delivering study programmes. students study multiple five hours direct teaching academic qualifications. These are tailored to time per subject per week. Taking A-levels means your meet an individual Homework and directed child will be studying a student’s needs and study is in addition to range of subjects, so they career ambitions. They this valuable time in the can keep their options open are designed specifically classroom. in terms of which career to enable progression We are also committed path they’d like to go down into employment, to paying for our A-level in the future. A-levels tend apprenticeships or higher students to sit AS exams at to be more like GCSEs as levels of study. the end of year one. This is they are predominately to help prepare our students Study Programmes are exam-based, with more for their final exams and also available to students of a focus on theory than will provide a valuable aged 16 to 24 with practical skills as is the qualification in its own right. learning difficulties case with a vocational and/or disabilities. programme. The Extended Project A-levels are a good option Qualification (EPQ) and Mix & Match for students who are a new Level 3 maths unsure on what vocation to qualification are also It may be possible to specialise in, but who have available to A-level study a mixed programme a desire and motivation students. which combines both to progress into higher A-level and vocations education before entering courses. the world of work. East Durham College | Houghall Campus | The Technical Academy | Peterlee Campus Core Aim/Qualification Core Aim/Qualification Students can only apply to an actual apprenticeship Vocational Courses Apprenticeships when an employer and Vocational courses are Apprenticeships combine a vacancy becomes work-related qualifications paid employment with available www.gov.uk/ that enable students to study. apply-apprenticeship, but it acquire the knowledge and If your child would like to is possible to transfer from practical skills to perform a enter the world of work a vocational programme to particular job. and ‘earn while they learn’ an apprenticeship midway Vocational qualifications then an apprenticeship through the course, with are designed to prepare might be the best route students being able to your child for a particular for them. Apprenticeships continue their academic career. There is usually more combine part-time study qualifications on a part-time emphasis on coursework with a job, where they can basis at the college. and ongoing assessments learn specific technical skills College study hours are rather than exams; it’s often and knowledge that the usually dependent on the about learning practical employer needs. employer, however typically skills that you can apply to Most school leavers hoping apprentices spend four the world of work. to pursue an apprenticeship days a week at work and initially apply for a one day a week studying at However, your child can vocational course to secure college. An assessor from still go to university after a place on their preferred the college will go out to studying on a vocational programme of study. your child’s place of work to course. A triple distinction complete additional training star grade is equivalent to and assessments with them. three A* at A-level. Please see the table on page 15. Creating Outstanding Futures 6 | 7 Study Programmes As well as their Core Maths & English Tuition Tutorial Aim/Qualification, Students who start at any During your son or your son or daughter college and have not yet daughter’s time at college will also receive: achieved a grade 9 - 4 in they will have a dedicated GCSE maths and/or English Progression Coach (PC) will continue to study these who will work with them and subjects at college, either their lecturers to ensure they at GCSE level or on a have a positive experience programme called at college. functional skills. Their PC will act as the link As part of their study between home and college, programme your son helping them with any or daughter will have a study or personal issues, dedicated maths and/ whilst also liaising with their or English lecturer. These course tutors regarding lecturers will help them academic progress.