One of the fundamental aims of the college is to combine education with the highest level of individual attention.
HALF-TERM REPORTS
Each half-term each teacher will write a report on each of their students, detailing with attendance, submission and quality of work, participation in class, mock exam grades and suggestions for improvement.
Copies of these reports are also forwarded to agents, schools (where appropriate), guardians and others who may have responsibilities for the student’s welfare.
PARENTS’ EVENINGS
These normally take place twice each year; nevertheless, parents and guardians are welcome to talk to any Tutor/Personal Tutor about any concerns.
UCAS EVENING
This takes place in the Spring/Summer term to explain the UCAS system and related issues concerning applying to university.
ATTENDANCE
In addition to the compulsory registration in the morning and afternoon each day, the college checks attendance at 2 hourly intervals throughout the day. Unauthorized absences are followed up by telephone or email.
CHOICE OF SUBJECTS FOR GCSE AND A LEVEL
Students and parents will be offered the opportunity of meeting senior members of staff to discuss these matters.
CAREERS
The provision of careers advice is encompassed within the programme for university application. For example, in asking students to research courses, which might interest them at university, it is possible to explore simultaneously career paths beyond.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT
Notes of, or the original of, communication with parents, with parents, students and teachers is recorded in a database.
FOLLOW-UP TIME
The college aims to respond to telephone calls and emails within 24 hours and letters and interviews within 3 working days.
COMPLAINTS
STUDENT FIRST
The fundamental concern of the college is the academic well-being of each of its students. The college is committed to a thorough and professional preparation for examinations and, if it errs or finds it has been remiss in this preparation, has always, and will always, do its best to address any failure or fault in its provision of service.
DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS
Historically, the college has, almost without exception, been the first to recognize such failures in its provision. Inadequate teachers or inappropriate preparation of coursework for a particular subject or bullying, for example, might be matters of complaint.
Nevertheless, parents, guardians or students are invited to contact the Academic Director of Studies or Head(s) of Year(s) should they have a concern or complaint about any aspect of our provision. The college should investigate and respond to this complaint within three working days.
Within the next seven working days, the college should have dealt formally with the complaint. If it acknowledges the validity of some part or all of the complaint, it will detail steps it will take to deal with the issue at hand. Equally, if it does not acknowledge such validity, it should communicate its reasons.
2.2 If the plaintiff is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, they should communicate this dissatisfaction formally, in writing, to the college. The college will then review its solution to the complaint and respond in writing.
If there still has not been a resolution of the conflict, the plaintiff may then refer to any of the bodies which, in a broad sense, oversee its operations, namely: the CIFE, BAC or DCSF. Any initial expenses for the involvement of such organizations must be born by the plaintiff; however, should the appointed arbitrator(s) of any of these bodies find in favour of the plaintiff, the college will abide by their decision and refund all expenses in respect of the involvement of the arbitrator (but no other ancillary costs).
In all cases, written records, correspondence and statements will be taken but kept confidential with the exception of serious cases of child protection or requests from inspectors to peruse our files.
