Helping You to Help
Your Students
A Guide to our Support for Schools 2014/15
Viktorija Gaigalaite Former St Peters Collegiate School Student Shaho Othman
Former Deansfield
High School Student Emma Whitehouse
Former St Thomas More Catholic School Student
Bryan Campbell,
Former Sir Herbert Leon Academy Student
How we can help. . .
Year 10 and 11
vocational options at Walsall College
Student led-workshops
Interview practice
Exploring Walsall College CV writing
support
Independent career guidance from our award winning advisors
see page 7 see page 23
see page 13
see page 19
see page 19 see page 9
And the best bit? most of our support is free – or
very low cost - to schools
Advice on vocational courses and apprenticeships
College open days
Academic mentoring from our students
see page 11
see page 9 & 15
see page 21
As a teacher/tutor knowing you have helped your students find their talent and help them achieve their goals gives a great sense of achievement. For some, that might mean staying on at school for more academic study.
But for others, like our students, a vocational path may be the route to success.
That’s why we offer schools like yours such a wide range of support: whether it’s helping your students explore their options with our independent career services, providing support with their learning, or helping them find out more about what the College can offer.
We’re keen to work closely with you to help your students find the career path that’s right for them.
And as you’d expect from a college with such a glowing OFSTED report, our support is outstanding.
Introduction
Our award-winning Information, Advice and Guidance team use their industry knowledge to put you on course for a successful career. If your students would benefit from inspiration and advice, we have a range of careers guidance solutions that can help:
• we pride ourselves on really understanding the local employment market – and we’re keen to share that insight with your school and your students, helping them make the career decisions that will work for them.
• professional careers advice - our award-winning professional careers guidance officers can offer free, impartial and confidential support to your students.
We offer all our students outstanding career guidance throughout their time with us; now we’re delighted to extend this service to local schools, too. We can help your students:
• Explore different careers
• Find the right course
• Decide what to do at the end of their course
• Find a job
• Consider going on to Higher Education
• Get work experience or voluntary work placements
• Understand what financial help is available.
Free Independent Careers Advice &
Guidance
The more students know about post-16 opportunities, the more chance they have of choosing the right path for them. There’s so much on offer at Walsall College - and we’re here to help your students explore it.
WHAT POST-16 OPTIONS CAN WE OFFER?
V6 – the sixth form with a difference
What sets V6 apart? All our courses are vocational – work related qualifications to help our students get the career they’ll love. From BTECs and NVQs to Diplomas and Apprenticeships, we’ve got the full range, all designed to equip our students with the skills that local employers are looking for. And our students can even go on to Higher Education here at Walsall College.
WE CAN VISIT YOU….
Our team can come out to your school to discuss our career- focused courses or apprenticeship opportunities and offer advice on applying. We’re also happy to come along to your school’s career events or parents’ evenings to talk about our courses and hand out prospectuses.
….. OR YOU CAN VISIT US
Bring your students along to experience college life firsthand.
Lasting a morning or afternoon, this is a great opportunity to explore college when it’s buzzing with everyday activity. Visits include a presentation about our V6 sixth form college and a tour of our two state-of-the-art campuses. Your students will leave with an information pack, a prospectus and plenty of inspiration!
Exploring
Walsall College
Interested?
Please contact Rebecca Ward on 01922 688879 or at [email protected]
“It helped me find out how walsall college works.”
Prospective student
“I like everything about the Open Day; from tutors to the facilities – it is
excellent!”
Prospective student
Whatever your students’ ambitions, they’ll find the information they need to get started right here.
Our tutors and students are on hand to talk about courses, Apprenticeships, Traineeships in areas as diverse as Care, Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure, Business & Management, Engineering, Construction, Creative Arts, ICT & Science, and Hair & Beauty. Our Student Services team are also available to offer impartial advice and guidance. Our Open Days are held at both Wisemore and Green Lane campuses.
Open Days
OPEN DAYS 2014/15
• Thursday 6th November 2014 HI:ED Open Day: 6pm - 8pm
• Wednesday 19th November 2014 4pm - 8pm
• Saturday 17th January 2015 10am - 2pm
• Wednesday 25th March 2015 4pm - 7pm
• Wednesday 29th April 2015 Apprenticeship Jobs Fair: 4pm - 7pm
• Saturday 27th June 2015 10am - 2pm
“It was a great start to the day. I loved it and the pupils were so enthusiastic about it. I hope we can work together again …. Many, many thanks.”
Christabel Harper, Sixth Form Co-ordinator, Barr Beacon School
“We were overwhelmed at the professionalism your students portrayed
throughout the day. The workshops provided a real buzz with year 10s and many of our students were inspired by young people being so successful.”
Claire Henley, Extended Schools,
Safeguarding & Additional Needs Co-ordinator, Grace Academy, Darlaston
Inspiring Student-Led Workshops
We’ve found that the best way to get students motivated is to show them what they could achieve. That’s how our student-led workshops work.
They’re devised and run by our own enthusiastic students – many of whom haven’t taken a traditional route through their education and are keen to inspire others to make the choices that are right for them.
Two students deliver a one-hour workshop each, based on a particular course. Our students talk about themselves, their course and their ambitions, then get your students involved in some hands-on activities to offer a fun introduction to the subject.
We’re also happy to create bespoke workshops if your students are interested in a particular area, or create follow-on projects.
Interested?
Please contact Jane de Weijer on 01922 688903 at [email protected]
An Apprenticeship is a brilliant first step on the career path in many businesses. We can help your students find out more about Apprenticeships, decide whether an Apprenticeship is the route for them – and even find a vacancy.
We work with employers across the country to offer Apprenticeships in a whole range of areas. From health to hospitality, business to beauty therapy, plastering to plumbing, we’ve got it covered.
We offer Apprenticeships at three levels: intermediate, advanced and higher. We also offer Traineeships, an ideal way to gain the experience and qualifications you need to succeed on a full Apprenticeship scheme.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
We can give you all the information you’ll need on Apprenticeships and what Walsall College can offer.
Please contact Helen Bosworth on 01922 688603 or at [email protected]
We can visit your students to discuss Apprenticeship opportunities.
Please contact Rebecca Ward on 01922 688879 or at [email protected]
We can help your students find and apply for Apprenticeship vacancies.
Our friendly team is happy to advise your school’s students on all aspects of Apprenticeships at our Job Shop on the Wisemore Campus. Students can make an appointment or just drop in.
Job Shop Opening Hours
• Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5pm, Friday: 9am - 4.30pm Students can also find our Apprenticeships at:
•www.walsallcollege.ac.uk
• www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Apprenticeships
Do you want the skills to progress on to an Apprenticeship? Here’s the perfect place to start.
Traineeships prepare you for work and give you the valuable, high quality work experience and confidence in the workplace that employers really rate.
By completing a traineeship, candidates will develop the skills and workplace experience required by employers when hiring apprentices. Students will also have a lot more confidence in their own abilities and be job-ready.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Traineeships are intended for young people who:
• are not currently in a job and have little work experience, but who are focused on work or the prospect of it
• are 16-19 and are qualified below Level 3 or 19-24 and have not yet achieved a full level 2 qualification Areas covered in the programme include:
• focused work preparation training - eg CV writing, interview preparation, job searching, inter-personal skills
• high-quality work experience - giving young people real- life work placement to enhance their skills and confidence
• English and maths - for young people who have not achieved a GCSE grade C or equivalent or better
The initiative is part of the government’s wider aim to ensure the future workforce possesses the skills that employers want in their apprentices and employees.
We can help your students find and apply for Traineeship vacancies.
Our friendly team is happy to advise your school’s students on all aspects of Traineeships at our Job Shop on the Wisemore Campus. Students can make an appointment or just drop in.
Job Shop Opening Hours
• Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5pm, Friday: 9am - 4.30pm Students can also find our Traineeships at:
•www.walsallcollege.ac.uk
Traineeships
Explore the Options Package
Bring the options alive for your students with this package of three different sessions over three days:
1 ‘MAKE IT HAPPEN’ WALSALL COLLEGE PRESENTATION
A 15-minute presentation, perfect for a school assembly or enrichment day.
2 STUDENT-LED TASTER WORKSHOP
A one-hour tailor-made workshop, devised and led by one of our students.
3 TOUR AND CAREER SESSION
A tour of the College, followed by a mock interview or CV building session.
We’re also happy to work with you to create a tailor-made package just for you.
Interested?
Please contact Rebecca Ward on 01922 688879 or at [email protected]
Would your students benefit from some extra academic support? We run a fantastic academic mentor scheme that helps our students to help yours.
Our mentors – many of whom are HE students interested in teaching or working with children – get invaluable work experience. Your students get the regular one-to-one support that can make all the difference to their confidence.
We work closely with schools to make the scheme run smoothly, from helping you interview mentors to providing thorough training for them.
Other Student Support
Interested?
Please contact Jane de Weijer on 01922 688903 at [email protected]
Year 10 and 11
Vocational Options at Walsall College
Our School Links programme is a great opportunity for your 14-16 year old students to experience vocational training and gain an industry-recognised qualification whilst studying at school.
It’s a practical, career-focused option with many courses to choose from, all designed to equip your students with the skills the local economy needs. We offer school age students the same outstanding quality of practical training that we offer our 16+ students.
You’re welcome to bring your students along to our taster events to help them make a decision. Once they’ve applied and provided consent forms signed by parents or guardians, they’ll come along for an interview and assessment to make sure this is the right route for them.
Last year we supported over 250 year 10 and 11 pupils who achieved an outstanding 92.5% success* including functional skills.
*retention and pass rate
Interested?
Take a look at our prospectus for the wide range of courses on offer. For more information, please contact James Haywood on 01922 688813 or at
Events for Teachers
Keep up-to-date with what we can offer – and make sure we know how we could help you.
We’ve got so many fantastic, professional career resources to share; we’d love to hear your ideas on new services we could provide.
Just come along to one of our coffee mornings or we can come to you.
Interested?
Please let Rebecca Ward know which days you’d like to attend at [email protected] or on 01922 688879.
“New initiatives that I heard about today fill in a lot of gaps locally.”
Prospects Information, Advice and Guidance representative
“It was very informative and good to keep up to date with the college.”
School Guidance Manager
There’s never been a better time to join us.
This year, we’re celebrating a groundbreaking new
development. Start on a HNC programme in September 2015 and your students could progress all the way to degree level, right here at the College.
In just a few years, they could leave us with an expertly taught, career enhancing full degree - all at a fraction of the cost of going to university.
HIGHER NATIONAL
CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMAS (HNCS AND HNDS)
These offer a mix of the academic, practical and vocational.
Students can improve career prospects straightaway or top up to degree level at university.
FOUNDATION DEGREES
They can also get the know how and up-to-date specialist industry skills that employers need - then top up to full degree level at university if they like.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Students can enhance skills and career prospects with these higher level courses.
A DEGREE ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Introducing our new Level 6 Top Up Degrees:
Get your degree right here at Walsall College. We’re delighted to offer one-year top-up degrees in certain programmes, designed to convert an existing qualification at Level 5 into a full BA honours qualification at Level 6. It’s aimed at successful HND/FdA (or equivalent) graduates who want to gain an affordable, accessible university level qualification.
TOP SIX REASONS YOUR STUDENTS SHOULD
CHOOSE US
1: The course you want at the cost you can afford
Study our HNC/D courses at a fraction of the price with no compromise on quality.
2: The skills employers want
We know what employers want from our graduates and we use our close links with industry to make sure that’s precisely what you give them.
3: You needn’t go far to go further
Our central location means easy transport links and less money, less time and less hassle to get here.
4: The support to succeed
Small classes, personalised tuition and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere -that’s what we pride ourselves on.
5: Small on cost, big on facilities
We’ve got fantastic facilities and world-class campuses that offer an outstanding learning environment to prepare you for your dream career.
6: NEW! 3 years = 3 qualifications!
Now you can get a degree on your doorstep! From September 2014 you will be able to progress from a number of our HNC programmes, all the way through to degree level.
There’s More Than One Way to Get a Degree
Interested?
Please contact Rebecca Ward on 01922 688879 or at [email protected]
Our Support for
Schools - At a Glance
INTRODUCTION TO WALSALL COLLEGE PRESENTATION
School or College 15 mins Year 9+
Who we are, the courses we offer, our facilities and a chance to hear firsthand from one of our students.
STUDENT-LED WORKSHOPS
School or College 60 mins Year 10+
Bespoke workshops, devised and run by our students to inspire and motivate.
COLLEGE TOURS
College Half day Year 10+
Bring your students to see the College in action.
GENERAL CAREERS ADVICE
College Year 10+
Book a free appointment with our professional careers guidance team.
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS PACKAGE
School and College Year 10+
Three sessions over three days, including a 15-minute introductory presentation, one-hour student-led workshop and College tour.
MOCK INTERVIEWS
School or College Half day Year 9+
Our guidance staff and students perform mock interviews with your students to prepare them for real job interviews.
CV BUILDER
College 60 mins Year 11+
A CV writing session with our guidance team, equipping your students to put together their own CVs, along with a brief college tour.
APPRENTICESHIPS/TRAINEESHIPS PRESENTATION
School or College 15 mins Year 10+
An overview of Apprenticeships & Traineeships, including how to find an Apprenticeship or Traineeship in their chosen area.
Further Support
SUPPORT AT CAREERS EVENTS
School Year 7+: Our team can attend your school’s careers events to provide information and guidance on courses and routes into post 16 study.
INCLUSIVE SUPPORT
College Year 9+: Because we believe that education should be available to everyone who can benefit from it, we offer a number of innovative courses for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, designed specifically to encourage independence and build confidence.
SCHOOL LINKS
College Year 9+: Our support for teaching vocational qualifications in your school.
TEACHERS’ EVENTS
School or College: Keep in touch at our regular coffee mornings or we’ll come to you.
JOB SHOP
College Year 11+ Advice on Apprenticeships, Traineeships CVs and job applications - your students are welcome to drop in.
ACADEMIC MENTORS
School Year 9+ Working one-to-one with pupils on a regular basis, our Mentors work closely with your school to provide valuable academic support.
OPEN DAYS
College Year 10+: Meet students and tutors and see the College firsthand.
Walsall College is uniquely and proudly vocational. Our greatest passion is
unleashing the potential of individuals, communities and businesses; our greatest legacy is the talent of our students: skilled, professional and enterprising.
Wisemore Campus Littleton Street West
Walsall, WS2 8ES Tel: 01922 657000 Fax: 01922 657083 Deaf Academy Minicom:
(for deaf users only) 01922 657064 Green Lane Campus Long Acre Street Walsall, WS2 8HX Tel: 01922 657000 Fax: 01922 642748 Deaf Academy Minicom:
(for deaf users only) 01922 657064 www.walsallcollege.ac.uk
