Full time course guide 2016/2017 www.pursglove.ac.uk Welcome Welcome to Prior Pursglove College! We are a well-established sixth form college with a long history of providing an excellent educational experience for our students. We have a strong reputation for high standards, At Prior, you will find first class staff who really care outstanding facilities and a real commitment to helping about you and your success. You can be assured of you to be as successful as you possibly can be. a warm and friendly welcome and a desire to support every individual to achieve the very best they are We specialise in full time courses for the 16-19 capable of. age group, providing a very wide range of A level and Intermediate courses which can be taken in Our campus provides a friendly mix of old and new, any combination. from historic buildings which have provided education to our community for over 400 years, to multi-million The results that our students achieve regularly place pound developments which enable our students to us among the top performing colleges in the country benefit from the most innovative and state-of-the-art for getting students to university. We are proud of their teaching, learning and social facilities in the area. achievements and the part we have played as a college in shaping their future. The care and support that we Taking the step from school to college is an exciting give to our students is a top priority for us. move. Our open evenings offer you and your parents the chance to visit the college and discuss your options Earlier this year, Prior Pursglove College was named the with staff and, most importantly, our students. We are best college in Teesside for placing students in university committed to helping you make an informed choice or employment, according to government data. 84% about your future and we hope you will come along to progression to a sustained education/training destination one of these evenings and find out how welcoming we places Prior in the top ten of all sixth form colleges are for yourself. nationally, an accolade that we are extremely proud of. We are very proud of the achievements of our students Ofsted recognised our fantastic reputation for supporting and we are confident that the college has a bright future students to achieve their very best when they judged ahead. I hope very much that you will want to join us to be a ‘Good’ college across all areas in March us and be a part of that, too. I look forward to meeting 2015, noting our high expectations of students in an you soon. environment where students can develop skills both for life and work. Principal 2016/2017 Our campus The facilities at Prior Pursglove College are some of the best in Contents the area. At Prior Pursglove College we are able to offer the broadest range of AS/A level subjects in the area because of the large number of What will my students who choose to come here programme of study for their sixth form studies. look like? You can be sure to find a subject We will offer you a personalised that interests you. If you require programme of study which best more in-depth information about suits your individual needs. the subjects we offer, please take a look at the college website where you will find copies of our course information guides. Alternatively, you can contact the college either by telephone or email and we will send you copies. Course listings Find out about our extensive range of courses, we are sure you will find 04 Our campus the right course for you. 06 What will my programme of study look like? 08 Which subject for which career? Benefits of 11 Course listings coming to Prior 42 What else is available? Check out our student rewards for good attendance and achievement. 44 Benefits of coming to Prior 46 Parents matter 49 Application form 51 Results Get in touch @PriorPursglove /priorpursglovecollege www.pursglove.ac.uk There’s plenty of social space to meet up with friends in your spare time Our and we’re just a two minute walk away from the amenities of Guisborough High Street. Our fantastic facilities include: Science labs Art & Media Centre campus Half million pound investment The Applegarth Centre is our in new Science facilities, new £2million dedicated Art & providing an excellent range of Media building with specialist specialist equipment, laboratories media suite, Apple Mac and The facilities at Prior and a student-friendly Science PC computers, art studios, Pursglove College are study area. photography dark room and state-of-the-art facilities. some of the best in the Resource Centre area and it’s our friendly, The College is a stimulating place Stephen Whitehead Theatre safe and relaxed campus to study and provides excellent Enables Drama and Performing learning resources to support your Arts students to work within a that helps our students studies. Open to all students, the professional theatre with 170 seat enjoy their time here. Resource Centre is much more performance space. If you apply than just a library – it’s a modern for performing arts based courses area designed, equipped and you will be automatically invited to staffed to help you learn in the our college productions where you way that suits you best. Students can see for yourself how talented can find quiet areas for individual our students are. study or work on group projects together in dedicated areas. 4 Gym Accessibility If you’re the energetic type and Excellent access to all areas like to keep fit, you can enjoy our of the college for students brilliant college gym which has with mobility issues. an impressive stock of high-tech equipment and iPad-led training Cafeteria & Shop programmes. Not only is exercise Our cafeteria offers fresh options good for your overall health and at affordable prices. Students can fitness but it also helps your choose from a wide selection of mental well-being. Exercise will cooked meals, salads, sandwiches help keep you calm during those and jacket potatoes in the stressful periods and that will help cafeteria or relax with a hot drink or snack in the Atrium Coffee you perform better in your studies. I really enjoy being at Make sure you check our gym out Shop. The college also has its if you are hoping to study with us. own shop for drinks and snacks Prior. I’d heard a lot throughout the day. about it here and it Student Services sounded like the best IT facilities A vast refurbishment of the place to go locally. Including over 600 modern PCs – existing Student Services building The facilities are great was completed recently and it all internet-enabled and running houses the college’s cafeteria the latest software – plus 24/7 – there’s always free and an extensive social area that access to Moodle, our internal space to concentrate students can use during their student portal and virtual learning on your work – and the free time. There are also a small environment providing access to staff are always number of Quick Use computers. course materials, your personal files and email account. Wi-Fi is so helpful. available at points throughout the campus. Craig Slingsby Biology, Combined English, Maths Ex-Freebrough Academy £2million Arts and Media Centre 5 www.pursglove.ac.uk What will my programme of study look like? Prior Pursglove College wants to give you the best possible chance of being successful and progressing to higher education, employment, apprenticeships or further training. Vocational Courses In order to do this we will offer • Enrichment activities such you a personalised programme These are A level equivalent as sports, orchestra, choir of study which best suits your courses such as BTECs & and STEM club individual needs. These will be Cambridge TECs. They are more • Work experience and discussed when you come to enrol practical, work related courses volunteering – many of our with the help and support of our which allow you to gain knowledge students undertake a work experienced team of enrollers. and skills needed in specific experience or volunteering vocational areas. These are often programme organised by Your programme will consist coursework based and can be the college. of a core of main subjects and combined with the more traditional additional options that add A level subjects to give you the Our aim is to provide you with a value to your time at Prior perfect balance of coursework and personalised programme which Pursglove College. exams. At the end of the course suits your needs. During enrolment you will have qualifications that are and your first few weeks with us, You will study some core subjects, sufficient for university entrance. we will get to know you and agree for example A levels and BTECs the most suitable programme What else will I Study? and have a progress tutor who will for you. monitor your progress throughout In addition you will have the your time at college. chance to study a number of GCSE Maths and English options that are destined to add It is a government requirement A levels value to your time at college. to study towards GCSE Maths A levels are currently being These are collectively known as and English if you don’t already reformed and from September study programmes. They are not have a pass at GCSE Grade C. 2015 will consist of a two year usually qualification based but These courses are vital to aid programme with examinations are designed to help you develop your progression and the college at the end of the second year for the skills that you will need to be has an excellent track record at some subjects.