Parent/Carers’ Guide to 2019/20 City College & Welcome to our College

Dear Parents, Carers and Corporate Parents,

Welcome to City College Most of all, we want our We ask our students to Norwich and Paston students to enjoy their respect our College and College. I am delighted time with us and achieve to embrace our Ways of that your child has the best possible results Working. These are a set chosen to visit us and to enable them to go on of values which current is considering studying and fulfil their ambitions students and staff strive with us next year. in further learning, to put into practice training or work. each day. Our staff are dedicated to helping students to There are a lot of Our Ways of Working be successful, so please extracurricular activities are a commitment to remind them to ask for to get involved with via behave in a way that is: help if they need it. This our Student’s Union is particularly true in and StartUp Lounge so • Open and Informative their first few days when encourage your child to • Respectful and Fair everything will seem get involved with College • Creative and Positive unfamiliar; it will take life and enrich their time • Collaborative and them some time to settle with us by joining in. Inclusive into the College – remind • Consistent and them not to try and do These activities are Responsible everything at once and fun but also important • Exemplary and to ask for help if there for developing your Tenacious is something they don’t child’s confidence, • Aspirational and understand. sense of self, skills and Entrepreneurial experiences and will help We are very proud of them to become rounded our College, which is an individuals capable of exciting and dynamic dealing with the surprises place to learn. that life throws at them.

2 Parents Guide to & Paston College

Current students have explored what each of the Ways of Working means to them and they have agreed ‘yes to’ and ‘no to’ behaviours within their tutor groups.

This booklet will provide you with lots of information that you will need to help you Dear Parents, Carers and Corporate Parents, to support your child in making the important decision about where they want to continue their studies in the future.

I do hope you find it useful and if you need any further information about our College then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Corrienne Peasgood Principal

3 8 reasons for choosing City College Norwich & Paston College:

1 2 3 Brilliant Enterprise and More choices teachers Employability A wide range of As well as being Experience of Work gives qualifications to highly-qualified experts students an opportunity include BTECs, who know their subjects to expand their vocational T Levels (Sept 2020), inside out, our staff are and academic skills A Levels, GCSEs and also warm, friendly through a programme Apprenticeships. and care about your of events. child’s success. All students are given exciting opportunities to enhance their skills through enterprise and employability related activities in their programme of study in the StartUp Lounge. 5 What’s more, many of 4 our courses are designed High standards and constructed with of excellence the active involvement We take great pride in our Exciting futures of local employers so achievements. We attract Many of our students you can be sure that high-calibre students who go on to Higher the skills your child is are drawn to us because Education every year learning are the ones they are assured that our from our Sixth Form that local businesses are reputation for the highest and Level 3 courses looking for in their future levels of teaching is across the College. employees. thoroughly deserved.

4 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College

Support for Wrap around Speak to 6 students support when you us about need it most We are passionate Student loans, Counselling and bursaries and about student success Library wellbeing services charity funding help and providing the best Research & Support teaching and learning. Safeguarding advice, Travel advice The same applies to support and action and money our support services. Through our Student Services team we help students with emotional Student Academic Services YOUR Support and wellbeing issues eg. IAG, eg. Tutorial as well as arranging Wellbeing CHILD Supervisor counselling, help with careers and finances and generally wrap around Careers and Free College Meals support that students can employability / Curriculum access at any time during UCAS applications Support Poor attendance eg. Specialist and how we their course. Support Staff, Adviser, can help The diagram to the right Any course shows how we provide issues or other this support. questions

Did you know? We have a team of professional careers advisers that your child can book in 7 8 and see as many times as they need Fantastic facilities Your local college during their course Our superb facilities and We have excellent bus for help with UCAS committed staff enable links and we are just a applications, job us to deliver high quality 15 minute walk from the interviews, CV writing city centre, making us teaching and training in and to discuss their a friendly and supportive readily accessible. Our environment that is Paston campus is in the career options. designed to meet students’ heart of . individual needs.

5 Careers advice and guidance What your child can expect from us:

Young people need advice and guidance to inspire and motivate them to fulfil their potential. All students at City College Norwich and Paston College have access to impartial careers information and guidance so that they have the tools to make informed decisions about their future as well as being able to fully engage with their current learning.

Your child will be able to access a range of careers related activities via their course and through our Student Services department at the College. These include:

• Face to face careers guidance • Support in applying to Higher appointments Education including personal • Job/labour market information: statements and UCAS applications: Helping your child to understand the Specific help in how to research options job market, what are growth areas and as well as completing UCAS applications what job sectors have large employers • Mentoring and support for those who in the region need it most and at risk of becoming • Inspiring speakers from local and NEET (Not in education, employment national employers and College alumni: or training) Contact with employers helps to broaden • Working in partnership with external horizons and challenge stereotypical providers to access specialist support thinking or pre-conceived ideas about • Open days different careers. Talks can instil confidence and provide role models which • Understanding self-employment students can relate to, thereby helping to • Access to national skills events and change their perceptions of what they are competitions capable of achieving • Visits to employers and work • Careers, Higher Education and experience placements employer fairs: Giving your child direct • Providing real-life commercial access to employers to find out what they experience. can offer and then different job roles and career paths available • Help with CV writing, application forms City College Norwich holds the matrix and interview preparation standard for our careers information, • Develop job seeking strategies advice and guidance provision. • Financial advice This is the quality framework for • Providing advice on apprenticeships, organisations to assess and measure entrepreneurialism, courses, university their service, which ultimately and other progression options supports individuals in their choice of career, learning, work and life goals. 6 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College Is your child interested in higher education?

City College Norwich is of eight Further Education Colleges and five universities who, as members of the Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (neaco), have made a commitment to raise student aspirations and increase progression to higher education pathways.

Neaco have developed the Take Your Place framework to help young people across , Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to consider their study options after school or college. We work with students aged 13 – 19, who live in areas identified by the Government as having low rates of progression to higher education, to work toward achieving their goals.

At college, the Higher • Higher Education Education Advisory team Myth Busting will be working with you Overcoming barriers and your child, if you live to student finance, in a target area for neaco, budgeting and living by delivering the following independently activities throughout the • Excursions next academic year: Facilitating industry, university and college • Introduction to visits to meet staff and Higher Education students. Exploring Higher Education, university If you have any and college life and questions or queries apprenticeships for the neaco Higher • Subject Taster Education Advisory Sessions team please e-mail An opportunity to [email protected] gain an insight into specific subjects For more information • Higher Education about Take Your Masterclass Place please visit Choosing your options takeyourplace.ac.uk and the UCAS application journey

7 What you can do to best help your child at College

The change from school to college is sometimes hard to handle, for example not having to be in at 9am every day but getting used to varied start times. Please make sure that you get a copy of your child’s timetable and help them with their time management – to leave home each morning in time to make their first lesson. If your child is under 19 at the start of their course we will contact you if we have concerns about their attendance. We will contact you by text message so please ensure that we have an up to date mobile phone number for you.

Why your child’s attendance matters so much The table below shows you the direct link between Attendance and Success (achievement) for our students in 17/18.

Achievement Rate Attendance % Impact in 17/18 You are on the right track and have a good 100 – 90% 97.8% chance of doing well on your course Your attendance is poor and this may start 89 – 77% to have an impact on your success on 93.7% your course There is something seriously wrong and Less than 75% 73.7% you are unlikely to achieve on your course

This second table shows you how much more your child could earn over their lifetime by successfully Did you achieving their qualification. know? We have an automated Lifetime benefit Qualification text messaging service of earnings that alerts parents when Level 2 Qualifications £35,000-£71,000 their child is absent. If you would like to sign Level 3 Qualifications £37,000-£89,000 up to this service please provide your mobile phone number to our Administration Centre. 8 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College Curriculum Services at City College Norwich & Paston College

We are passionate about supporting students with Learning Disabilities and/or Difficulties. The Curriculum Services team is responsible for ensuring that effective and appropriate support provision is allocated to students requiring assistance with accessing their academic or vocational studies.

How do I get support? Support on application Curriculum Services aims to support When your child discloses a disability your child to reach their full potential and or difficulty upon application, they achieve their goals. We strive to support can request support. If you would like our students to become an independent to discuss what level and type of learner and adapt to the support they support would be good for your child need as their learning progresses. please contact [email protected] for a referral form.

Types of support • In class support can be one to one, where a member of Curriculum Services is with your child on an individual basis • Shared support where we support your child and others in the class • Discreet support where your child might not want everyone to know and our support staff can help them without it being obvious • Off course support to help with your child’s work, supporting them at lunch time or taking them to a taxi etc.

9 If your child has an EHCP Apprenticeship support We will already be aware of your child’s Your child can talk to your assessor about needs before they come to College. support needs and we can assess in the Please let us know if your child requires workplace or at College to help them with support /declines support ASAP exam concessions. [email protected]. Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) Is their difficulty dyslexia, The DSA is a non means-tested grant dyscalculia or Mears Irlen? for disabled Higher Education learners. They can make an appointment with our Its purpose is to pay for extra costs SpLD (Specific Learning Difference) team incurred by the learner, as a direct result once their course has started. They can of their disability, to enable them to attend do this at any reception or at the Advice and undertake their course of study. Shop on the main site. The SpLD team DSA’s are not paid as a set amount; this can assess your child for exam access is determined by an assessment which arrangements, which might give them will identify the required equipment extra time in exams or have a reader or and support and the subsequent costs. scribe present in their exam. Student Finance England administers the DSA and confirms eligibility and learners Support through their tutor have to apply to them. Applications can If your child didn’t tell us that they might be accessed via the following website need support upon application to the www.gov.uk/disabled-students College, their tutor can contact us on their -allowances-dsas for DSA and can be behalf and arrange a meeting to discuss submitted before the start or during the your childs support needs. course. Contact the Curriculum Services for more information or help with next Further Information steps. If you require more information on SEND Getting in touch with please contact us on the telephone Curriculum Services number or email address opposite. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01603 773 159.

10 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College Education options

T Levels courses are a good option if your child New Level 3 technical qualifications in enjoys learning by applying and practicing Education and Childcare, Construction, their skills in a realistic work environment. and Digital from September 2020. T levels Your child can progress on to higher combine classroom theory, practical education from a level 3 vocational course. learning and a substantial industry placement of approx. 350 hours with an A Levels employer to make sure students have real If your son or daughter enjoys learning in experience of the workplace. The 2-year the classroom and academic study, then T level courses have been developed A Levels are a popular route for students in collaboration with employers and who wish to progress to higher education. businesses so that the content will meet They are a well known qualification and the needs of industry and prepare students focus on academic subjects and for work. They will provide the knowledge traditional study skills. Our Sixth Form and experience needed to open the door Centre offers a wide range of A Levels. to highly skilled employment, higher apprenticeships or university, and be Apprenticeships equivalent to three A levels. Apprenticeships offer young people the chance to work and learn on the job, Your child’s options at 16 whilst earning a salary. They are a good Whatever your child’s next steps are, they way for learners to develop their skills, will need to be involved with some form of increase their practical ability and improve education or training. The most important their employability and opportunities to step is to speak to your child and find out progress in their chosen area of work. what they want to do and how they like to Many local businesses employ apprentices learn. and our College can help your son or • Do they like learning in a classroom? daughter to find an apprenticeship. • Do they prefer to learn on the job, More informative information is available by applying their learning to real life on the government website problems? www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship • Or do they learn best through practising click on the option ‘Apprenticeships, 14 new skills? to 19 education and training for work’.

Vocational qualifications Experience of work Colleges such as ours offer your child Experience of work will enable your child the opportunity to study a vocational to gain the skills needed to bridge the gap qualification in a work related curriculum between College and the world of work. area. They are designed to allow students It will help to inform them about career to learn in a way that suits them and choices, develop relevant occupational give them the skills and experiences that skills and instil the attitudes and behaviours employers are looking for. Examples of expected at work. The experiences of work vocational courses are; engineering, health that we offer are wide and varied and differ and social care, professional cookery, by each course and level. plumbing and performing arts. Vocational

11 English & Maths

English and maths are important, which young people need to progress into employment, or further training and education. In order to help your child achieve success now, and in the future, we will ensure they have opportunities to make progress in these subjects.

A programme of study at City College Norwich and Paston College will include opportunities for them to develop and renew their English and maths skills. Your child will be supported to reach their full potential both in their chosen vocational subject and in classes that build on their prior attainment.

English and maths GCSE with grades English and maths GCSE with grades expressed as 9-1 expressed as 9-1

If they don’t have a GCSE grade 4 in If they have GCSE grade 4 or better either maths or English: in both maths or English:

They will work towards achieving a good For students with a Grade 4 result in pass in both English and maths as part English and/or maths we will discuss with of their programme of study. They may them individually if they wish to retake the study the GCSE so they can retake the qualification to achieve a grade 5 or better qualification or they may take a Functional as this may be important for some career Skills ‘stepping stone’ course instead of a and University progression. For students GCSE qualification if this is more suitable with a Grade 5 or above, we will continue for them. to develop these within their programme of study to ensure they fulfil their potential. If they have a GCSE grade 4 in one subject but not the other:

They will be enrolled on a qualification as part of their programme of study, working towards a grade 4 in the subject they have yet to achieve in. This will either be a GCSE or Functional Skills ‘stepping stone’ course. For students who achieve a grade 4 in GCSE maths or English, we will discuss with them individually if they wish to retake the qualification to achieve a grade 5 or better as this may be important for some career and University progression.

12 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College Safeguarding information for Parents & Carers

Anti-bullying As a parent or carer, we recognise that your child’s safety is one of your main concerns, especially when they are moving to a new institution like the College from a school environment that you probably know very well. We want to reassure you that we take bullying very seriously at our College and believe that your child has a right to work, study and socialise in an atmosphere of respect and free from bullying or harassment.

The vast majority of students tell us that they feel safe at College and that they have not experienced bullying – be it verbal, physical or online. This is great but we want to make that number even higher this year and we take a zero tolerance approach to bullies.

All of our staff have a duty to establish and maintain a learning environment that is free from bullying. This means that if we are told that your child is being bullied, we will always act. Students should tell a member of staff or their course leader if they are worried about bullying or email [email protected].

Staying safe online Safeguarding Key Much of our preventative work in the Safeguarding team focusses on helping Contacts at College young people to keep themselves safe online. The risks involved are of sharing If you have any Safeguarding too much personal information with others, questions or are worried about online grooming, online bullying and being your child’s safety please do exploited. There are some great resources not hesitate to contact a for parents and carers that can help you member of the team. to open up a discussion with your child about how they manage their social media accounts and what they share about Our Safeguarding Officers themselves online. are based in the Advice Shop and their phone numbers are The website www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ 01603 773 426 and parents has lots of information for parents 07795 487 645. They will be on safety matters for young people ranging happy to talk to you if your from if you have concerns about your child, to understanding more about online child is a student with us. grooming and where to go for help.

13 Frequently asked questions by parents

Is any extra Is there any How can I apply for academic help help with Bursaries & Free College available for travel costs? Meals for my child? my child? Depending on where Applications can be found Yes. Our Curriculum you live you may benefit at ccn.ac.uk/support-and- Services team delivers from one of our bus pass advice/students/student- support in class and deals, a Norfolk County finance-at-city-college- one-to-one for Council travel pass and/ norwich during the summer. students who need it. or apply for a bursary. Please apply before they join us so that we have it all set up for them when they enrol. What financial The 16-18 bursary closing help is available date is 30 September 2019. for my child? We can help students Travel apply for bursary There is limited car parking space on the Ipswich Road funding and we have campus for students and 200 cycle racks. Students are excellent links with local eligible to transport discounts across Norfolk and Suffolk fundraising charities which including 33% off season tickets with Greater Anglia we developed for our trains. Rural areas are covered with discounts from: First, students. Last year we Stagecoach, Sanders, Borderbus, Konect and Anglian awarded over £35,000 buses. Our Travel Co-ordinator, Natalie Halsall is able to students from our to respond to any travel queries and offer advice on travel Charities fund and over to College. Contact details are [email protected] or £600,000 from our telephone 01603 773607/773551. Please see our website bursary fund. for the current Student Travel discounts.

If you have any more questions please feel free to contact our Advice Shop on: t: 01603 773 773 or e: [email protected]

14 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College Leisure Learning

We have some outstanding facilities and resources at City College Norwich and Paston College and have a variety of opportunities for members of the local community to access learning and development with us. They are designed for you to learn new skills, meet friends and have fun at the same time. Our students tell us that they love to come to College to learn new things and value Our current courses the expertise knowledge include: For further information shared by the tutors. • Acrylic and Oil on all of our courses, Landscapes including dates and availability, please visit This is a taste of what we • Arts and Crafts have to offer but more www.ccn.ac.uk. If you • Cookery courses courses are added each have any questions, term. • Crochet please email us at • Crime and Criminology [email protected] • Digital Photography or [email protected]. • Dressmaking • Drawing Our commercially • DIY Courses accredited/non-accredited • Genealogy professional courses are designed for personal • Junior Chef development and career • Junior Art progression. For those • Knitting wanting to change their • Language career path or simply refresh • Painting current qualifications, • Pattern Cutting our courses are certified • Photoshop and often cover statutory • Printmaking occupational requirements. • Sewing Many are accredited by industry regulators. • Song Writing • Shakespeare • Teen Writing 15 Our Wellbeing Team are here to help students fulfil their potential and maximise their physical and mental wellbeing, so that they succeed. • Eating disorders • Bullying and stalking Whilst we always encourage • Domestic abuse students struggling with their mental • Sexual abuse/sexual assault health or wellbeing to speak to their GP, the Wellbeing Team offers • Money matters and debt support during their time in college. • Sexual orientation We have staff that can talk through • Gender identity emerging mental health problems • Body image and healthy lifestyle and provide initial advice and • Substance abuse support. Where appropriate, we • Sexual health including advice make onward referrals to external on contraception agencies, services and specialists for all aspects of student wellbeing. • Pregnancy and termination • Caring responsibilities The Wellbeing Team includes • Housing Wellbeing Advisers, a Mental Health Adviser, a Counsellor and staff who Talk to us promote student attendance and If students feel they need to talk provide additional support where over a concern or problem, our needed. Wellbeing Advisers, are here to help and can offer them 1-2-1 confidential The team offers support with any information, advice and support. health or wellbeing Students can contact them at problem including: [email protected] or they can • Mental Health – depression, ask their teaching staff or Tutorial anxiety and stress Supervisor to make a referral on their • Healthy relationships behalf. • Bereavement Students can also speak to a • Anger management Wellbeing Adviser directly by visiting • Self esteem the weekly Wellbeing drop-in on • Feeling lonely or isolated Thursdays between 10am and 12pm • Support to stop self-harming - Ipswich Road Campus.

16 Parents Guide to City College Norwich & Paston College

The Wellbeing Zone Reading Well – Ipswich Road Campus We have recently Students can find the Wellbeing launched a new initiative advisers in the Wellbeing Zone. This is in ‘Reading Well - Books the Information Store (Norwich Building). on Prescription’.

This is a unique area for students to Reading Well supports students to access support and guidance and offers understand and manage their health and a quiet space for them to get away from wellbeing using helpful reading. The books the stress and pressures of everyday are all chosen and endorsed by health life. experts, as well as by people living with the conditions covered and their relatives and Whilst most students will form strong carers. www.reading-well.org.uk friendship bonds during their time at college, some students may find this more difficult. To support them in building new friendships, we have an Get in touch informal Lunch Club in the Wellbeing Zone every weekday between 12 and If you have any worries about your 1.30pm. child’s wellbeing during their time at college please contact us. By working

together with supportive parents we Wellbeing – Paston College can ensure your child is presented Students can find Sharon, the Wellbeing with the opportunity to succeed. adviser in the Advice Shop at the Lawns site next to the library. Students can Contact the Absence Line arrange an appointment by contacting for absences or support on [email protected], asking your 01603 773 311 option 2. tutors to refer you by asking at the advice shop reception. Contact the Wellbeing Zone for booked appointments via [email protected]

17 Deliciously different... Savour excellent food prepared and presented by the stars of tomorrow at the Debut Restaurant run by the internationally renowned Hotel School at City College Norwich.

To make your reservation call: 01603 773 227 Take a break with us and enjoy a wide selection of snacks, hot and cold drinks, salads, sandwiches and paninis.

• Cakes & sweets • Fresh Self Service Salad Bar • A great range of sandwiches & baguettes

Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.00pm Call us to make an appointment on: 01603 773 228

Solutions is a unique hair and beauty therapy salon based at City College Norwich Platform is a venue, Platform has been running mediums including a hive of creativity, a accredited courses for the music, dance, musicals, company of performers last 15 years. straight plays, site specific and technicians and a performances and outreach hub for learning and skills Platform aims to embrace work. The company’s development. Although vocationalism and creative ethos explores and most of all Platform is offers a realistic working adapts existing works as for creative and aspiring environment to emerging well as devising exciting and young artists eager to performing arts practitioners original performances. embrace the world of whilst studying on their performing arts. industry relevant courses. To find out more about Platform and for most Housed within the The Platform Company uptodate show listings City College Norwich main produces and tours work visit platform.ccn.ac.uk Ipswich Road campus, in a range of performance