WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE INFORMATION PACK

Transcription

1 WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE INFORMATION PACK The TQ Education Role at Welbeck DSFC As part of a consortium called Minerva, TQ have been awarded a 28 year PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contract by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the Defence Sixth Form College. The MoD funds the College and has a contractual arrangement with Minerva for delivery of the education and support services. The Board of Governors together with the Principal, sets and reviews the policies, plans and procedures that will ensure the best possible education for present and future pupils of the College. The Board of Governors operates, as nearly as possible, like a Board of Governors in any other school; seeking to empower the Principal, through the provision of timely decisions and appropriate advice and guidance. Sitting on the Board of Governors, the Principal is the day to day representative of Minerva and is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the policies, direction and decisions of the Board. He or she will do so through the College s Senior Management Team, enabled by the support services provided by Minerva. DSFC provides a first-class A level education for up to 350 young men and women wishing to pursue a career in the Armed Forces or the MoD. The purpose-built residential technical college is located at Woodhouse, near Loughborough, Leicestershire and opened in September TQ is the employer of all the academic staff and some of the support staff within the college and are responsible for curriculum and education delivery, the management of all educational learning resources including ICT, library and learning resource facilities, sport and pastoral care. Facilities management is provided by Interserve Defence Limited (IDL) and managed on site by a General Manager. DSFC offers students an opportunity to succeed academically, physically and in terms of leadership development, through a thriving CCF (Combined Cadet Force) detachment. AS/A2 Level subjects taught include Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Business Studies, Computing/IT, Design & Technology, Electronics, Geography, Government & Politics along with Sports Studies, PSHCE and Enrichment Courses & Officer Skills. 1

2 Extra-curricular activities are wide-ranging and include sporting and outdoor activities such as hockey, athletics, football, hockey, netball, rugby, kayaking, rowing, swimming, cross-country running, sailing, music and band practice, etc. The college is equipped with high quality facilities including, sports hall, gym, and swimming pool and music rooms to accommodate such activities. 2

3 3

4 4

5 WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE WOODHOUSE, LEICESTERSHIRE GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET Welbeck College was founded originally in 1953 as a sixth form College for students wishing to be commissioned into the Technical Corps of the Army. The College admitted female students for the first time in September 1992 and currently female students form about 30% of the student body. The College has continued to develop over the years, having become in late- 2005, the UK s Defence Sixth Form College, with a complete new build in Woodhouse near Loughborough, Leicestershire. The present College is run much like an independent boarding school, headed by a residential Principal who is assisted by a Senior Management Team, comprising of a Vice Principal-Academic, Vice Principal-Pastoral, Vice Principal-Military, College Director of Operations and General Manager (Facilities). The present Principal is a civilian who has been in post since January 1999 and is a member of HMC, SHMIS and BSA and SBSA. The military training for the students is embraced within the compulsory Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Admission to the College for students is through a service selection board, which includes aptitude tests, interviews and group tasks. About 85% of students now come from the state education sector although there are a steady, but small, proportion of students from the Independent Day and Boarding sector. However, only 1-3% of students will ever have boarded before and only a small minority come from Service families. The students are drawn from all over the British Isles and there are usually a small number of international students. Most parents pay a fairly small contribution towards the cost of their child s maintenance at the College, on a means tested basis. A small number of students are recruited as private fee paying students and they do not have a commitment to serve in the MoD post their university degree courses. The students are highly motivated and focused towards success at the College and in their future careers, and are usually quick to take advantage of all educational opportunities offered by the teaching staff. It would be true to say that our teaching and military staff find the students to be committed and very enthusiastic learners. The students are currently divided into five boarding houses, each with a House Parent, Deputy House Parent, Housekeeper and House Tutors. Male 5

6 and female students live in purpose built accommodation, in one of five fully co-educational houses under the care and control of a residential House Parent (Housemaster or Housemistress). The College aims to admit 175 students each September. The College increased from a 3 to a 5-house system to accommodate an increased student population when it relocated in In addition to the Principal the staff consists of two Vice Principals who are TQ employees (one Academic, one Pastoral), 26 full-time civilian teachers and a similar number of part-time civilian teachers, 4 military staff including a Vice Principal-Military, a RN College Adjutant, an RAF Training Officer and a Warrant Officer from the Army Physical Training Corps. The curriculum offered is heavily weighted towards Maths, Sciences and Technology, with a smaller number of Arts subjects also on offer. The College is only 7 years old on its new site and benefits from first class facilities with a range of well equipped teaching classrooms, science labs and ICT learning laboratories. There is an excellent sports hall, complete with cardio-vascular, weight training facilities and an indoor climbing wall. A six lane indoor swimming pool, a high ropes course and ample playing fields complement the sporting facilities. In line with the College s drive to remain at the forefront of modern technical education, all students are issued with laptops to enhance the learning process. The major sports at the College are rugby, football, hockey, netball, crosscountry running, cricket, swimming and athletics. In addition, many other sports are available and a heavy emphasis is laid on personal development through adventurous training activities such as climbing, orienteering, abseiling, caving, canoeing and an extensive range of cultural activities and hobbies. Community education also forms a key element in the education for personal development. Students also go on military training camps at several points in the year and expeditions take place, both in the UK and overseas. The College aims to create a stimulating and happy environment in which students can mature, develop self-discipline and the qualities of responsibility and leadership. Though they are ultimately being prepared for admission to their respective service training arms for Officer training, academic success at A Level remains the fundamental aim, in order to prepare them for University study and for the challenges and opportunities in the early years of their chosen career path. College Ethos The College operates as a tightly structured, disciplined organisation with a heavy emphasis laid on mutual respect and a belief in each student seeking to achieve their very best in all aspects of College life. Students are carefully mentored with the express aim of preparing them, mentally and physically, for the challenges of Officer training in their respective service arm. 6

7 Their levels of motivation are high and entirely in line with the subsequent training and sponsorship rewards they earn for success at the end of their course. There is an aim to adopt a holistic approach to their education, whilst at the same time ensuring the achievement of excellent AS and A Level results in the traditionally difficult curriculum areas of mathematics and science. The College is engaging in opportunities to incorporate e-learning into the teaching programme, accordingly, the use of ICT and access to high quality digital learning resources is very much the focus of current curriculum planning. The College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and by Ofsted or its equivalent as far as the National Minimum Standards regulations for boarding schools are concerned. Extra-Curricular Involvement All academic members of teaching staff are expected to contribute to the extra curricular life of the College. Support staff are also encouraged to do so. DSFC is a residential sixth form College, with a number of civilian and military staff living either on or in the close vicinity of the campus. Residential House Parents have the immediate responsibility for the welfare of the students and teaching staff have a pastoral care role through the house and tutorial system. An involvement with outdoor pursuits, the general activities programme, games and/or the Combined Cadet Force is a requirement for all teaching staff. September 2012 Website: Social Media: 7