4 Real

Course Handbook

2013 – 2014

Boston College

4 Real Course Handbook

Welcome

The 4 Real programme provides a variety of choices to learners who study from one to five days a week at College. You will study a variety of subjects including Functional Skills. Other areas of study may cover a variety of vocational subjects including: Hair & Beauty, Construction, Motor Vehicle, Young Apprenticeship in Sport or Hair. In addition to these you will also study supplementary qualifications including BTEC Certificate / Diploma in Vocational Studies. These qualifications could lead to employment opportunities or further study at post 16. Please note your ability to choose a vocational course (underlined) will depend on your start date on the 4 Real course and your assessed ability. In your first week at Boston College you will have a full induction which will lead you through all of the important aspects of the course and College life. Your tutors will be there to answer any questions you may have, but we hope that this handbook will help to answer some of your questions. This handbook is to be used with the Boston College Learner Handbook which will give you more general information about what will be available to you as a student at Boston College. Further information can be found on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which you will be able to access after induction Staff Head of Curriculum: Michelle Hoole Programme Area Manager: Ashok Kumar Lecturers: Matt Daniels, Kirsty Garwell,

Emma Hill, Jan Sawyer

Your personal Tutor and Individual Learning Plan Tutor All 4 Real learners will have a Personal Tutor. Your tutor will introduce you to the College, help you to settle in and generally be there to give you help and information. Your Tutor is usually your first point of contact with the College and a source of help. You will meet your Tutor every week, usually as part of a Tutor Group but sometimes for a one to one discussion or review of your progress on the course. You will meet your Tutor at your College induction. The induction is designed to introduce you to your Tutor, other members of your group and other teaching and support staff. Below are a range of qualifications that you may study and their GCSE equivalent

Qualification Aims

Qualification Grading system BTEC Certificate in Personal and Social Development

Pass

BTEC Certificate in Engineering (L1) Pass

Functional Skills Maths Pass

Functional Skills English Pass

BTEC Level 1 Diploma in Construction Pass

Certificate in Vocational Studies (L1) Pass

BTEC Level 2 Extended Cert in Sport Pass

Hair & Beauty Pass

Functional Skills ICT (Pass) Level 1 = D to G at GCSE Level 2 = A to C at GCSE 20% = 1 GCSE

Course Framework

During this course you will complete several qualifications, most of which are split into units. To achieve each qualification you must pass all units. To pass each unit you will complete an assignment which will be assessed. You will be given support when completing the assignments. You may attend the 4 Real course for up to 2 years depending on when you start (year 10 or year 11) There is a possibility that you can attend work experience, this will be arranged by College or your school, whichever is applicable.

Teaching

The teaching is carried out by qualified and experienced professionals. In the classroom the teaching is a mix of formal lessons and individual research; role plays, discussion and group work.

PROGRESS REPORTING

Parents Evenings Parents are invited to visit the College regularly to find out more about your course, how you are progressing, options after your course has finished routes and any other details. There will be an opportunity to speak to key staff as well as your Personal Tutor. Progress Parents are encouraged to visit the College with or without their son/daughter to discuss progress with your Personal Tutor and teaching staff. Reports All College learners are assessed by the course team at the end of November to confirm continuation onto the full programme. If there is any doubt as to suitability to continue, learners and parents will be consulted in December.

ATTENDANCE

As a learner you are required to attend all classes and tutorials, if you are unable to attend College, due to sickness for example, a parent or carer should call and inform College on your behalf. Make non urgent appointments for doctors/dentists etc out of College hours wherever possible. Your attendance is monitored by registration at the start of each lesson. Learners on the 4 Real programme are not allowed to leave the College site unless permission is given by parents or carers, a letter of consent must be given for each occasion. Boston College has a legal duty of care to Key Stage 4 learners meaning that we must know where you are at all times. Punctuality and organisation You must be punctual for all classes and bring all equipment/work etc for lessons.

PLAGIARISM The use of other people’s work and the submission of it as though it was your own is known as plagiarism (plagiarism means theft of other people’s ideas). Any work forming part of an assignment, project, test or other assessment must be your own and must not contain any plagiarised material. Evidence of plagiarism will result in failure of the assessment. Any new assessment arrangement will be given with a strict completion date. You will also be subject to the College’s disciplinary proceedings. If you wish to quote material from a textbook or other source then this should be referenced in your assignment. Your subject lecturer or Personal Tutor will show you how to do this.

4REAL CALENDAR 2013-2014

W/C MON TUES WEDS THURS FRI

Week Number

02-Sep 1 1

09-Sep 1 1 1 2 2

16-Sep 2 2 2 3 3

23-Sep 3 3 3 4 4

30-Sep 4 4 4 5 5

07-Oct 5 5 5 6 6

14-Oct 6 6 6 7

21-Oct Half Term

28-Oct 7 7 7 8 7

04-Nov 8 8 8 9 8

11-Nov 9 9 9 10 9

18-Nov 10 10 10 11 10

25-Nov 11 11 11 12 11

02-Dec 12 12 12 13 12

09-Dec 13 13 13 14 13

16-Dec 14 14 14 15

23-Dec Christmas

30-Dec Christmas

06-Jan 15 15 16 14

13-Jan 15 16 16 17 15

20-Jan 16 17 17 18 16

27-Jan 17 18 18 19 17

03-Feb 18 19 19 20 18

10-Feb 19 20 20 21 19

17-Feb Half Term

24-Feb 20 21 21 22 20

03-Mar 21 22 22 23 21

10-Mar 22 23 23 24 22

17-Mar 23 24 24 25 23

24-Mar 24 25 25 26 24

31-Mar 25 26 26 27 25

07-Apr Easter

14-Apr Easter

21-Apr 27 27 28 26

28-Apr 26 28 28 29 27

05-May Holiday 29 29 30 28

12-May 27 30 30 31 29

19-May 28 31 31 32 30

26-May Half Term

02-Jun 29 32 32 33 31

09-Jun 30 33 33 34 32

16-Jun 31 34 34 35 33

COLLEGE CALENDAR 2013/2014

2013 September 2nd Autumn term starts. Learner Services Induction

week September 3rd Spalding Enrolment September 26th Higher Education Fair at BCUC October 3rd HE Parents’ Briefing ‘Going to University’ BCUC October 8th Spalding College in Action October 10th Boston College in Action October 16th Volunteer Fair at BCUC October 21st – 25th Half term October 29th HE Open Event October 30th & 31st Parents’ evenings November 5th School Taster day November 7th Boston College in Action November 14th Spalding College in Action November 15th Closing date for UCAS applications (internal) December 19th End of Autumn term 2014 January 6th Spring term starts January 23rd HE Open Event February 6th Boston College in Action February 11th Spalding College in Action February 17th - 21st Half term for learners March 3rd - 7th Careers week March 4th & 5th Parents’ evenings April 4th End of Spring term April 22nd Summer term starts May 5th Bank Holiday May 26th Bank Holiday June 10th Spalding Open Event (Information) June 12th Boston Open Evening (Information) June 26th Summer term ends Note Any learner taking holidays outside of holiday periods will be considered absent from the course. Learners receiving support from the College Bursary Fund need to be aware that they will not be paid for holiday periods taken outside the academic breaks.

VISITS / WORK EXPERIENCE

Throughout your course, you may be offered visits to places of interest in order to enhance your study. These may include visits to support your vocational option, or part of an enrichment programme. Educational visits are usually subsidised by Boston College, but you may be expected to contribute.

SUPPORT SERVICES The College Mission Statement The College Mission Statement describes the type of College we provide for all our learners and staff.

‘to be a brilliant college that transforms people’s lives and makes an outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of Lincolnshire’.

All learners at the College attend voluntarily so there is not a set of ‘College Rules’. We do however have a range of policies which describe the standards we expect and what we offer in return. To access all the learner related policies and procedures please look on Moodle, or ask your Personal Tutor for details. Learner Services As a learner your tutor will usually be the first person you go to for help and advice. However, in Learner Services there are specialist staff that can provide the following help, guidance and support: Careers Advice Confidential Counselling Service Progress to other courses Contraception advice Help to stop smoking Education Maintenance Allowance (Post 16) Health Advice Help and advice on disability related issues Referral to external issues …. And many other areas!

POLICIES

At the College we have a range of policies detailing what the College will offer you and how we ensure high standards are maintained. To access the policies click on the links below. If this is not possible please ask your Tutor to provide you with a copy. Admissions Assessment and Examinations Assessment Malpractice Bullying and Harassment Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Car Parking for Residential Learners Compliments & Complaints Procedure Computer Services Unit: Code of Conduct and Practice and Equality Impact Assessment Coursework / Self Study Drugs and Alcohol Financial Support for Learners Functional Skills Hall of Residence Disciplinary / Sanctions Higher Education Admissions Induction Code of Practice Information, Guidance and Support International Student Late Enrolment Learner Attendance Learner Disciplinary Policy and Procedure for Further Education Learners Mobile Electronic Equipment Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Safeguarding Learners Skills for Life and Learning Support Tutorial – Full Time Learners – Appendix 1 Weapons and Search Work Experience Equality and Diversity – see our page on Moodle Examination Policy Students Copy Important Exams Information for Candidates Access arrangements – General Access arrangements – International Students Examination Clashes Conduct of Exams Internal Appeals Procedure – Students Copy Appeals Procedure – Externally Marked Exams

CODES OF PRACTICE Health and safety codes You will need to conform to College Smoking, Drugs and Mobile Phone policies and Car Parking restrictions. Health and safety details will be given to you at induction. For your safety and the safety of others you must follow these rules at all times. Each of your qualifications will also be supported by awarding body policies.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT Boston College places a high priority on the safety and wellbeing of our learners. We are committed to creating and maintaining a friendly, welcoming and safe working environment for all young people and vulnerable adults, whether learning is taking place on or off College premises. We have a duty to safeguard all learners, and we will respond immediately if there is a concern that a learner might be the victim of bullying, harassment, abuse or neglect. All staff are trained in safeguarding and there is a designated specialist Safeguarding Team to help with any concerns you might have about your own or someone else’s safety. If you need to contact the Safeguarding Team please go to:-

Main reception

Learner Services

The ‘Stay Safe’ button on Moodle

E-mail staysafe@boston.ac.uk If you need to contact someone out of College hours about safeguarding contact:-

Children’s Social Care on 01522 782333

In an emergency situation dial 999 and call the police

An important part of safeguarding is making sure only authorised people are on our College premises. Please help us with this by carrying your ID badge at all times and showing it if asked by a member of College staff. At Boston College we respect everyone within the College community. We also emphasise respect for personal property and for the facilities of the College. We therefore, expect learners to work with us to create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued and can work to achieve their full potential.

Boston College Skirbeck Road

BOSTON Lincs PE21 6JF