A PARENT S GUIDE TO NEW COLLEGE NOTTINGHAM

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1 A PARENT S GUIDE TO NEW COLLEGE NOTTINGHAM

2 WHAT OUR students GET UP TO AT COLLEGE College is an extremely exciting and rewarding part of any young person s journey and we re here to help them every step of the way. We know it might be daunting for both you and your children when they first start college, so we have put together this guide to reassure you and make sure that all your questions are answered. New College Nottingham (ncn) offers hundreds of courses, qualifications, study options and support packages to cater for students of all ages and abilities and we are absolutely committed to helping each and every one of our students to reach their full potential. Unlike school, ncn offers a complete learning experience, both in and out of the classroom. We are keen to get all of our students work ready so that they are well-equipped to embark on their futures after they leave college. Opportunities to gain industry experience exist at all levels of study. The chance to play sport, take part in trips and connect with learners from all over the world are just some of the many activities our students can get involved in. Furthermore, our one-to-one support ensures that our students become independent, confident and driven young people, ready to enter the world of work or further study. Being at ncn has taught me the importance of working hard to achieve what you want in life. What our students gain by studying at ncn: A dedicated Personal Success Coach (PSC) to help them settle in and to give advice about the best route to their dream job. Our PCSs create personal learning plans for every student and hold regular one-to-one tutorials to make sure all their individual needs are met. A team of Career and Destination Coaches provide students with advice about work experience opportunities, contacts in specific industries, levels of study needed and help to develop them for the world of work. Our dedicated Learning Support team is highly qualified to support students with all their learning requirements, including those students with learning difficulties or physical disabilities. Learning centres packed with books, journals, PCs and a wealth of other study materials and expert staff on hand. Support with CV writing, interview techniques, job applications and job searches. A Students Union providing students with a voice, plus loads of discounts and special offers with an NUS Extra card. Financial advice and support including budget planning, travel passes, equipment vouchers and bursaries (eligibility criteria applies). A wealth of facilities including an AA-Rosette-graded gourmet restaurant plus lots of student-run eateries at each campus, a hair and beauty salon, radio station, childcare and year-round entertainment and shows. Ruben Gomes Level 3 Television and Film Production BTEC Diploma. Find out more on our website at

3 WHAT MAKES NCN DIFFERENT? Our clusters At ncn, we believe that in order to offer our students the best possible start in their careers, they need to be linked to their industry of choice. We work closely with the key industries in the city and wider county to ensure that the courses we offer develop the skills our students need. Our courses are delivered in clusters which mirror the industries that exist in our region: Creative, Cultural and Digital Industries Nottingham s creative industries are rapidly growing with the development of the city s Creative Quarter which is attracting 60m in investment. With a campus set in the heart of the Creative Quarter, we have developed new courses to meet the growing needs of this sector, including web and app development, graphics, digital media and games design. The cluster also includes music and performance, which includes our Roland music academy and art and design. BUSINESS, CARE AND COMPUTING Business and computing is one of the area s largest sectors. Many of our students go on to work in a variety of roles from administration to computer software, law to finance, or go on to set up their own company. We also put our students at the forefront of the Care sector as we are recognised by the National Skills Academy for our excellence in social care. Service Industries and the Visitor Economy As home to one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe not to mention our iconic Robin Hood, Nottingham is no stranger to tourism. Thanks to the City s rich heritage and bustling city centre and airport on our doorstep, Nottingham provides the perfect base for those studying hospitality and catering, aviation management, travel and tourism and event management. We have key partnerships with East Midlands Airport, Sat Bains restaurant and Marco Pierre White, to name but a few, giving our students links right into the heart of the industries they want to go into. Construction, Sustainability and Environmental Sciences A good proportion of this cluster s delivery is based at our Basford Hall campus, which boasts the UK s first Civils Academy offering industry training in Civil Engineering, plus expansive workshops for brickwork, welding, electrical installation, joinery, carpentry and surveying. In line with the city s growth in the biosciences sector, ncn has developed new courses specialising in low carbon technologies, science and engineering. A new 27m campus is being developed on the site which will offer new state-of-the-art training facilities and will be open in September Until then, construction students will get a brilliant insight into the industry by having a large redevelopment project taking shape right before their eyes. Academic and Progression Studies This cluster is home to our ncn High Pavement City Sixth Form Academy which in itself has a rich and prestigious history in the City. All of our extensive A Level provision sits within this cluster which is geared up to academic study in preparation for university, as well as supported learning for those who are starting off on their education or employment journey. We also offer GCSE courses and a range of targeted support for those who aren t sure which path to take. KEY INDUSTRY CONTACTS We believe in preparing students for the world of work, not just with the technical ability to do the job well, but with all the other skills they need to help them with communications, management and leadership, presentation and confidence. We have links with many key players in industry, for example, we work closely with one of the leading London institutes, The Courtauld Institute of Art, to run a number of study and progression days, which resulted in a number of our students gaining university places at the institute. We also work with leading experts who often conduct guest lectures and come to speak to our students including; stage manager for the Glastonbury pyramid stage, Steve Cheney, Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver, news reader John Snow, David Hasselhoff, and many more. Our students also get the opportunity to win nationally-recognised competitions, including WorldSkills UK. The national competition sees 800 of the country s most talented apprentices and learners compete in front of 100,000 visitors and talent scouts to be named the best in their skill in the UK. Progression AND SUPPORT for all students We pride ourselves on our proven ability to help all students reach their full potential, in many cases seeing our students off to degree-level study and into employment. You may already be aware that the government has highlighted that English and maths skills are key to gaining employment, therefore we work with all our learners to improve their maths and English skills, with the goal of leaving ncn with an A* C in GCSE Maths and/or English if they do not already have it. If students have less than a grade D in their GCSE maths or English they will have the full support they need to study a Functional Skill at the level that suits them to build skills towards a GCSE at a later date. This is a compulsory part of every course at ncn unless students already have A* C GCSE in both English and maths. Students who are intending to go to university or higher study e.g. Teacher Training, Access to Nursing, Access to Midwifery, or any other Access to HE course, need to be aware that many (but not all) universities/colleges will accept Functional Skills Level 2 English/maths as an alternative to GCSE English/maths C grade. College is a very different environment to school, where students are encouraged to learn independently as well as in the classroom. Students need to be highly motivated and keen to learn their chosen subjects whilst also being given the time and space to commit to their studies. Many of our courses are coursework-based, which relies on our students to be encouraged to be as dedicated as possible by putting the hours into their work at home as well as at college. Please help us to ensure this happens. The next generation of entrepreneurs Whilst we know that not everyone wants to or can start their own company and become a successful entrepreneur, we recognise that the qualities that entrepreneurs possess, including resilience, confidence, the ability to think and act creatively, drive and determination and adaptability are qualities that more and more employers are looking for, over and above any technical competence. All our teaching is designed to bring out these qualities and provide students with every opportunity to exhibit these attributes in a variety of environments and situations.

4 A guide to which qualification Navigating your way around the numerous qualification levels and options can be tricky but here s a guide to show you what the levels are and what they mean. In order to progress on to university study, students will need to have completed a level 3 qualification so this should be useful when viewing the table below. OPTIONS MINIMUM ENTRY LEVEL DESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS Foundation Learning No qualifications. Entry These courses build confidence and give students the skills they need to progress into work or onto a level 1 course. Practical/Vocational Studies including BTECs Normally three GCSEs or equivalent and you must be willing to take maths and English as part of your programme of study. Depending on the level, students will require four GCSEs - for level 2 we require an A* D profile and for level 3 we normally require an A* C profile. Each course may vary so please check our course guide. 1 2 & 3 These courses give students an introduction to an industry sector and help them develop the practical skills and knowledge to progress to further study or into work. These courses develop skills around a specific career path. They are designed to lead directly into employment or progression to university-level study. Apprenticeships Apprentices must be employed and be working for 30 hours or more a week in the chosen industry sector. All apprentices will study English and maths alongside their core qualification. If the applicant is unemployed ncn can help them find a job and secure it. This may include CV or interview training or enrolment onto a pre-apprenticeship programme. 2, 3 & 4 1 & 2 Apprenticeships combine qualifications with practical skills taught in the workplace. Pre-apprenticeship programmes provide students with training in a relevant area, plus additional skills to progress to an Apprenticeship when a job does become available. A Levels and academic subjects 5 GCSEs grades A* C (some require a A* B profile) including English Language and Maths. Fewer than 5 GCSEs grades A* C (if your child has not obtained maths and English at GCSE level A* C, they will not be able to move straight to a full A Level programme). Money matters Child benefit The benefits and welfare system is ever changing but as long as your child is under the age of 19 and studying full-time at ncn, you, as the parent or guardian, will still be able to claim benefits including Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits. Help with additional costs If your household income is less than 25,000 per year and you live more than 1.5 miles away from the ncn campus where your child will be studying, they could be eligible for a free travel pass. There is also financial support available to help with the cost of equipment and course materials depending on your circumstances. If the course your child has chosen to study has additional material and equipment costs, this is normally discussed at interview stage but if you d like more information, please do speak to a member of the ncn team. 3 2 & 3 Studying business at ncn developed my knowledge, independence and helped me to translate my hard work into a successful career. Dennis Simms Former ncn student, now Head of Business Faculty at Magnus CofE School, Newark A Levels are a fantastic option if your child enjoys academic learning and plans to go to university or hasn t settled on a definite career path. If your child would like to study A Levels, but doesn t quite have the grades, they can re-take their GCSEs, or combine GCSE and A Level study to gain entry onto a full A Level programme the following year (this option is not offered in all subject areas). Find out more on our website at

5 GET INVOLVED IT ALL STARTS AT YES! Junior Academies We offer a whole series of Junior Academies for young people aged Here at ncn we re the lead organisation in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire for the delivery of the Government s flagship programme, the National Citizen Service. All year olds in the country are being given a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the project, which not only looks great on their CV, it gives young people amazing new skills, builds their confidence and helps them to meet new people. The two or four week programme takes place during end-of-term holidays and is great value for money too. These take place on a Saturday and school holidays at any one of our main campuses and provide a great introduction to courses in music and performance, construction and engineering, media and digital industries, business and management, catering, and hair and beauty. Junior Academies are fun and interesting things to do at the weekend and offer excellent value for money. For more information visit Not at college yet? As well as providing advice and support to parents of young people already at college, ncn works with parents and carers of young people in years 8, 9, 10 and 11 to help them find out more about the options available to them when they leave school. Call us on for a chat or visit Please visit our website for more details. Taster sessions These courses are great for young people aged who are going through their options at school. Tasters offer half and one-day opportunities to understand and have a go at a vast array of courses available at ncn. If you re interested in knowing more please contact the School Partnerships team on or Courses for year olds If your child is looking to gain an extra qualification not offered at school or finds engaging in education a challenge, it is possible for them to enrol on a course at ncn whilst still studying at school. For further information please contact the School Partnerships team on ABSENCE REPORTING If your child is unable to attend college for whatever reason, please ensure the absence is reported by calling Find out more on our website at

6 COURSES THAT FIT AROUND YOUR LIFE If you re considering a change in career, a promotion or just want to learn a new skill or hobby, we have over 450 part-time courses available for adults. Visit to view our latest part-time course guide. keep in touch Subscribe to our dedicated parent s e-newsletter online now at If you would to get in touch with us about anything you ve read in this guide please call us on