The Parents Guide Recognised as a Scottish charity number SCO21174

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1 The Parents Guide

2 Welcome As parents/guardians, you know that a good education is the key to the success of your child s future. What and where your child chooses to study upon leaving school is one of the biggest choices they will have to make, and we know that you will play an important role in this decision. This may well be an anxious time for both of you, but it s an exciting time too. We re here to offer the support and guidance needed for your child to make the right choice. We re more alike than you think we also have your child s best interest at heart. We want to give our students the best experience possible in the courses we offer, the facilities available and the support provided throughout their learning experience. We are also very aware of the huge step from school to college, for both you and your child! Hearing about things second-hand is never the same, so we have put together this information booklet to give you a valuable insight into North East Scotland College.

3 Contents Independence Day 2 Student Profile 3 Take a Look Inside Aberdeen City Campus Aberdeen Altens Campus Aberdeen Craibstone Campus Fraserburgh Campus Learning Centres 28 Making the Right Choices Choosing the right course 31 - Getting advice What s Next? 34 - Open Days 34 - Accommodation 35 Applying to College The Application Process Funding Advice Once a Student The College Year 45 - The College Day 45 - Induction 46 - Guidance Tutors 46 - Learning Development Centre 47 - Students Association 47 - Learning Technologies Life After College Careers Service 51 - Progressing to University 52 - Degree Link 53 Modern Apprenticeships Success Useful Numbers back page 11

4 Independence Day It can be a worry when a child finishes school and is ready to move on to the next stage in their life. Up until then it is you that has been responsible for their education receiving regular reports and updates. However at College, your teen or young adult becomes very much responsible for their own education. The College can only discuss matters with the applicant (prior to enrolling) or student (once enrolled). How your child is progressing at College is confidential and many parents/guardians find this lack of knowledge frustrating, especially if your child falls behind in his/her studies. You may not find out until it is too late. It is therefore vital that you encourage your child to embrace this chance to take responsibility for their learning by attending College on time, completing course work as required and generally taking ownership of their College experience. A leaflet called Coaching your Teenager... helping them get the best out of school and college is a popular piece of reading, and will highlight some useful points. It can currently be found at: 2

5 Profile When Colin Wooley attended school, teachers weren t sure that he would even pass Standard Grade PE. However, the 21-year-old who lives in Ellon went on to surprise everyone including himself when he gained an HND in Fitness, Health & Exercise from North East Scotland College. Colin lives day-to-day with a learning disability and found school quite difficult, but the College offered him the support he needed to succeed. He progressed from the Introduction course into the NC course, the HNC and then the HND, spending four years at North East Scotland College in total. Something that he feels really helped him to succeed there was the support of his lecturers and their passion for the subject they taught. He said: To begin with I didn t think I would even pass an HNC let alone an HND. But my lecturers shared my passion for the subject. They also saw me for me as a person. They saw through my disability and saw my potential. I got to do things at College that I never would have done at school I enjoyed learning there. It was just a really good experience. Thanks to the College s Degree Link programme, Colin is now working towards an honours degree in Applied Sports and Exercise at Robert Gordon University. Colin s mum Christine could not be prouder of her son s achievements, or more thankful to the College. She said: It was absolutely wonderful for Colin to arrive at College, where staff really nurtured his abilities and were very encouraging and supportive, and so patient. They really made him feel he could achieve his goals. I cannot tell you what a relief that was for me as a parent. The Learning Development Team is staffed by truly dedicated people who have endless patience, are friendly and approachable and they liaised well with the Sports staff. I think Colin s College graduation Day was definitely one of the proudest days of my life. I could not stop smiling. His place in third year at RGU was miraculous. I still pinch myself now, one year on, to check I m not dreaming it! I would totally recommend North East Scotland College to other parents. They have enabled Colin to achieve more success than we could ever have dreamed of. He is so happy and self-confident. Isn t that what we all want for our youngsters? 3

6 Take a look inside Aberdeen City Campus 4

7 Aberdeen City Campus Our Aberdeen City Campus is based in the heart of the bustling and cosmopolitan city centre, close to main shopping areas, cafés and restaurants. It has easy access to local bus routes and the main national bus and railway stations. It is our largest campus, operating across three interlinking buildings the Tower Block, the East Block and the South Block. You may have noticed some changes to the exterior of our Aberdeen City Campus recently. Since summer 2013, the Campus has been re-clad to transform the building s exterior into something that reflects the modern interior and state of the art facilities inside. Aside from being much more attractive, the technology used in the re-cladding project means the City Campus, which dates back to 1963, will be more efficient in terms of energy use reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption and energy maintenance costs. At our Aberdeen City Campus you will find our Information & Booking Centre where people can go with any questions requiring course information or course bookings. Subjects taught at our Aberdeen City Campus include: Art & Design, Visual Communication, Photography, Business Management, Accounting, Legal Studies, Advertising & PR, Computing & IT, Childcare, Social Care, Health Care, Nursing, ESOL, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Highers, Hospitality, Learning Opportunities, Music and Performing Arts, Travel & Tourism, Science, Social Sciences, Sport, Creative Media and TV, Radio & Sound Production. 5

8 The campus has a modern and relaxing environment, and boasts excellent facilities for students. Library+ is the brand name of North East Scotland College s regional library service. There are four sites at North East Scotland College; Aberdeen City, Altens, Craibstone and Fraserburgh Campuses. Each Library+ stocks slightly different materials depending on the courses delivered at that site; Altens Campus specialises in Engineering, Construction, Automotive and Maths resources; Craibstone Campus has Animal Care and Aberdeen City Campus has everything else. At Fraserburgh there is a wide range of resources related to all subjects delivered across the Campus. 6 In addition to subject specific resources each library also has a wide range of other resources, including: Books Journals & magazines Newspapers DVDs and audio CDs e-books e-resources PCs Printers Scanners Study spaces Photocopiers. Library+ has an extensive online catalogue which can be found in the Library+ area of Blackboard (the student Virtual Learning Environment) and on the welcome page on Student- Net. Here staff and students can search for books, magazines, films or any item of library stock. Students also have access to thousands of e-books which they can use anywhere as long as they have access to the internet, at home or in College. They can download them too! The College has a number of specialist information services available as e-resources. These include: Credo Reference; JISC Media Hub for downloading film, images and audio; Issues Online where you can find out more about social topics such as bullying, health and wellbeing and citizenship; Bridgeman Education where you can find images from museums, galleries, private collections and contemporary artists to view or download in high quality; and much, much more! All vital information about Library+ can be found on Blackboard. Students can simply log in and get access to the details. Our catalogue and e-resources can be found there, as well as a number of other useful links such as term-time opening hours, information skills (such as help with copyright and referencing), key publications (our How to guides are included), the interactive Library+ guide and our contact details.

9 Information Technology Centre Our IT Centre is one of the largest in Scotland, and consists of an open plan teaching area boasting over 200 PCs. In the first seven weeks of term, the IT Centre averages almost 1,000 students a day that means a new student comes in every 30 seconds! The IT Centre is situated on the Lower Ground Floor of our Aberdeen City Campus Tower Block. All desktop computers are primed with Microsoft Office software and internet access. There are two main areas: The Main Teaching Zone acts as the body of the IT centre, and is commonly used by groups who are timetabled to use this area, in the same way as a classroom. The PCs in the Flexi-use Area, which is situated on the left as you enter the IT Centre, are never scheduled for classes. IT HelpZone The IT Student HelpZone is located in Dino s Café, and is where learners can get support with a range of IT issues including password resetting and software or hardware faults. Staffed by students, the HelpZone is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 77

10 Places to Eat and Relax A range of refectories can be found at our Aberdeen City Campus. Dino s Café is a popular choice, and a great place to go to grab a hot or cold drink, sandwich, snack or a bowl of soup. It is conveniently located next to the student common room a large, open plan area with seating for up to 200 students. Our two Made Your Way eateries are also popular options for students, and provide a range of hot and cold meals for breakfast, lunch and tea including vegetarian options. The Student Shop sells a wide range of confectionery, snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines and stationery. Fitness Suite and Sports Hall Sports and exercise play an important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and encouraging the health and well-being of our students. Our Fitness Suite and Sport Hall are free of charge, and are available to students at lunchtimes, evenings and when they are not in use by our sports students. 8

11 Some of our specialist teaching facilities include: Gate 63 is our custom-built training restaurant at Aberdeen City Campus. It has a spacious and modern design that makes for a comfortable social environment, whilst operating as an excellent realistic working environment for our students. The restaurant s name was inspired by the area in which the campus is situated Gallowgate with 63 representing the year in which the main building was completed. This top of the range facility is where students can learn how to prepare and serve food in a professional kitchen or front-of-house environment. Best of all, the restaurant is open to the public! This means that staff, students, parents and the wider community can come along and enjoy the highest standard of food and service at very affordable prices. For more information visit 9

12 Music, Sound Production & Drama The Basement Studio Theatre and related recording rooms, practice rooms and performance areas at North East Scotland College make up an outstanding facility a place where we can nurture talent and encourage creative flair, enthusiasm and interaction amongst students. Those who choose to study music, sound production or drama will work closely with our experienced and knowledgeable teaching staff, learning from lecturers,those around them and through their own personal development. The atmosphere is one of expression and innovation, so it s not unusual to see collaboration across different disciplines - for example TV students filming live bands or sound students working on sound engineering for a theatrical production! TV, Radio & Creative Media Media and the use of the media is a huge part of modern-day culture and society. Those studying TV, Radio & Communication at our Aberdeen City Campus will get the chance to take advantage of the excellent resources available. This includes use of industry standard equipment and our state-of-the-art TV studio, radio production suite and editing suites. 10

13 in:tuition is our state-of-the-art salon environment built for hairdressing, beauty and complementary therapy students. It is modern and sophisticated, and equipped with the latest in salon technology. You ll find a large open plan hairdressing salon, two beauty salons, a professional nail bar and a sauna, spa and steam room. This facility is also open to the public, meaning anyone can come along and enjoy a wide range of beauty treatments at a reasonable cost. For more information visit Contact Details Aberdeen City Campus, Gallowgate, Aberdeen, AB25 1BN. Tel: enquiry@nescol.ac.uk Transport Enquiries: First Aberdeen: Bluebird Stagecoach:

14 Take a look inside Aberdeen Altens Campus 12

15 Aberdeen Altens Campus Our Aberdeen Altens Campus specifically focuses on training in engineering and construction, and is perfectly situated at the beginning of the main arterial route to Stonehaven and the South. It is an impressive building, situated in Altens Industrial Estate. The main building incorporates a variety of CO2-reducing measures, and the entire site is designed to provide lots of spacious social areas for our students. The specialist training facilities found at this campus are state-of-the-art, and a strong emphasis is put on health and safety to ensure a safe and secure environment. 13

16 When it comes to study and leisure, you ll find: Library+ is the brand name of North East Scotland College s regional library service. There are four Library+ sites at North East Scotland College: Aberdeen City, Altens, Craibstone and Fraserburgh Campuses. Each Library+ stocks slightly different materials depending on the courses delivered at that site; Altens Campus specialises in Engineering, Construction and Automotive. For more details on Library+ please refer to page 6. Student Common Room Our Student Common Room is where students often go to relax and unwind with friends outside of class time. 14

17 Places to Eat and Relax Students at our Altens Campus are never short of choice when it comes to finding somewhere grab a bite and relax before, after or between classes. The Skyliner Restaurant is situated in the M Block and serves hot and cold breakfasts and lunches daily. Its unique positioning means that students can enjoy their food whilst taking in breathtaking views of the Aberdeen coastline. The Engine Room is located in the heart of the engineering teaching block (F block), and offers light snacks such as soup, sandwiches, paninis and a range of hot and cold drinks. The Z-Bar is situated in M block, and is the perfect place to grab a quick snack or refreshment. Fitness Suite Our Fitness Suite is open at selected times and is free for students to use. It is stocked with a range of fitness equipment, including cardio machines, resistance machines and a free weights area. 15

18 Amongst our teaching facilities, you ll find: Engineering Workshops Our engineering workshops are extremely well equipped, boasting key industry standard equipment and resources. You ll find specialist tools and components and state-of-the-art machinery, as well as different laboratories built specifically for different types of work - from Programmable Logic Controller and process labs, to construction skills labs. Construction Building Our Construction Building is home to a number of large custom-built workshops and classrooms for joinery, brickwork, painting and decorating and plumbing courses. These areas allow students to get to grips with different tools and techniques in their chosen trade, allowing for specialist training and extensive hands-on practice. Automotive Workshop Our Automotive Workshop is a great resource for those enrolled on our automotive courses. It s a spacious and extremely well-equipped facility where students can get to grips with vehicle maintenance, repair and refinish, and practice on a range of functioning (and non-functioning) vehicles. The real emphasis for automotive students here is putting what they learn into extensive practice and testing in the workshop giving them good, hands-on skills for their future career. Fabrication and Welding Our dedicated fabrication and welding area is an excellent workspace which gives students the opportunity to work with industry-standard equipment, and carry out extensive practical training. 16

19 Contact Details Aberdeen Altens Campus, Hareness Road, Altens Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3LE. Tel: Transport Enquiries: Free buses operate to and from Altens from Aberdeen City Centre, subject to requirements. For more information contact the Altens Reception on Please note that parking facilities are available on the Campus. 17

20 Take a look inside Aberdeen Craibstone Campus 18

21 Aberdeen Craibstone Campus Our Animal Care courses are based in the beautiful grounds of the Scotland s Rural College (SRUC) at the Craibstone Estate, situated on the outskirts of Aberdeen. This Campus gives our students the unique opportunity to make use of the outstanding learning facilities, whilst studying in the tranquillity and seclusion of a country estate. 19

22 Here students get to work closely with Shetland ponies, snakes, ferrets, rabbits and more! Amongst our facilities you ll find: Animal Care Unit This centre gives students the chance to study, learn and practice animal care techniques in a safe and controlled environment. Students will work alongside a variety of different animals, and acquire key skills and knowledge to prepare them for further study and employment. Library+ and IT facilities can be found on the ground floor of the Ferguson Building which is a large building near the western access beside the golf course. Here students studying Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing can access reference books and use IT facilities. 20 Accommodation Animal Care students may be eligible to stay in the SRUC Halls of Residence on their Craibstone Campus which are set well off the A96 in wooded surroundings and comprise of three residences closely integrated to form an attractive centre quadrangle with cafe, bar and leisure facilities. The halls offer access to dining kitchens and lounge areas, with internet access in all bedrooms. For further information, please contact: Gwen Bruce, Campus Residential Manager, Facilities Office, Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA. Tel: gwen.bruce@sruc.ac.uk Macduff Learning Centre

23 Places to Eat and Relax The canteen at our Craibstone Campus offers a tasty selection of hot and cold food daily, as well as a variety of drinks. The Student Shop sells a range of confectionery, snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines and stationery. TV room, lounge and snooker room The TV room, lounge and snooker room are in place to help students relax and unwind after or in between classes. This is a fantastic social area, open to everyone. Multi-Gym and astroturf sports area The multi-gym has a range of cardiovascular and resistance machines, and a free weights area. There is also a sauna and steam room, and a floodlit outdoor Astroturf Sports Area. Pay & Play golf course and practice putting green The Craibstone Campus gives golf enthusiasts endless opportunities to refine and perfect their technique on our 18-hole course and practice putting green! Woodland walks On top of all of these wonderful facilities, students can enjoy a woodland walk and relax in their surroundings by taking a stroll through the Craibstone Estate. There are over 800 acres of glorious woodland to explore, and a walled garden and arboretum to enjoy too. Contact Details Aberdeen Craibstone Campus, Scottish Rural College (SRUC) Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA. Tel: enquiry@nescol.ac.uk Transport Enquiries: Craibstone is close to Dyce train station (3.7 miles), the airport (3.4 miles) and is also on a bus route. Bus timetables can be found at the information area outside of the Education Office. The College operates a bus leaving from Aberdeen City Centre at 8.00am and returning at 4.40pm. Please note that free car parking is available on site. 21

24 Take a look inside Fraserburgh Campus 22

25 Fraserburgh Campus Our Fraserburgh Campus is an impressive and modern learning facility based just outside of Fraserburgh town centre. It is bright and bold in design with a strong focus on environmental sustainability, as there are various eco-friendly measures installed throughout the building. When students first arrive at the Fraserburgh Campus they will enter the atrium, which houses the reception area, library and flexible workspaces for students and staff. The Campus boasts outstanding teaching and learning resources, with excellent transport links and on-site parking available. You may have noticed some changes to the exterior of our Aberdeen City Campus recently. Since It s not just our Aberdeen City Campus that has been given an update! Our Fraserburgh Campus is undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment, and extension of its facilities in engineering, motor vehicle and construction departments. It will also involve the introduction of new amenities to allow science courses to be offered at the Campus. The state-of-the-art engineering and welding area was opened in August 2014, with the new motor vehicle, construction and science areas to be housed in a new building, which will be completed in

26 Our facilities for study and leisure include: Our Library+ has a wide range of resources available, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, CDs and DVDs. There are also places to print and photocopy your work, as well as quiet study and group work areas. You ll find our Library+ at the Fraserburgh Campus in the atrium - just down the corridor from reception. Information Technology There are over 700 computers across the campus, many of which are thin client computers, meaning they only consume a fraction of the power of normal computers the main servers do all the work! 24

27 Places to eat and relax Our Made Your Way refectory seats up to 150 people, and you ll find lots of delicious snacks, sandwiches and hot meals available daily. It is open at break times and lunch times, and students can even use this area for eating packed lunches. Students can also grab a Costa Coffee and a snack at our mezzanine coffee bar, which serves a range of refreshments. Our Cloisters area is an open plan, flexible area which can hold up to 100 people ideal for exhibitions and events, as well as a practical learning space. Fitness Suite and Sports Hall The Fitness Suite and Sports Hall aims to encourage students to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle. A range of activities and fitness classes run in the sports hall, and the fitness suite is fully equipped with cardiovascular and resistance machines, as well as a free weights area. These facilities are free of charge for students, and available at selected times

28 Specialist learning facilities include: Engineering Workshops Our Engineering workshops have been undergoing major refurbishments, including a significant extension of facilities. This has led to increased workspace for our students and rejuvenation across the entire engineering area. The workshops have also been fitted out with brand new equipment, including computer numerical control (CNC) machines and a number of training stations. Welding Technology Centre The 500,000 Welding Technology Centre based at our Fraserburgh Campus was first opened in September 2013 by First Minister for Scotland Alex Salmond. It was created to upscale in order to train higher numbers of welders due to a surge in demand for qualifications in this area. We have recently invested in this workspace further, introducing significant extensions and improvements, and increasing the number of welding bays to 32. Automotive Workshop Our Automotive workshop is a fantastic resource which allows students to work on real vehicles - getting to grips with their studies by putting theory into practice. The workshop houses key operational equipment, and gives students a chance to work on hatchbacks, saloons, estate cars, convertibles and more. General Building Workshop Our General Building Workshop is a large, open plan facility which includes multiple large roofing, lock brick and slab work areas, as well as dedicated joinery, painting and decorating areas. The Salon The Salon is used by our hair and beauty students, allowing them to practice and perfect their pampering skills in a realistic working environment. It has multiple hair and beauty salons, spray tanning equipment and spa facilities, and is open to everyone this means students, staff and the general public can come along and enjoy specialist treatments at excellent rates. 26

29 The Wallace Restaurant is an outstanding training facility in which our students can develop their hospitality and catering skills in a realistic working environment. Delicious meals are prepared by our catering students, and then served to guests by those studying hospitality. The restaurant is open to the general public, students and staff, so why not come along and try it out? Contact Details Fraserburgh Campus, Henderson Road, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire AB43 9GA. Tel: enquiry@nescol.ac.uk Transport Enquiries: The College provides transport to our Fraserburgh Campus from Huntly/Turriff, Peterhead, Inverurie, Ellon and Buckie areas. Those outside of these areas may want to use the Stagecoach bus service. Bus services run subject to demand. Please contact the campus on for further information. All buses leave the college from the bus pick-up point at 4.05pm. 27

30 Macduff Learning Centre Our Macduff Learning Centre is well equipped to serve the local community. A range of full-time and part-time courses run from this centre. Facilities include: Beauty Therapy room Easy access to computers Library Student social area Vending machines for refreshments. Contact: Macduff Learning Centre, Fife Street, Macduff, AB44 1XR. Tel: Ellon Learning Centre The Ellon Learning Centre is an accessible community facility based in the centre of town, right next to Ellon Academy. A range of full-time and part-time courses run from this centre, which is well equipped with classrooms, social areas and IT facilities. However, from August 2015 the Ellon Learning Centre will move and become an annexe of the larger, new school building. North East Scotland College students will have separate access, and there will be multiple classrooms, social space, and an outdoor area specifically designed for construction projects. A practical work area will accommodate school-based groups for Skills for Work programmes, concentrating on subjects like energy and engineering. The new Learning Centre will also accommodate some HN courses, and a number of flexible courses. Contact: Ellon Learning Centre, Ellon Academy Annexe, Schoolhill Road, Ellon, AB41 9JS. Tel: Inverurie Learning Centre The Inverurie Learning Centre has three spacious classrooms, including a modern and well-equipped IT suite. There is vending machine where students can grab a quick refreshment and a small, comfortable area where students can sit down and relax. The centre is very well located in the centre of Inverurie just a two minute walk from shops, cafés and restaurants and has excellent disabled access, with no stairs and a ramp at the main entrance. Contact: Inverurie Learning Centre, Crichie Cottage, West Church Lane, Inverurie AB51 3SW. Tel:

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32 30 Making the rightchoices

33 Choosing the right course At North East Scotland College it s our aim to encourage people of all backgrounds to enter education and training, meaning your child may not need to have specific qualifications to enrol on one of our courses. They can start at an appropriate level for their ability and experience. Most subject areas offer courses at various levels, meaning there s something to suit everyone! The courses on offer can provide any student with an easy route into learning. It may the case that your child will enter an advanced course, such as an HNC or HND. From this level they can progress to degree level study at one of our associate universities. For those who have studied up to Standard Grade, National 3 or 4, or Intermediate 1, there is the option to start off at an introductory level. Our course levels indicate the difficulty of course content, meaning that each applicant can choose a course which is most suited to their abilities. Introductory Level These are our entry level courses, aimed at those with a specific interest in and aptitude for a subject, but no relevant qualifications or work experience. Non-advanced Level Non-advanced level courses are for those with appropriate Standard Grades/National 4s and 5s, Intermediate 2, or those who have successfully completed a relevant course at Introductory Level. Those with relevant experience who have an interest and aptitude for the subject may also be considered. Advanced Level Advanced Level courses are for those with: Appropriate Highers, or equivalent qualifications; those who have successfully completed a relevant non-advanced level course; or those with relevant life skills and experience who show an interest in or aptitude for the subject. If you are in any doubt about which course level is most appropriate for your child, they can arrange a meeting with a member of our Student Services team: Tel: studentservices@nescol.ac.uk Course Information For full information about the courses we offer, please visit the website: Alternatively you can download a copy of our Prospectus from the website, or order a copy from our Information & Booking Centre. Tel: