Course Information
We want to ensure that you get the best out of your time studying at College. Alongside the subjects you take we will work with you to look at a number of different areas to ensure that you reach your potential.
Progress Tutorials
Each week you will have a session with your Progress Tutor. This teacher will work with you to monitor how you are doing using individual targets and attendance data. Your tutor has responsibility for supporting you as you go through the college and will be the person who writes your references and reports. When time comes to move on from College, your Progress Tutor will help with university applications and careers advice with the help of Sheffield Futures.
Key Skills
The government requires all colleges to make sure students achieve appropriate levels of skill in the vital areas of numeracy, communication and IT. What you will have to do at college depends on the level of your course.
- If you are on a Level 1 or Level 2 course, Key Skills will be integrated in your main course.
- If you are on a Level 3 course, you must have Level 2 Key Skills in all three areas, plus Level 3 in one of them.
We do this in the following ways:
- For Level 2 Numeracy & Communications, you will need to take GCSE Maths or English if you have not already got a Grade C. Alternative qualifications will be available if GCSE is not appropriate.
- For Level 2 IT, you will need to take IT Key Skills if you have not got a Grade C at GCSE IT or equivalent. This will be a single session each week where you will be shown how to use all the college’s IT systems. You will prepare for a test and also produce a portfolio of evidence to show how you have used IT in your other courses.
- For the Level 3 requirements you will chose from a list of options which combine a Level 3 Key skills course with an extra qualification. This might be, for example, AS World Development with Key Skills IT, or AS General Studies with Key Skills Communication.
How Many Courses Can I Take?
Different people can cope with different demands and we will tailor your workload to suit your needs. As a minimum, you will need to meet the level set by the Learning & Skills Council to qualify as a full-time student. This is approximately 3 AS levels plus Progression Tutorial and Key Skills. If you drop below this for any reason, we will need to work with you to add in extra work. Some students may manage 5 AS levels or a BTEC plus other courses. This is very demanding and we will need to monitor your progress carefully to ensure this level of commitment is not counter-productive.
Many students may want to combine study with part-time work. The College supports this as long as you don’t take on so much work that your commitment to study suffers. In general, you should wait until your final timetable is set before you agree a schedule of work with your employer. We expect other commitments such as driving lessons and routine medical and dental appointments to be made so that they don’t interfere with your classes.