THE CHEADLE COLLEGE THE CHEADLE COLLEGE. college guide

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1 college guide

2 ambitious to be an outstanding college within its community, and for its community. STUDENTS BETWEEN lessons

3 Our grades have improved every year for the past five years The Cheadle College is a popular college which serves students aged 16 and over from across Stockport, South Manchester and North Cheshire. We offer a wide range of courses, including A and AS Levels, BTEC Diplomas and Apprenticeships, all of which can lead to university, further training or paid employment. Our A Level results are higher than the national average and better than those achieved in school sixth forms. As well as working hard towards qualifications, all our students get the chance to participate in all kinds of activities outside the classroom including a comprehensive range of sports clubs, student societies, charity initiatives, community projects, visits, performances and field trips. We are an inclusive college - and all college staff and students are treated equally and with respect, regardless of background, ability, beliefs or lifestyle choice. A diversity of students and staff, and the different types of courses, social life and pathways available, all contribute to a progressive and positive learning environment which we are proud to have created. We hope you enjoy discovering more about why The Cheadle College is genuinely different and if you think we are the right place for you to study, grow and develop then we look forward to you joining us. education centre

4 We are proud to be a culturally diverse, friendly college, representing all sections of the community STUDENTS in the media centre

5 students can enjoy access to The Hub a space for relaxation, socialising and study Our Values We are proud to be a culturally diverse, friendly college, representing all sections of the community. We welcome people of all ages, faiths and abilities - and have been praised by Ofsted and others for being inclusive and accessible. Our College Surrounded by playing fields and parkland, the college buildings which house our teaching areas, newly refurbished science labs, lecture theatre, Learning Resource Centre and Library, ICT centre and other facilities are all linked to a spacious and attractive central outdoor courtyard. All the main college departments and amenities can be accessed by wheelchair. As part of a recent 1.5m investment, students can enjoy access to The Hub a space for relaxation, socialising and study that offers free wi-fi access which is adjacent to the college refectory and Starbucks cafe. We also have a brand new Media Centre - a purpose built suite of specialist rooms for students studying Creative Media, Photography, IT, Media Studies and Film Studies. Facilities include a dark-room, photography studio and a boutique cinema with stateof-the-art surround sound and 3D viewing capability. We also take a partnership approach in everything we do, seeking to work with our students in a positive and constructive manner to give them the best chance to realise their full potential. Again Ofsted has recognised this aspect of our approach, reporting that we provide a harmonious learning environment where students are punctual and enjoy their time at college and that teachers, tutors and specialist staff provide a high level of support in and out of the classroom. However, to achieve this also requires our students to respect their peers and college staff at all times, and to demonstrate their desire to succeed through good attendance, timekeeping and behaviour. Secure car parking is available for students, and plenty of bike racks available for use. TAKING A BREAK IN the courtyard

6 our students get the chance to participate in all kinds of activities outside the classroom

7 Ofsted has also praised our inclusive approach to study noting that we offer an inclusive curriculum that meets local community needs well together with creating a friendly, positive learning environment that appeals to the great majority of students. If you are seeking to take AS and A Levels before progressing to university then we offer a diverse range of arts, humanities, business and science disciplines. Our academic AND vocational courses are designed to meet the needs of all our students The Cheadle College offers a wide range of academic, vocational and work-based courses that are designed to meet the needs of all our students regardless of age, ability or background. If a more vocational course is of interest, with a view to either entering university or going directly into employment, we have a variety of BTEC options available at different levels, which are closely aligned to specific industries and professional career pathways. If work-based study and paid employment is what you require then we offer Apprenticeships at Levels 2, 3 and 4. Please bear in mind that undertaking an Apprenticeship scheme requires you to be in suitable work for at least 30 hours a week. If you are unable to find appropriate employment then we will work with you to find the right job. In addition to traditional qualifications The Cheadle College also offers a range of options for students who require a more specialist study programme. The CHOICES programme is for students with additional learning support needs and difficulties. It is designed around individual needs and existing skills and enables students to achieve qualifications in independent living skills, literacy, numeracy and ICT. The ACCESS programme, available as a one year full-time or two year part-time course, is designed to offer adults with few qualifications an alternative route to university and access to new careers including nursing, teaching, social work, business and law. Our adult programme also offers a diverse range of part-time courses aimed at adults who want to learn a new skill, discover a new hobby, gain a new academic qualification or simply broaden their horizons. More details of all our study programmes can be found at Luke IN DARK ROOM

8 It s not just our Apprenticeship students that experience life in the workplace The Cheadle College has excellent links with local employers who offer our students invaluable hands-on work experience and careers advice through job placements, industry visits and guest lectures. We also have relationships with many leading universities, including Manchester, Sheffield, Oxford and Cambridge, meaning our students gain excellent insights into how universities work, what studying for a degree is like and what universities look for when offering undergraduate places. The college also arranges regular field trips to visit cultural institutions, large corporations, commercial businesses and key public sector organisations, both locally and nationally. This complements our students courses and helps to shape their potential education and career choices when they complete their studies. We believe that this mix of academic study, vocational options, employer and university partnerships and extra-curricular activities gives our students a real advantage when it comes to competing for places at university, starting a business or seeking a good job. Ofsted has also echoed this approach, stating that our students and apprentices develop good personal, social and employability skills through their courses and wider enrichment activities

9 a progressive and positive learning environment which we are proud to have created Many study programmes benefit from specialist teaching resources and additional support For gifted and talented students we offer the A+ Programme - a scheme to help them fulfil their academic and creative potential. For outstanding athletes we have The Academy of Sports Excellence which gives our leading sportsmen and women access to elite coaching and training facilities. In certain sports, such as football, lacrosse and golf, we further offer dedicated programmes that involve developing coaching skills and participating in top-flight competitions and leagues. This commitment to performance means many of our Sports Academy students represent the college at a local, regional, national and international level. Business students can also access our Career Academy and enjoy a six-week paid internship, regular seminars and employer mentoring.

10 students have a voice, and we encourage them to tell us how we could do things better We understand that the step up from school to college, the challenge of making new friends and adjusting to a more mature environment and other changes can be daunting as well as exciting. The Cheadle College treats every one of its students as an individual and we are committed to providing the best possible guidance and advice to everyone in our care. Every student is paired with a personal tutor who is on hand to help with any problems while settling in, or at any time during college life, and all our staff strive to ensure that every student feels safe, secure and respected whilst at college. We also work closely with parents and carers to make sure our students get the most out of their time with us. We keep in contact via regular progress reports, updates by and publish all of our latest news online. We further host regular meetings and events where parents and carers can discuss any issues face-to-face with both teaching and support staff. Our students also have a voice and we actively encourage them to tell us how we could do things better, and what would improve their time at the college. This is achieved through the college s elected Student Union representatives and our annual Learner Voice student conference. Our dedication to student care is recognised by our recent award of the national Matrix Quality Standard for our guidance services, and we are proud to be the first Sixth Form College in England to receive the prestigious Training and Quality Standards Award.

11 If you are interested in enrolling there are a number of ways to apply We offer both an electronic and paper-based application process which, once completed, should be submitted to our admissions team. The online application form can be found at or you can use the form that is in the college information pack. Once we have received your completed application we will arrange an informal guidance interview with you. This is our opportunity to find out more about you. We want to understand what you want to get out of your time at college. It is also your chance to ask us questions about your chosen courses and what life is like at The Cheadle College. You are very welcome to bring a friend, family member or carer to the interview, or can meet us one-to-one if you prefer. If you are unsure whether we are the right college for you, or want to get a better understanding of the college, our courses, our culture and our values, we recommend you attend our open day or open evening. Here you will get to meet students and ask them about what they think of the college, plus it s a chance to get to know some of our staff and get more details on what we can offer. Check our website for details of the next open event. Please note that if you are offered a place you must also sign and return an acceptance form to us, and that if applying for an Apprenticeship you must have secured an appropriate job role in order to enrol (something we may be able to assist you with). Any questions about ENROLMENT can be answered by our admissions team The admissions team can also give advice about possible bursaries and additional financial support for students. This includes grants to help cover transport costs and other expenses associated with attending college. For admissions Tel: cheadleadmissions@cmcnet.ac.uk For Apprenticeships Tel: apprenticeships@cmcnet.ac.uk

12 C&M The Cheadle College is part of The C&M College Network, a partnership between two respected sixth form colleges that have served the Stockport area for over fifty years. About The Cheadle & Marple College Network Most recently we have operated as a combined institution, Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, but the college s governors and senior leadership team began to explore new ways of delivering education and training to meet the changing needs of Cheadle, Marple and the wider communities we serve. What became clear was that we had evolved into something beyond just two colleges working together to help young people gain good qualifications in Stockport - we are actually at the centre of an extensive network of partners and support agencies which all contribute to our success. Further, with the recent dramatic changes in the provision of education, and the rapidly changing nature of our economy, we recognised that a more flexible vehicle was required to respond to the demands of students, higher education and employers. This new understanding has led to the creation of The C&M College Network; an eco-system of organisations, suppliers and partners - underpinned by The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College - which all work together to ensure the successful delivery of high quality education and training for young people from Stockport and beyond. The Network includes local employers, universities, secondary schools, local and central government policymakers, other colleges, agencies, Ofsted and many other formal partners. Informally it also draws upon our C&M staff and students, parents and carers, and the wider local communities of Cheadle and Marple - all of which shape and influence what we do and how we do it. The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College still share a board of governors and a joint senior management team, and both institutions will continue to learn from each C&M other, share best practice and benefit from economies of scale in their operation. But now, via The Network, each college enjoys more autonomy and is able to play more to its respective strengths. We look forward to you joining us and becoming part of the great success which we are confident The C&M College Network will be both now, and for years to come. Professor Karen Moore chair of Governors Jenny Singleton chief Executive and Principal

13 All information correct at the time of going to print and subject to change. For all the latest details on Marple Sixth Form please visit our website C&M C&M C&M The Cheadle College Cheadle Road Cheadle Hulme Cheshire SK8 5HA General enquiries: Admissions: C&M C&M