South Downs College | Guide for Parents

Welcome

This guide will provide you with the key information we think Parents, Carers or Guardians of full-time students at South Downs College will need during the year.

We hope you find it useful.

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The College’s responsibility to provide information to parents/carers

In general, the law regards young people under the age of 18 as dependent upon their parents, with parents maintaining responsibility for the actions of their children. Once a young person has passed the age of 18, however, in law they are regarded as fully responsible for their own actions.

Contact with parents

We greatly value the contacts we have with parents; your son or daughter is most likely to achieve their educational goals if s/he, parents and the College work together as a partnership. Please do not hesitate to contact your son or daughter’s Tutor or Senior Tutor at any time if you have any concerns about your son or daughter’s progress at College or any other matter.

Your son or daughter’s tutor will contact you if we have any concerns and we will involve you if any signifcant decisions, such as changing course, need to be made.

Consistent with this general position, South Downs College will keep parents informed about issues affecting a son or daughter under 18 enrolled as a student. There may, however, be circumstances under which we may not be able to provide information. For example, when parents are separated or divorced we may not be able to give information to a parent with whom the student does not live. The law also recognises that minors may be capable of taking their own decisions on medical matters, without the need for parental consent, and under such circumstances, the College may not be able to release information to parents.

For students over 18, the law does not recognise any right of parents to information about their children, and it would be a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 if we ignored an express wish from a student that information should not be released to a parent.

The first few weeks of term for new students

Your son or daughter’s course will commence with a Welcome Day which will be followed by a programme to ensure he or she settles happily into College life.

During October all new students will have a detailed review with their Tutor. At this review we will check that your son or daughter is taking the most appropriate course and is fully aware of all the facilities and resources of the College.

Attendance

Students are required to attend every class, unless ill or there is some other unavoidable reason.

If your son or daughter is unwell or unable to attend College, please telephone or let us know for each day of the absence.

Who to contact (each day of absence)

Students in Faculty of Arts and Sciences - 023 9279 7967
Students in Faculty of Business and Community
023 9279 7949 (Business and IT)
023 9279 7943 (Sport and Public Services)
023 9279 7930 (Health and Care)
023 9279 7983 (Foundations for Learning)
or parents only can email as follows:

Arts and Sciences courses:

a&sabsence@southdowns.ac.uk

Business & Community courses:

b&cabsence@southdowns.ac.uk

Whichever facility is used (phone or email) please give

name of student
name of Tutor
date of absence
reason for absence.

Students should not arrange routine doctor’s or dentist’s appointments or driving lessons when they should be attending classes. Holidays must not be taken in term-time.

There may be occasions when your son/daughter could be absent from College for a reason known in advance, such as a medical appointment, which cannot be arranged outside College hours. If this is the case, please complete an Absence Request form (available from the Faculty Office, the College Intranet or Student Services) and attach the appointment card/letter.

If a student arrives late to class, it is their responsibility to ensure that the lecturer enters the correct mark on the register. Absences and lateness may affect the payment of Education Maintenance Allowance or Adult Learning Grant if applicable.

College tutorial system

Every full-time student is allocated a personal Tutor who will play a key role in their life at College. The Tutor will support and advise about your course and the Personalised Development Plan (PDP). Each student will meet regularly with their tutor in either a group or one to one tutorial. During these sessions the tutor will support each student by monitoring their progress, attendance and general well-being whilst keeping them on track. They will also help set priorities to achieve the best from the course. In addition each tutor will advise students on progression options for employment or education by referring them to Advice & Guidance or other support services.

Please encourage your son or daughter to talk to their Tutor, any of your lecturers or one of the counselling or Advice & Guidance staff if they have any concerns about their course progress.

Maths and English qualifications

For many careers and university courses, students will be expected to have an A*-C grade in English and Maths. At the College, students will be able to retake GCSE English Language if they have obtained a GCSE grade D; if they need to retake GCSE Maths they must have obtained a grade D and achieved a satisfactory score in their skills assessment. If they do not have these grades then they can enrol on a Pre-GCSE Literacy or Numeracy programme which will focus on improving individual skills, prior to enrolling on a GCSE Maths or English course.

Students’ tutors can give them information about how they can enrol on either programme.

Skills

Both employers and higher education colleges and universities look for particular levels of skills in the key areas of Maths, English and Information Communication Technology. These are so important that we want students to have the opportunity to get these qualifcations if they have not managed to do so at school.

Students can gain qualifcations in a range of skills including Functional Skills Maths, English and Information Communication Technology from Entry level to level 2, depending on the ability of the student. We also offer some students the opportunity to work towards the following qualifications:

Wider Key Skills qualifications from levels 1 to 3
GCSE ICT Short Course
Employability Skills at levels 1 and 2
Level 1 Award in Learning to Learn
Level 1 Award in Personal Money Management

Assessment is by exam, portfolio or a final sat assessment, depending upon the qualifcation studied.

For further information contact Donna Wilmshurst 023 9279 7904 (dwilmshurst@southdowns.ac.uk).

Learning Resources Centre (library)

The LRC has a wide range of resources to help students with their studies. These include books, e-books, magazines and online resources within a welcoming environment where they can as an individual or with their friends. The LRC has open access computers (including Apple Macs) and has Wi-Fi coverage. The staff help students find information and make full use of IT within the LRC.

The LRC is open during term time:
Monday - Thursday 08.15 - 20.00
Friday 08.15-17.30

During College holidays the LRC is open reduced hours

Students have access to photocopiers in the Learning Resources Centre (LRC). Credits may be added to their LRC card or you can purchase a photocopy card from Reception.

Additional support for students

Many students, for a variety of reasons, need extra help if they are to succeed on their studies.

All full-time students are given an informal assessment at the start of the course so we can identify those needing extra help, but we also very much welcome parents letting us know if you think your son or daughter would beneft from extra help.

teaching in an informal setting, allowing students to work in small groups of two or three on coursework or to improve their writing or maths skills, or 1:1 where appropriate to meet specific need
a large team of learning support assistants who can provide help in or out of class.
help for those with a physical disability, such as hearing or visual impairment, or restricted mobility.

If you would like to discuss your son or daughter’s additional support needs please email studycentre@southdowns.ac.uk or phone 023 9279 7906.

Special arrangements for examinations.

Month of Examinations	Access Arrangements	Deadline
November 2011 and January 2012	Modifed papers	20 September 2011
November 2011	All other access arrangements (apart from modifed papers)	4 October 2011
January 2012	All other access arrangements (apart from modifed papers)	21 October 2011
March 2012	Modifed papers	30 November 2011
March 2012	All other access arrangements (apart from modifed papers)	21 January 2012
May, June 2012	Modifed Papers	31 January 2012
May, June 2012 (GCE/GCSE examinations)	All other access arrangements (apart from modifed papers)	21 February 2012
May/June 2011 (GCE/AEA examinations)	All other access arrangements (apart from modifed papers)	21 March 2012

Students with disabilities and/or difficulties

South Downs College is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities, including those with learning difficulties, are treated fairly. All reasonable adjustments to provision will be made to ensure that students with a disability and or difficulty are not substantially disadvantaged.

We are keen to ensure that we comply with the Disability Discrimination Act so, if your son or daughter has a disability and or difficulty please let us know so that we can do everything possible to help them succeed.

Aim High

Aim High supports your son/daughter to achieve their ambitions and fulfill their potential. If they have particular talents, a passion for success, or simply a desire to challenge themselves, the Aim High initiative will help them to reach their goals. There is plenty of extra support available for all our students who are Aiming High, whatever their chosen course, subject or profession. AIM HIGH is the phrase to look out for if they need the edge when it comes to thinking about a future in a competitive profession, course or university. To do this we offer a wide range of opportunities.

What support is there?

By this age everyone’s path is very different and so we aim to make our support as individual as we can. We support and encourage students to AIM HIGH, forging their own way forward. To do this we offer a wide range of opportunities. Some examples include individual advice and support for every student who wants it, enrichment courses and activities, specific individual support to maximise sporting, musical, artistic or acting talent , extra tuition if there are entrance exams to be sat or interviews required, work experience.

Who could benefit?

Students wanting to work in a competitive profession, such as teaching , nursing, sport science, law, medicine, veterinary science; those with an exceptional ability in a skill, sport or subject – vocational, A levels or talents outside college; academically, students with strong GCSEs, where the majority of grades are A or A*, students. Please contact our Aim Higher Co-ordinator, Georgina Blair, on 023 9279 7979.

College Cafés

The main College site has five cafés offering a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere and an extensive range of food and refreshments from 8.30am to 20.30 Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4pm on Fridays.

The café menus are varied and reasonably priced comprising of traditional and international dishes, light meals and snacks. Two salad bars and freshly flled deli subs compliment the range of healthy options available.

An evening meal is served until 18.30 and a selection of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, homemade cakes and pastries are available until 20.30 Monday to Thursday.

Vending machines offer a selection of snacks and drinks and water bottles can be flled from the free dispensers.

Refectory staff are able to provide customers with information on products, ingredients and production methods if required.

If you would like further information about the services available please look at the College Cafés website on the college Intranet or contact the Catering Manager on 023 9279 7978 or email phumby@southdowns.ac.uk

Part-time employment

Many of our students undertake part-time employment whilst at College. In most cases, this is highly benefcial and students beneft not just from the additional income they receive but also from the experience and independence part- time jobs often give.

However, there is now a lot of evidence that when full-time students have part-time employment in term time of more than about 10 hours per week their College work is likely to suffer. As well as attending classes, students are required to do a considerable amount of private study, and we very much hope you agree with us that your son or daughter’s frst priority should be their College course.

We would, therefore, welcome parents restricting their son or daughter’s working hours to a reasonable amount.

Advice & Guidance and Higher Education Planning

The Advice & Guidance team at South Downs College help students prepare and plan for their next step after College.

Advice & Guidance is located at the front of the College and students can drop into Advice & Guidance from 09.30 to 16.30 every day to get help that includes career research, higher education, employment, further study and gap year options.

The Advice & Guidance team have built up good links with outside organisations including universities and employers to ensure that students can be kept up to date with issues such as higher education entrance requirements and job opportunities both locally and nationally. Students are encouraged to use the Advice & Guidance Moodle site which is virtual learning environment that can be accessed both in and out of College. The site has a range of useful resources and links for career options.

In today’s competitive world we support students with initiatives to develop their transferrable skills. These include volunteering, work shadowing and the Student Ambassador scheme.

There are several careers events which give parents and carers the opportunity to find out more about future options such as higher education.

The Advice & Guidance team also work with Tutors to deliver a careers education programme.

If you would like any further information on any aspect of careers please contact Amanda Percy, Advice & Guidance Manager, 023 9279 7927 or email apercy@southdowns.ac.uk

The Enrichment Programme

The college offers an exciting programme of enrichment activities and this can play an important part in your college experience.

Many opportunities have been created for you to participate in sport, fitness, languages, art, design, hair, beauty and many more interesting activities. In addition, the college actively participates in competitive sports at a variety of levels.

In this competitive age employees and universities are looking for young people who demonstrate a willingness to broaden their experience and knowledge and we hope that your son/daughter become fully involved in what is on offer.

If you would like to discuss your son or daughter’s participation in any of the courses please contact Carol Iggleden (Ext 295), Hugh Hooper (Ext 451), Jenny Baker (Ext 295) and Claire Hooper (Ext 295), Enrichment Co-ordinators.

General deposit and entry for assessments/ examinations

All full-time students are required to pay a deposit of £25. This will be refunded at the end of a student’s course, minus any deductions for non-returned books and equipment, missed examinations, breakages, etc.

The College will pay all approved assessment and examination fees for students aged 16-18 at the start of their course. However, if a student fails to take an assessment or examination without satisfactory reason such as ill-health, students will be required to refund to the College the cost of any fees paid to examining bodies and/or the amount concerned will be deducted from the refund of the deposit.

Travel Scheme

If your son or daughter is eligible for the South Downs Travel Scheme the following deadlines are extremely important.

Application forms for travel passes received before 30 June 2011: passes will be available for collection between 31 August and 23 September 2011.

Applications received after 30 June will be processed as quickly as possible, but at this busy time for the travel companies, travel passes may not be available for collection for approximately four to five weeks after term starts in September.

If students have not applied for travel by 23 September 2011, it will not be possible to have a travel pass until after the Autumn half term (31 October 2011).

Passes are available for collection from Student Services as follows:
Term 1 : between 31 August to 23 September 2011
Term 2 : between 6 to 16 December 2011
(closing at noon on Fri 16) and 3 to 20 January 2012
Term 3 : between 19 March to 30 March and 16 April to 4 May 2012

Passes not collected by the above dates will be returned to the appropriate travel company and can only be re-ordered on payment of a minimum £5 administration fee charged by the travel companies for return of tickets. If your son or daughter is unable to collect a pass by the due date, please inform Student Services, 023 9279 7921 or 023 9279 7994, beforehand so the pass can be held until a mutually agreed date.

Tickets can only be collected by the student and cannot be issued to a third party. However, if you feel there are exceptional circumstances please contact Student Services 023 9279 7921 or 023 9279 7994.

No refund of the parental contribution is payable once a pass has been collected.

Once a student has been enrolled on the travel scheme the tickets will be ordered automatically on a termly basis for the complete academic year. If you wish to cancel your travel pass, please let Student Services staff know, in writing, before the previous half term that you wish to change. Failure to do so may incur the administrative fee charged by travel companies for the return of passes. Students will be required to return their travel passes to Student Services if they leave College without completing their course.

This information is also given to students in tutorials, the Student Information Z Card and College Notice boards. Please also note that students must apply each year for travel passes, including students returning (for example in Year 2 of a two year course) - passes are not automatically ordered - application forms will be available from Student Services from May onwards.

If your son or daughter experiences any problems with public transport they should inform Student Services so we can take up any issues directly with the travel companies concerned.