School Leavers’ PROSPECTUS 2020/21 BRINGING OUT YOUR BEST www.btc.ac.uk CONTENTS WELCOME QUALIFICATIONS 2 College Life 38 A Levels 94 Computing & Digital Technologies 8 Fantastic Facilities 48 International 98 Construction Baccalaureate You’re at an exciting moment in your life, school is finishing 16 My BTC Advantage 107 Countryside and you’re wondering about your next steps. 54 T Levels Management 18 College Academies Coming to Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) is a brilliant first step in 56 Apprenticeships 110 Creative Arts realising your ambition. We believe in the ability of each of our students to 22 Sports for Everyone fulfil their potential to become the best they can be. We have campuses at VOCATIONAL SUBJECTS 123 Early Childhood Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington, offering a broader, more diverse range 24 Choose the Studies of subjects and qualifications than ever before. Right Course 58 Agriculture 127 Engineering These courses combine real-world experience with academic rigour and 26 Your Educational 63 Animal Care & fantastic employability. Our staff know their disciplines from the inside out, Journey Management 133 English (ESOL) and many are able to offer a professional perspective on their teaching as a result of working in related industries. 28 Routes to Success 68 Applied Science 135 Equine Studies We give you all the support you need to go in whichever direction you 30 University Centre 70 Arboriculture 139 Foundation Studies choose, and I’m so proud of our graduating students. There are so many Somerset The primary aim of our success stories, from studying at Oxbridge and winning a scholarship from 72 Automotive 144 Hairdressing “courses is to give you a college in America, to securing a nuclear apprenticeship and touring 32 Supporting your with Kylie; the world really is their oyster. For me, that’s a key feature Learning 80 Barbering 148 Health & Social Care every opportunity to of education, to prepare you for whichever path you choose to follow. So, whether you’re thinking about A Levels, T Levels, the International 34 The Application 82 Beauty & 152 Horticulture, Sports flourish, educationally Baccalaureate, a vocational course or an Apprenticeship, you can be sure Process Complementary Turf & Greenkeeping and socially. we are the place to come. Therapies 36 Getting Here 156 Nuclear At BTC, it isn’t all work and no play. We have a wide range of extra- 86 Business & Events That way, you’ll have curricular activities for you to get involved in, from representing the College 169 Our Offer Management 159 Public Services the best preparation for at sport, to putting on a play or raising money for one of a number of charities. 171 Application Form 89 Catering, 162 Sport, Coaching & whatever comes next. Hospitality & Exercise Health ” This prospectus will help you decide if BTC is the right place for you. Food industries It outlines the courses available and what it’s like to study at one of our state-of-the-art campuses. It will also help you think about the likely shape of your professional future. Don’t just take my word for it, we have an extensive range of Open Evenings and taster workshops across all the campuses, these will help you get a feel for the College, talk to your tutors and see where you’ll be studying. I look forward to welcoming you to the College. Andy Berry Rated Outstanding in five key areas, confirming the Principal & Chief Executive “College as a leading skills and learning provider. Bridgwater & Taunton College OFSTED - March 2019 ” MY BTC ADVANTAGE | www.btc.ac.uk COLLEGE LIFE Here at BTC, we want you to enjoy every Erasmus Programme moment of your life as a student. Here’s how The Erasmus is an exciting exchange programme we help you make the most of your time between the College and 33 European countries. with us. All you need to do is submit an application to spend a month abroad and the programme covers all the Whatever you’re into, the chances are that someone costs. Previous participants describe it as a great way else at the College will share your enthusiasm. to brush up on your language skills, meet new people As a result, there are plenty of clubs, societies and and immerse yourself in a new culture. activities available for you to enjoy. It’s impossible to do justice to the breadth of activities on offer. They include everything from a College book club to parkour, with things like self-defence, football and outdoor pursuits thrown in for good measure. We also have a number of clubs and societies designed to enhance your studies as well as your leisure time. For example, Cannington has its own Young Farmers’ Club (YFC), and we have an engineering club and a driving club - all of which develop your skills and enhance your employability. BTC Active We want you to be happy and healthy in order to As well as joining clubs, students regularly organise lead an active lifestyle. Being active helps the brain one-off events to raise money for charity or grow function more efficiently, makes you feel good and COLLEGE LIFE COLLEGE COLLEGE LIFE COLLEGE | awareness of a particular issue. Examples include improves your concentration. The BTC Active team | 2 events for World Aids Day and Mental Health offers a range of regular active sessions throughout 3 Awareness Day, as well as the annual Raise & Give the week, meeting the student demand. Don’t worry (RAG) Day, where students and staff raise money though, the sessions are planned to fit in with your for charities such as the Motor Neurone Disease timetable so there really is no excuse not to join in Association, and the Dorset and Somerset Air with friends to have some fun, be active and become Ambulance. a better you. College Academies Become a BTC Activator and help run BTC Active by Our Academies provide students with an opportunity planning, co-ordinating, delivering and promoting to develop skills and are a great opportunity for sports and activities across the College to your development - paving the way for substantial peers. This gives you coaching experience in a achievements in the future. From dance to fashion or variety of sports as well as helping you develop your technology to music, find out more on pages 18-21. management, organisation and people skills. “I can always be busy doing something at College. Coursework, lessons, exam revision and enrichment activities are all part of We want you to be happy and healthy College life, and timetables allow for a good balance of each.” “in order to lead an active lifestyle. TOBY ROSE A Levels Being active helps the brain function Robert Blake Science College more efficiently, makes you feel good and improves your concentration. MARK NETTLE - Director of Student Services ” SCHOOL LEAVERS PROSPECTUS 2020/21 Learner Voice Trips and visits It may sound obvious to say it, but students are the very It’s strange to think it, but some of the most core of our College. That is why we have a feedback system memorable aspects of your college years will most called the ‘Learner Voice’. It is, as the name suggests, about probably be when you’re nowhere near College. That’s giving you the chance to be heard on a range of topics that because you’ll be on a trip to an exciting location, are important to you and your fellow students. developing your knowledge, meeting new people and gaining fresh experiences. To make the most of this opportunity, you may consider becoming a Programme Representative or even become a Fancy abseiling as part of the Army’s youth team or Student Executive. These people liaise between their fellow volunteering on a camp for disadvantaged teenagers? students and College staff to shape our college culture and Maybe you’d like to tour porcelain museums or visit enhance our life together. an agricultural show. Our students certainly get about. They’ve been to motor shows, fashion events, paintballing sessions National Citizen Service (NCS) and music concerts. There’s also been the occasional NCS is a three to four week experience that helps tour of the Houses of Parliament, and it’s all in build your confidence and self-belief so that you the name of education. In addition there may be can take on anything in life. We work in partnership opportunities for trips within your curriculum area, with Somerset Rural Youth Project and We-Activate for example our Art & Design department has visited to offer this to students who want an adventure. places like New York and Paris, and Sport students Participants get the chance to take on some flew to South Africa to coach local children. adrenaline-fuelled challenges like rock climbing, canoeing, hiking and archery before taking on a social action project. Student common rooms When it comes to your downtime, we’ve the perfect place to spend it. Each campus has a Student COLLEGE LIFE COLLEGE COLLEGE LIFE COLLEGE | Common Room, where you can catch up with friends | 4 over a cup of something warm, shoot some pool or 5 compete on a games console, or relax on comfy sofas until your next class. It’s these communal spaces that make our campuses such special places to study. They help build strong networks between students, ensuring you’ll always find someone to hang out with, or a place to take five in the midst of a busy day. Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) The Students’ Union This scheme involves a compelling mix of adventure, Our Students’ Union is affiliated to the National self-development and community service, and it’s Union of Students (NUS), and run by officials who are recognised the world over.