Get in toV6 REALISE YOUR DREAM 2012/13 Young Persons’ Course Guide DREAMS CAN COME TRUE AT WALSALL COLLEGE Former Apprentice winner, Lee McQueen joined students at Walsall College to celebrate the success of V6 students during the prestigious V6 Awards Dinner. Hairdressing student, Lucy Gibara won Silver in the national final of the Wella Professionals XPOSURE Hairdressing Competition. Fashion student, Rosannah Hines, made her way to the finals of the Young Designer of the Year Competition at the Clothes Show Live. Media students and staff from The hard work and huge the Supported Learning efforts of Creative Arts Department won a Royal Dance students gave a dazzling live students were on display in Television Society Award for curtain raiser performance at the June during the Walsall their exceptional film, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre before College annual Art & ‘Disabled and Living in Walsall’. the professional cast from New Design Summer Show. Adventures performed Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of Cinderella. My dream is ____________ FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS learning environment for you to grow, develop and achieve. with Walsall College and begin your Our world class facilities and training delivered by industry dream start to success. professionals can help you gain the skills employers are looking for, and help you stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. On completing your studies, you will We are delighted you are considering studying at Walsall become a Walsall College Graduate; skilled, professional and College and beginning your journey to success with us. Last enterprising. year, the College won a prestigious AoC Beacon Award, along with a range of other student and staff successes in various We hope you find the course you are looking for. You will awards and competitions. We expect that Walsall College will undoubtedly have a lot of hard work ahead, but we will be be in the top 5% across the country for success rates for 16-18 there to support you every step of the way, as you go forward year old learners on Level 3 courses . We want you to be part to achieve your educational goals. We look forward to of our success story! meeting you soon at Walsall College! At Walsall College, we believe in providing our students with We can’t wait to see you! the best possible opportunities and offer an outstanding < 2 Need to know more? Call 01922 657053 or log onto www.walsallcollege.ac.uk Minicom (for deaf users only): 01922 657064 CONTENTS So what is V6? 4 Business & Creative Digital & Our dream achievers 5 Professional Industries Technology The team to help you realise your dream 6 Parents and College working together 7 Out of the ordinary opportunities 8 17 23 33 Outstanding facilities 9 All the help you need 10 There’s more than one route to realise your dream 12 Health & Public Services To Foundation There’s more than one route to university 13 Services People Learning Progression 14 Do something extraordinary 16 Top 5 reasons to choose us 65 45 51 59 Don’t just dream, do it 66 Application form 67 KEY DATES NOVEMBER 2011 JUNE 2012 Our Open Day is on Wednesday 16th November 2011, Our Open Day is on Wednesday 20th June 2012, 4pm - 7pm at Green Lane and Wisemore Campuses. Come 4pm - 7pm at Green Lane and Wisemore Campuses. Come and talk to the tutors about the course you’re interested in. and talk to the tutors about the course you’re interested in. Get your application in early to ensure you get a place. AUGUST 2012 JANUARY 2012 If your A-Level or GCSE results are better or worse than Our Open Day is on Saturday 21st January 2012, expected, contact our Customer Advice and Support Centre 10am - 2pm at Green Lane and Wisemore Campuses. Come (01922 657053/[email protected] ) for impartial and talk to the tutors about the course you’re interested in. advice and guidance about your next move. Make sure you get on the course you want - apply now! Remember - this is your last chance to enrol before your MARCH 2012 course starts in September! Our Open Day is on Wednesday 7th March 2012, 4pm - 7pm at Green Lane and Wisemore Campuses. Come SEPTEMBER 2012 and talk to the tutors about the course you’re interested in. Your year starts at Walsall College! Induction Week is your Make sure you get on the course you want - apply now! chance to meet your fellow students and tutors. Come along to the lively Freshers Fair, known as the ‘BIG HELLO’ to get to APRIL/MAY 2012 know the College better, have fun and make friends. It’s getting late - you need to APPLY NOW - or you may not get a place on the course you want. Need to know more? Call 01922 657053 or log onto www.walsallcollege.ac.uk 3> Minicom (for deaf users only): 01922 657064 Become a Walsall College Graduate! Skille d - with the industry s kills, knowledge and expe rience you’ll need to thr ive in the workplace. with Professional - e, all the initiativ skills communication ing SO WHAT and team-work Enterprising - eed to be ability you’ll n you’ll have a head day one. job-ready from for business and a mindset for IS V6? innovation. What’s different about V6? you best, we can offer the full range of vocational Walsall College’s V6 shares all the advantages of other courses- from BTECs and NVQs, to Diplomas and sixth forms: a vibrant student community, the freedom Apprenticeships - that can get you to university or help of college life and the support of a personal tutor - but you get the job you want. what makes us unique is that all our courses are vocational. High achievers like Jamie Oliver, Karen Millen and Alesha Dixon all opted for vocational courses in order We focus exclusively on helping you gain the practical to realise their dreams. If they’re the kind of people skills, knowledge and experience employers are you admire - and you have dreams that could be looking for. So if a hands-on approach to learning suits realised by vocational study - V6 is the place for you ! G e t in t oV6 < 4 Need to know more? Call 01922 657053 or log onto www.walsallcollege.ac.uk Minicom (for deaf users only): 01922 657064 Outstan ding Success Rates • 92% o f our 16-18 year old learners on Level 3 co urses have successfully passed their qual ifications, with over half of them achieving distinctions • We expe ct that Walsall College will be in the top 5% OUR across the country for success rates for 1 6-18 year old learners on Level 3 courses • Success on adult courses has risen by 7% DREAM from last year to 81% • Ov erall success rates have seen an ACHIEVERS increase of 6% to 84% The success stories behind some of our V6 winners Ruth Hooper (19) Courtney Edie (17) Health and Social Care Level 3 Sport Level 1 I’ve always wanted to do something related to health and I chose a sports course as it’s what I enjoy doing the most. social care and when I had my daughter, it made me I’ve always been into all types of sports, including athletics realise a career in midwifery was for me. and long distance running. The atmosphere at College is really good and there’s a Studying sport at Walsall College has got me closer to my great relationship between students and the tutors; we’re dream. I did a work placement in the gym at Walsall one big team. The course was very varied and even College for 6 weeks, where I was able to develop my skills included a work placement in health and social care, in setting up the machines and teaching people how to which gave me a useful insight into employment in the use the equipment. industry. At the end of my course, I won a Student of the Year Not only have I learned a lot of new things, but my Award, which was a big surprise. It showed me that if you communication and organisational skills have also work hard, don’t give up and are helpful to others, you improved. Getting my results and winning overall V6 get rewarded for it. Student of the Year was my best moment. I got all distinctions and my tutors were really pleased with the The tutors have been fantastic throughout the course and hard work I’d put in. I now plan to progress to Level 2 next year. In the future, I want to work in a gym full time as a Personal Trainer. I’m now going to do a BSc Honours Degree in Midwifery at Coventry University. There were 1000 applicants for I would encourage other people to take this course. If only 24 places, so being offered a place was like a dream! you’re interested in a career in sport, you’ll definitely get I know that being a midwife won’t be a 9 - 5 job, it’s a something out of it. Go for it! career, and something I’m passionate about. I would definitely encourage people to study this course. As long as you know you are interested in health and social care, the tutors can help you find the right area for you. Need to know more? Call 01922 657053 or log onto www.walsallcollege.ac.uk 5> Minicom (for deaf users only): 01922 657064 MEET SOME OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL STAFF Our staff are an exceptional bunch of people.