Key info about how A guide for we support parents our students. ENROL FROM THU 22 AUG Ofsted described West Thames College Welcome to as a place where learners feel happy, safe and enjoy their West Thames time at college College immensely. This booklet outlines the support we provide and the expectations we have of our students. For your son/daughter to achieve their full potential, we need their commitment and your help. Please familiarise yourself with the information in this guide so that you can fully support them throughout their studies. Tracy Aust College Principal Our Parent Portal helps you stay up to date with your son or daughter’s progress and access key information about their study programme, attendance & key dates. Parent Register via west-thames.ac.uk or use the QR code (below right). Hold your phone camera over the code and a banner will appear. Click on this to go to the Portal Parent Portal. If it doesn’t work, you can download and install a QR reader app on your phone. We have high expectations for our students. They will sign a Student Standards Learning Contract to help them reach their full potential. for Success ENROL FROM THU TERM 22 AUG DATES see page 4 see page 14 2 Welcome to HIGH West Thames 100+ ACHIEVEMENT COURSES AND PROGRESSION College IN 24 COURSE AREAS RATES GREAT STATE WORK OF-THE-ART EXPERIENCE FACILITIES OPPORTUNITIES EXCELLENT LINKS WITH EMPLOYERS COURSES TAUGHT BY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS #StartHereGoFar 3 Your son or daughter needs to visit us during Enrolment enrolment to secure a place on their chosen course. Enrolment information is on our website and is regularly updated. If your son or daughter Enrolment starts on Thursday 22 August after your son didn’t get the grades they or daughter has their GCSE results (or on Wednesday 21 August if they are not waiting for GCSE results). expected, please still They need to go to the campus where their course is visit the college during based – the Skills+Logistics Centre in Feltham for enrolment. One of our Construction, Engineering or Motor Vehicle Maintenance, advisors will be happy and the Isleworth campus for all other courses. to discuss your son or What happens at enrolment? daughter’s options and This will depend on the course and whether your son or recommend suitable daughter has already applied or not, but will include: courses. • Filling in an application form (unless your son or daughter has already received an offer) If your son or daughter • Meeting a tutor to check your son or daughter’s academic hasn’t applied yet, it’s not records and confirm the course they want to enrol on too late. Look at the courses • Taking a photo and issuing a college ID card. on west-thames.ac.uk and If required, your son or daughter may also have: fill out an application form. • English and Maths assessments They can then come to the • A chat with our Learning Support team college during enrolment to • A fee assessment. secure their place. What documents to bring • Exam result slips or certificates Your son or daughter • Enrolment letter and course offer (if received) will be given the date If not an EU national, they will also need to bring: for induction after they • Evidence of the right to live and study in the UK enrol. Induction will take • ID (e.g. passport) place during the week If your family is on income-based benefits and you wish to beginning 2 September apply for discounted fees, please also bring: and will introduce new • Evidence of benefits received in your household (e.g. students to life at college official notification letter or bank statement dated within and kickstart their course. the last two months showing current address) Please see page 14 for full term dates. 4 . Enrolment Student success Read about some of our former students and how their time at West Thames helped them embark on rewarding careers. For more success stories, visit www.west-thames.ac.uk/news Nadeem Chattha Renee Mudhar Nadeem came to London from Germany in Renee studied Travel & Tourism at the college 2004. He joined an ESOL class at the college and and progressed to an apprenticeship with the progressed to other courses, finally leaving to London Borough of Hounslow. She found the study for a degree. He now works as a Senior apprenticeship valuable in helping her move Systems IT Engineer at the college. towards her chosen career of becoming a lawyer. Francesca Sherwood Sabina Enu-Kwesi Francesca studied Beauty Therapy at the college After studying Manufacturing at the college, and went on to open her own salon, True Beauty Sabina embarked on an apprenticeship with the Salon & Medispa, based in Twickenham. She used Otis Elevator Company, eventually becoming the skills she learned on her course to establish a full time employee. She is continuing her her award-winning business. education with a degree in Business Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. 5 Employment Employers value BTEC Benefits of qualifications as courses are industry-focused, giving students industry-specific knowledge BTECs vs and skills, making them readily employable. The experience of real-life practical tasks and work A Levels placements really do prepare An increasing number of students are students for the real world of applying to universities with BTECs. employment, unlike A Levels. The institutions recognise the value Practical Assessments vs Exams of the qualifications – 95% of UK universities accept BTEC students. BTECs are mostly assessed on regular coursework and work experience, which makes them a better option for those who find the pressure of exams difficult. Approved Centre from Pearson 6 Work Experience We help all our students to complete Careers work experience placements. Work experience helps them practice the skills they learn in the classroom and gives Service them an advantage when applying for Our team of independent university or a job. careers advisers helps students We bring employers to the college for make the right decision for their talks, workshops and our annual Aspire future and identify the skills Careers Events so that students can learn they need to succeed. first-hand about working life and career opportunities. We will always try to make sure that students enrol on a Applying to University suitable course. However, if We guide and support students who during the first few weeks your want to go to university. Once they have son or daughter feels that they an offer, we help prepare them for the are on the wrong course, they selection test and interview. should come and see us. We’ll We hold an annual Higher Education Fair try to find them an alternative and information events for students, course, either at West Thames parents and guardians about going to College or another college or university. training provider. Applying for a Job or Apprenticeship If your son or daughter is looking for a job or apprenticeship after their course, or a part-time job whilst they are studying, we can help them develop their CV and prepare for interviews. Opening Times Isleworth: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm Feltham: Tues/Thurs, 9am-1pm Where to Find Us Isleworth: Room A008 Feltham: Room T003 7 The college is not just a place to study. We are here to help Student students grow socially as well as academically. They can join one of our many sports clubs Facilities and societies, take part in fundraising and cultural events or simply relax in the Student Common Room. Activities and Events Learning Resources Centre Activities take place throughout the year in the The LRC at Isleworth has everything students need Atrium, Theatre and Student Common Room at both to help with their studies: books, DVDs, journals, centres, from Freshers’ Fair during Induction Week e-resources, quiet study areas, drop-in IT facilities to our Creative Arts Season during the summer term. (Macs and PCs) and dedicated, helpful staff. Events include talent shows, charity fundraising activities, guest speakers and awareness raising Opening Times events around issues that affect young people. We Monday: 8.30am-4pm encourage all our students to get involved! It’s fun, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8.30am-8pm educational and a great way to meet new friends. Friday: 8.30am-4pm Sport and Fitness Access to Computers Whether your son/daughter wants to represent the Students will be given an induction on how to use college playing in competitive leagues, or just keep Moodle, the college’s student learning portal, at the fit for fun, we’ve got sports and fitness activities to start of their course. They can access a computer suit everyone – badminton, table tennis, basketball, in any area of the college with their student ID and football, netball, dodgeball, futsal, boxing, swimming, password. Offsite access is available via the college yoga, zumba – you name it! We’ve got a fantastic website, west-thames.ac.uk. sports hall and outdoor grass and astroturf sports All students must abide by the college’s ICT pitches. Students can join our gym for just £15 a year. Acceptable Use Policy, which is available under the “Policies and Documents” tab on Moodle. Hair and Beauty Salons Get your hair cut or a beauty treatment for a fraction Student Canteen of the normal cost in the Salon at Isleworth – there’s We offer hot meals, sandwiches, snacks and drinks. also a barber shop for men. Students are entitled to Through the Parent Portal you are able to add money discounts and special offers too. to your son/daughter’s student ID card for use in Opening Times the canteen.