New Student Guide

FIND YOUR FEET

NEW STUDENT GUIDE Everything you need to know about College life

Winner

Sixth form college of the year award fe awards 2018

WELCOME TO BIRKENHEAD SIXTH FORM COLLEGE Congratulations on earning your place at the UK Sixth Form College of the Year. We’re really happy that you’re starting your studies with us.

We hope you enjoy your time at the College. All of our teachers, tutors and Student Ambassadors are here to help you settle in to an exciting new chapter in your life.

Our mission is to be a world class college in which excellence is achieved in a Positive, Ambitious, Resilient and Thoughtful environment. We know that you’ll be working just as hard as us to make sure you fulfil your potential and excel in your time here.

We know that your success isn’t just about grades and exam results – we want all of our students to be well-rounded, confident people, ready to take on the challenges of university or employment when you leave us.

It all starts here! Enjoy your time, have fun and become part of the College community.

Winner

Sixth form college of the year award fe awards 2018

FIND YOUR FEET To ensure you settle in quickly and that you’re as comfortable as possible at the College, we’ve put together a series of events to help you FIND YOUR FEET. The whole programme is about meeting new friends, trying new activities and seeing what the College has to offer. You’ll soon get familiar with the campus, and most importantly, you’ll be having fun and enjoying your time here.

From Taekwon-Do to Mandarin and from debating to arts & crafts, there’s a huge range of clubs and societies to try with lunch time taster sessions going on each day. You’ll be able to see what’s happening each week with posters around the College, as well as emails sent to your new College email account and the details will also be on the College website.

We know how important it is to make friends and settle in, so try a new club or drop-in to one of the three sessions run by our ambassadors (see page 6).

On top of all of this, Find Your Feet is your teachers’ chance to get to know you properly in lessons so they can help you in the right ways to make sure you achieve your full potential.

WELCOME DAY

Monday 2nd September

WHAT HAPPENS? On your first day, you’ll have an introductory lesson in each of your chosen subjects, so it’s a great chance to meet your teachers and your fellow new students.

You’ll also meet your tutor and the others in your tutorial group, along with picking up your brand new timetable for your first year.

The Principal will be giving a welcome talk too, so you’ll get a good feel for College life before the end of the day.

Tuesday 3rd September will be your first full timetabled day. Your teachers and tutors will be helping you to settle in properly and you’ll be able to get to know the people in your lessons.

Don’t be worried about getting lost or being a bit late in these early days. You’ll see our Student Ambassadors on the corridors. They’re happy to help and there to talk to, so go and have a chat with them.

MAKING NEW FRIENDS

Helping you FIND YOUR FEET at College also means helping you find new friends.

The clubs & societies taster sessions and other events and activities going on in these first few weeks are perfect opportunities to have a laugh with new people!

CLUBS & SOCIETY TASTER SESSIONS These will include: • Games (such as Scrabble, Chess & card games) • Fun sports (including Taekown-Do, Table Tennis, Darts, Boccia, Football, Netball, Basketball, Dodgeball and Badminton) - no kit required, just give it a go!

• Health & Fitness (Multigym inductions, Relaxation and Clubbercise) • College magazine • Book Club • Languages (Arabic, Mandarin, British Sign Language) • LGBT+ • Guitar Workshop • Arts & Crafts (such as knitting) FAIRS • Clubs & Societies Fair - Thursday 19th September • Volunteers Fair - Thursday 26th September QUIET LUNCH If the refectory in 8SQ or other social areas seem a bit much or you just need some quiet time, the conference room will be open at lunch times for you to sit in a calmer environment. Our Student Ambassadors will be around to talk to as well, as well as staff, if you feel like you want or need to talk to someone.

SONG OF THE DAY Each day, you can vote for your Song of the Day to be blasted out in 8SQ before the end of lunch. You’ll see the voting boxes and slips to write on in 8SQ or just ask an Ambassador.

FIRST WEEK OF COLLEGE This is a busy week as you meet your new teachers and find your way around college. One of the biggest changes is that you do not have lessons every period so, until you start getting homework, it may feel like you have lots of free time. Your friends could have classes when you are free so you will need something to do. Don’t sit on your own (unless you want to!) as the college ambassadors are running drop-in sessions all week so drop in, meet some new people and find out more about College life: Drop In and Settle In Drop In...to the Conference Space on the main corridor. Come and join the student engagement ambassadors for a chat, to join them in various games or to get a college tour.

Drop In...to the Sports hall. Come and join the student engagement officer, Jordyn and the student well-being ambassadors who will chat to you about clubs and societies and you can join in a game of table-tennis or giant jenga.

Drop In...to Study Hall. Come and meet Kev, our Study Hall supervisor on C corridor who will tell you all about the study facilities at college.

You can also chat to our student mentoring ambassadors if you have any questions about college work.

Drop-In...to the Tutor Base (E corridor). Any worries at all, you have your personal tutor to guide and support you and when they are not seeing their classes, they will be in their Tutor Base.

SECOND WEEK OF COLLEGE College life has never been so much fun! You will come along to the Sports Hall with your tutor to try our fun-day activities and have a go in some of the games shown below. You can also come along with your friends, in your free periods, and have a go. Even if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can guarantee that watching other people have a go will still be hilarious.

Drop In and Settle In You can also still drop-in to the Conference Space with the ambassadors and drop-in to Study Hall with Kev.

YOUR TIMETABLE Your College timetable may work a bit differently to secondary school as there are different start and finishing times on certain days here:

MONDAY: 09:00am - 04:15pm TUESDAY: 09:00am - 04:15pm WEDNESDAY: 09:30am - 03:00pm THURSDAY: 09:00am - 04:15pm FRIDAY: 09:00am - 02:30pm Lessons last for 90 minutes, which may also be different to what you’re used to. Although it might seem a bit longer, the vast majority of our students say that they actually prefer longer lessons as it gives them a chance to really get into their work. Some would even prefer them to be longer still!

Lunch times last 45 minutes and breaks are 15 minutes.

Don’t worry about having nothing to do in your free periods during the first week or two. You will soon have plenty of homework and you will be spending your free periods in the Hub or Study hall working! Use your free periods in the first two weeks to drop-in to the different sessions running across college (see page 6) and make new friends.

HELP & ADVICE

There will always be help and guidance for you, from your first day with us all the way through to your last.

Teachers: Your teachers know that it’s a jump from GCSE to A Level, so if you’re struggling then have a word with them. There are lots of academic support programmes to help you too.

Tutors: You will have an allocated personal tutor who you’ll meet on your first day, and they’ll be your first port of call for help and guidance. You’ll have weekly group tutorial sessions with your tutor, and also one-to-ones. If you need to speak to your tutor at times that aren’t on your timetable, the Student Development Base on the E Corridor operates an open door policy for you to drop in whenever you need to. Keeping your tutor in the loop about your progress in learning or any issues that you have is highly recommended, as they can then work out the best ways in which to help you.

Student Ambassadors: Look out for our Student Ambassadors wearing blue T-shirts and/or purple lanyards. The team, led by Head Student Anna, are there to help in any way you need, and they’ll always be someone you can talk to. Remember, they were in exactly the same boat as you last year!

Learning Support Team: We have a great team of Learning Support Assistants if you have have additional learning needs, so come along to the LAB (Learning Assistance Base) by the Drama Studio to meet them.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

STUDENT AMBASSADORS

COLLEGE LIFE Outside of your lessons, College is filled with things to get involved in. We have a wide range of clubs and societies to join in with, plenty of which you’ll be able to try out in your first few weeks.

They can be anything from sports teams to debating, film club to guitar lessons. You can learn new skills too, which will look great on the CV and come in really useful in life outside of College, such as learning a new language, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, British Sign Language or First Aid. There are a number of fairs that run throughout the year which bring in dozens of local and national organisations, so you can find out more about voluntary work, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, and higher education options.

To get the most out of your sixth form experience, come and talk to Jordyn about clubs and societies, about volunteering and work experience opportunities. Jordyn will be based in the Sports Hall for the first two weeks of term but she normally lives on the E corridor.

WHAT CAN I DO OUTSIDE OF LESSON TIMES? Periods without timetabled lessons can be really useful for you to get right up to speed with your studies. The two floors of the HUB offer all the IT and learning facilities you need to do just that.

Study Hall is also an ideal place for that too.

There is also a huge number of clubs, societies and activities to get involved with, many of which take place during lunch times or after lessons end on Wednesdays and Fridays.

You can leave campus during the College day between lessons. Claughton Village has a brilliant Yog Bar and other shops, plus the wonderful Birkenhead Park is right on our doorstep.

8SQ - the refectory area - is a great social place to meet friends and get hot and cold drinks and snacks. There is also the conservatory behind the main area for extra seating and a nice, bright atmosphere.

WHAT DOES COLLEGE EXPECT FROM ME?

As we’ve said before, the College is an environment in which excellence is achieved through positivity, ambition, resilience and thoughtfulness. These are key attributes that define everything we, and you, do.

The College has a set of core requirements too. You’ll find these on the back of your lanyard badge and on posters throughout your classrooms.

Take your time to read them as they’ll help you to get an understanding of how College operates, which you may find different to secondary school.

We want you to enjoy your time at the College, aim high and work hard.

COLLEGE CORE REQUIREMENTS At Birkenhead Sixth Form College, you will be taught by dedicated professionals who will work tirelessly to support you to excel in your studies. As a College student, you are expected to take responsibility for your own education and meet the following Core Requirements:

• Attend all lessons on time and be fully prepared.

• Be attentive and engaged in class and complete all work, including homework as directed.

• Show respect to all staff and follow any directions given.

• Treat fellow students with consideration and allow them to focus on their studies.

• Turn off your mobile phone and have it out of sight when in class or in The Hub. • In the unlikely circumstance of you being absent, you must inform the College. You need to also email your teachers to get work you will have missed.

• All study deficits to be cleared as required by your teachers.

• With the exception of water, no food or drink to be consumed in the classrooms or in The Hub. • Wear your College ID when on campus.

• Be ambitious and accept the challenge to fulfil your potential.

Be POSITIVE Be AMBITIOUS Be RESILIENT Be THOUGHTFUL

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE COLLEGE? Our staff are committed to helping you achieve your full potential.

Teachers and tutors will give you as much support as you need, helping you develop confidence and independence while ensuring that you are fully equipped with everything you need every step of the way.

We will make sure that you are completely ready for your next steps in the future, and will work alongside you to help push you to be the very best that you can be. Your lessons will be inspiring and exciting, and you’ll be taught by people who are experts in their subjects.

HOW DO I KNOW HOW WELL I’M DOING?

Your subject teachers will look at how you’ve done in your subjects and at the start of the year they’ll set you a target grade. This is something for you to aim to achieve, or better!

Your teachers and tutor will be constantly monitoring how you’re performing in lessons and in your work. Every half term, they will update the grade that they think that you’re working at currently, so you and they are able to compare that to your target.

WHAT IT FACILITIES ARE THERE FOR ME TO USE?

The College has a huge number of IT facilities across the campus. Many classrooms have PCs or laptops to use during lessons.

Both floors of the HUB (the learning resource centre) have computers for you to use for study purposes outside of timetabled sessions. The HUB also has a number of printers / scanners, books and literature, a shop for study essentials and digital learning advisors on-hand to help with everything you need.

The Study Hall on the C corridor also offers IT facilities for private study.

SAFETY AT COLLEGE Visitors to the College often comment on how calm the atmosphere is around the campus, and how positive the students and staff are in everything they do.

The wellbeing of our students is a top priority for the College, and our Vice Principal, Paula Blakemore, oversees any safeguarding issues.

Part of safeguarding involves wearing your ID lanyard at all times. If you forget it, you must get a pass from the HUB, so always remember to put it on!

All of the College staff - teachers, tutors or support staff - are your points of contact if you have a safeguarding issue. Any incidents or concerns should be brought to the attention of a member of staff that you’re comfortable with as soon as possible. We deal with each situation compassionately and thoughtfully, so don’t hesitate to speak to someone however big or small your issue may feel.

The College operates a confidential Listening Service with a trained specialist. It’s easy to make an appointment via the Attendance Office on E corridor to have a chat if you need to.

STUDENT WELL-BEING The College promotes positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for all students and you can talk to our Designated Mental Health Lead, Jen, for any support and guidance.

You have lots of support at the College and your Personal Tutor will tell you all about the extra help you can get if you need it.

If you need a quieter place to go, our Learning Assistance Base (LAB), just off the main corridor, is a good place to try. The college Listening Service, run by Pam, is based there as is the Youth Service (every Friday) run by Kersti.

We also have our ambassador well-being deputy students and their team of student youth mental health first aiders.

Starting at a new college can sometimes feel daunting but please don’t worry, as there’s lots of support available.

HOW DO I GET TO COLLEGE? The College is extremely well-positioned to get to using public transport, with four bus stops right outside the College servicing a range of destinations. Birkenhead Park Station is also only a short walk away for those using the train.

The College operates four subsidised bus routes for students travelling to and from the following destinations and along these routes: • Neston • South Wirral • Heswall • Liverpool Area For full details, see our website (http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/ prospective-students/how-to-find-us) or speak to our Finance team on the E corridor.

For those of you using the College buses, you must buy a term or annual pass which are great value: 1. Annual passes cost £150 and can be paid in two instalments (September 2019 and January 2020) 2. Term passes cost £60 each for Term 1 and Term 2, £50 for Term 3 Less th an 50p pe r journe y!

WHAT IF I NEED TIME OFF COLLEGE? Research shows that students who attend 95% of lessons or more typically achieve THREE GRADES HIGHER than those who attend less than 85%, so don’t miss any lessons!

• INFORMING OF AN ABSENCE: Phone 0151 652 5575 and select option 3 or email attend@bsfc.ac.uk. The Attendance Officer will inform your teachers and teachers may reply back to you with work to complete.

Attendance officers will contact parents to check absences’ • FEELING UNWELL AND NEEDING TO LEAVE COLLEGE: Report to the Attendance Officer on the E corridor.

• Personal appointments such as doctor or dentist should be arranged for outside of lesson time except in emergency.

• Holidays should not be taken in term time.

WHAT IF I NEED FINANCIAL HELP? We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the right resources to be successful in their academic studies and remove any barriers to participation.

Bursary support may be available to help cover the cost of things like: • College meals • Travel to and from College • Compulsory College trips and university visits • Texts books and other learning materials • Field trips and course-related costs • D of E Gold Award • Trips and visits Students can apply for financial assistance via their tutor in College.

AND FINALLY...

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

We know that starting at a new place can be scary and the most important thing in the first few weeks is to meet new friends and settle in, which is just what FIND YOUR FEET is all about.

Don’t worry if you find it all a bit overwhelming at first – that’s completely normal! Stick with it and ask for help. You’re at an outstanding sixth form college and we want you to be happy here. We know that we can help you do amazing things.

A quick reminder of what help is on offer: • Find a Student Ambassador! Go and sit with them at lunch and try their different clubs and societies.

• Talk to your personal tutor or to any of your subject teachers at any time.

In two years’ time, you’ll be making a move to university or going into a job. The move to this College will make those later steps so much easier.

Remember – you have lots of help and support.

Mike

SOME WORDS YOU MIGHT HEAR AROUND COLLEGE! 8SQ - The College’s canteen and social area right at the centre of the campus. It’s often referred to as the refectory (or the ‘fec for short, by students) Academic Mentor Programme – Each year, university students come to the College to offer extra mentoring to you on a peer-to-peer basis in individual subjects.

Academic Writing Programme – A programme run by specialist writing tutors to help you develop your academic writing – a crucial skill in both sixth form and higher education. This programme helps you make the jump from GCSE to A Level in your writing skills.

BePART – Standing for Be Positive, Ambitious, Resilient and Thoughtful, BePART is a wellbeing scheme run in your tutorial sessions that focuses on developing core life-skills which in turn help you both in and outside of College.

Conservatory – The bright and comfortable seating and eating area at the back of 8SQ. LAB – The Learning Assistance Base by the Drama Studio. This is home to our team of Learning Support Assistants who specialise in helping students with additional learning needs. It’s also a calm place to work or take a break.

Lanyard – Your College ID badge which must be worn at all times. The different colour denote the year group that the student is part of, and the Student Ambassadors wear purple lanyards.

Moodle – The College’s IT system that is home to educational information for you, such as slides from lessons and homework tasks. You’ll be introduced to this by your tutor.

Pre-Advanced Students (sometimes called Foundation Year Students) – Students on a Level 2 programme of study this year who are aiming to move up to the first year of A Level studies next September.

Sapien – The College’s IT system that keeps all your personal information, pastoral notes and target grades. You’ll be introduced to this by your tutor.

Study Deficit – If you miss any lesson time through illness or authorised absence, the amount of time that you missed will be logged as ‘Study Deficit’. Your teacher or tutor will discuss with you how this deficit time should be spent in order to catch up on what you’ve missed in the lesson.

It could be some one-to-one time with a teacher or tutor, or you may be given work to complete in the Study Hall. Once you’ve caught up, the Study Deficit is reset to zero.

Study Hall – A large room on the C corridor with IT facilities for private study. If you have ‘study deficit’ to make up, you may well be advised by your tutor or teacher to spend the time in the Study Hall. It is also a great place to work independently.

Teachers / Tutors – Teachers will teach you your individual subjects.

Tutors are with you for group and one-to-one tutorials, looking at how you can make the most of your College life, your learning experience and help you with applying to university or apprenticeships. Your tutors also coordinate with your teachers to put the right support in place for you.

You call both teachers and tutors by their first names.

The HUB - The College’s learning resource centre or library, found at the end of the E and F corridors, and above the N rooms.

Tutor Base – The Student Development base on the E corridor, which is the tutor team’s office. You’ll find your personal tutor here when they aren’t teaching tutorials.

ENGLISH DANCE DRAMA B Rooms

CONSERVATORY

THE HUB

MATHS MATHS

N Rooms

IT & COMPUTING

F Rooms

LAW MUSIC

E Rooms

BUSINESS ECONOMICS

J Rooms LAW POLITICS FRENCH SPANISH H Rooms

K Rooms

GEOGRAPHY HISTORY RS SOCIOLOGY

DRAMA STUDIO

THE L.A.B.

CONFERENCE ROOM

MAIN ENTRANCE

REFECTORY & SOCIAL AREA

D Rooms

ART & DESIGN

PSYCHOLOGY C Rooms HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE C Rooms

A Rooms

SCIENCES

L Rooms

FILM MEDIA

SPORTS HALL

SPORT

G Rooms

RECEPTION