College Connect Issue 4 2020

COLLEGE CONNECT

Issue #4

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE SUCCESS

College Connect Issue 4 April 2020

Bolton College - Part of the University of Bolton Group

You’re in safe hands

TEED0 N A R A U G 02 R SEPT 2 PLACES

who g people All youn d for courses t plie have ap teed* a place a n a r w are gua llege in the ne Co Bolton ic year. academ

We will do everything we can to support your child’s transition to Bolton College.

Please rest assured that in the current climate - Covid-19 and uncertainty about GCSE exam results - we are here for you and we will continue to do everything we can to make your child’s next steps after school as straightforward as possible.

Our existing students, and your child and their peers, are our number one priority which means that we are promising the following: • A guaranteed place at Bolton College* • FREE travel and breakfast • Future planning with our Pre-Professionals Programme • A designated Learning • Quality industry placements Development Mentor, who will and work experience support your child throughout • Enrichment activities their time at College • Support with maths and • Opportunities with the English, if required University of Bolton Group

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If you feel like you, or your child, needs advice about any aspect of College or their application, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team using admissions@boltoncc.ac.uk

*Subject to the conditions of the offer and availability of funding

Part of the University of Bolton Group

CONTENTS

College Connect Issue 4 April 2020

19... Progression to university 10... Don’t get bored, get a board!

3...5.preparing Peace of mind and Bolton College learners who have Find out about our top board game for the next step Essential information to put you and your child at ease about the transition from school to Bolton College

14... Employability Skills and Work Placements, Parent/Carer

rowing challenge raising funds for a good cause

6...

8...

Great Experience!

Find out about some of the fantastic industry placements our students are enjoying Diversity Festival Fantastic full-day celebration of diversity at Bolton College

Coronavirus - looking after your mental health Tips and suggestions to help reduce stress

9...

12... Top 5 books to enjoy whilst at home Five great new reads!

4...5. Students Row Britannia and staff join in 5...

suggestions to ease boredom

Evenings Information on placements and events

15... Information, Advice & Guidance Find out about our Information, Advice and Guidance

16... Greater Manchester Higher Find out what Greater Manchester Higher can do for your child

17... University of Bolton Information on Virtual Open Days 18... The door to university Opportunities to progress to

progressed to Higher Education

20... TFindLevels out about the new ‘Gold Standard’ qualifications

Check out

our student mag with no name!

Challenges 3 Competitions 3 Keep-fit routines 3 Creative ideas to fill your time 3 Plus so much more!

Click here to view

university

Checklist - are you ready to stay at home?

Things to think about when staying at home

Welcome from the Principal We are living in unprecedented times but with regards to your child’s education, I’d like to put your mind at ease; please rest assured that all young people who have applied for courses are guaranteed* a place at Bolton College in the new academic year, and we look forward to welcoming your child very much.

In this issue you will find information about events in College, including our annual Diversity Festival, which showcased our wonderful learners and staff, as well as the welcoming and inclusive environment we have created here.

We also enjoyed kicking off the Row Britannia Challenge with the University of Bolton, and we made a fantastic video of students and staff contributing to the 2,020 mile target - all funds raised will go to a very worthy cause, Sport Relief.

At the time of writing this, the majority of us will be spending all of our time at home; we have some useful suggestions to help sustain good wellbeing and mental health during these challenging times.

We also have information about employability skills and work placements; how we’ll support your child to progress beyond College; the new T Levels; and much more.

During these uncertain times, we will ensure that our website and social media channels are kept up to date, so please do follow us using the platforms below: Bolton College website: www.boltoncollege.ac.uk

/boltoncollege

/boltoncollege

@boltoncollege

/school/bolton-college

I wish you all the best, Bill Webster, Principal of Bolton College.

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*Subject to the conditions of the offer and availability of funding

Peace of mind and preparing for the next step The first thing that we’d like to say is that we’re here to support you, and please rest assured that your child’s place at Bolton College is safe.

We understand that it’s an anxious time for you right now, with lots of uncertainty, and we’re here to help! If you have any questions about your child’s Bolton College application, anything at all, please drop our expert admissions team an email on admissions@boltoncc.ac.uk Our advice to all year 11 students is: • As a priority complete any work that school teachers are setting – this will ensure that your child has completed their GCSE courses and is well prepared for their next step to College • Your child can prepare for studying with us by trying some of the following resources and activities in the following columns:

Resources & activities

Functional skills

An excellent starting point for any type of college study is to further improve your writing and numeracy skills. Please take a look at the links below:

English - Levels 1 & 2 click link here

Writing an essay click link here A step-by-step guide covering preparation, research, planning, content development, making improvements to, and checking work, plus many more handy hints and tips including presentations and report writing - suitable for Level 3 learners.

Using numbers in education, work and everyday life click link here Tips on using numbers, calculations, measurement and graphical information to solve problems at home, at work and in education - suitable for Level 3 learners.

Tips and tricks for reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Maths - Levels 1 & 2 click link here Using numbers, carrying out calculations and interpreting results.

Application of numbers - Levels 1 & 2 click link here Learn the basics, problem solving and how maths is used in vocational work areas such as motor vehicle etc.

Communication skills Levels 1 & 2 click link here Learn about listening, asking questions, reading tips, being persuasive, politeness, and how communication is used in work.

BBC Bitesize has a wealth of educational resources to keep your child on track at this important time. www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

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In March, the College started its Row Britannia challenge, in aid of Sport Relief and to promote good mental health.

Organised by our Sports & Public Services department, students and staff (plus a turkey and a pirate!) joined us to help us reach a 2,020 mile rowing target.

Watch the video below:

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Great

Experience!

At Bolton College, your child will benefit from a quality work or industry placement.

Your child’s designated Careers Coach will help them to find a placement that relates to their studies, will boost their confidence, and will look great on their CV. Depending on their course, your child can expect to complete a 30 hour work experience placement, or if they’re on a Level 3 programme, they may have the opportunity of a 315 hour placement. Throughout, they will be supported by their College Careers Coach.

Each year, our learners have secured placements across the town, from an aquarium to a nursery, a radio station to an office.

Yves Niyos - Reform Radio

Berivane Wallace – Bolton College’s Early Years & Preschool Centre

Lenka Turtakova – Oxford Grove Start Well Children’s Centre

Joshua Flynn - Bolton Aquarium

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DIVERSITY FESTIVAL Bolton College’s vibrant Diversity Festival is an annual tradition, enjoyed by staff and students alike.

Cultural dance, music, show-stopping performances, a vibrant fashion show and food and drink from around the world were enjoyed by the College’s students and staff.

Here are a few photos from what turned out to be a spectacular day…

Photos by: Henna Jasmin & Zoe Rothwell

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Check out

our student mag with no name!

Challenges 3 Competitions 3 Keep-fit routines 3 Creative ideas to fill your time 3 Plus so much more!

Click here to view

College Connect page 7

Coronavirus – looking after your mental health Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current Coronavirus (Covid-19), can be scary and affect our mental health.

Whilst it’s important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during such times.

Here are some websites that offer tips we hope will help you, your friends and your family to look after your mental health:

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-healthduring-coronavirus-outbreak The mental health organisation offers help and advice about: • Looking after your mental health whilst you stay at home • Trying to avoid speculation and how to look up reputable sources on the outbreak • Trying to stay connected • Talking to your children or family

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing Mind offers help and advice about: • Planning for staying at home or indoors • Taking care of your mental health • Creating a check list – please see the opposite page College Connect page 8

Checklist -

are you ready to stay Connectivity: have at home? you checked the Food: do you have a way to get food delivered?

Cleaning: are your cleaning supplies stocked up?

Money: can you budget for any higher bills or expenses? Will you save money from lower transport costs that you could spend elsewhere?

Work: can you work from home or not?

If not, what are your rights to payment or benefits?

Medication: do you have enough medication, or a way to get more?

Health: can you reorganise any planned therapy or treatments?

Commitments: can someone else help you care for any dependents, walk your dog, or take care of any other commitments?

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contact details of the people you see regularly, like their phone numbers or email addresses?

Routine: can you create a routine or timetable for yourself? And if you live with other people, should you create a household schedule? Do you need to agree how the household will run with everyone at home all day?

Exercise: is there any physical activity you can do inside your home, such as going up and down the stairs, using bean tins as weights, or exercises you can do in your chair?

Nature: have you thought how you could access nature? Can you get some seeds and planting equipment, houseplants or living herbs?

Entertainment: have you thought about things to do, books to read or TV shows to watch?

Relax: have you got materials so you can do something creative, such as paper and colouring pencils? www.boltoncollege.ac.uk

Don’t get bored, get a board!

Board Games are fun, but they can also be educational. Here are some games to keep your family entertained, and their brains ticking over, during lockdown: Scrabble Education value 100% Using a standard dictionary and a crossword puzzle format, lettered tiles are used to form words in this simple but classic board game.

Monopoly Education value 80% Players roll two six-sided dice to move around the game board, buying and trading properties, and developing them with houses and hotels. Players collect rent from their opponents, with the goal of driving them into bankruptcy.

Qwirkle Educational value 100%

Risk Education value 90%

For logic lovers and the strategically minded, Qwirkle is a new game with a time-honoured and instantly classic feel, plus it’s won coveted awards for its educational merits.

A simple goal of acquiring and defending territory launches into a strategic military gem with Risk.

Appealing to players of all ages, Hasbro’s dice-rolling war game hits themes of diplomacy and conquest.

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www.boltoncollege.ac.uk

Battleships Education value 90% Humbly starting as a pencil and paper game during World War I, Battleships keeps opponents guessing which grid coordinate will successfully target and eventually sink their enemy’s five ships.

Yahtzee Educational value 90% The excitement of creating combinations of dice has never wavered, keeping Yahtzee a fixture on game shelves around the world. Shake and roll your way to a Full House, Straight or the elusive Yahtzee to generate the highest score and win!

Connect 4 Education value 80% Four matching pieces, set in a row. Using red and yellow checker disc-like pieces on its iconic vertical standing blue board, Connect Four employs simple logic, deduction, and abstract strategy.

Cluedo Education value 80% Who did it? Cluedo creates detectives of us all, with players gathering information to successfully deduce ‘who’ ‘where’ and ‘how’ a crime was committed.

Trivial Pursuit Education value 80% Trivia buffs are created around the Trivial Pursuit board.

Allowing single player or team play with six challenging categories, spanning Geography to Sports and Leisure, the pursuit of knowledge has never been more engaging.

Blokus Education value 90% Award-winning Blokus challenges 2-4 players to arrange each of their 89 shapes on a grid-like board. Negotiating space and strategically defending territories make this game puzzling and thrilling.

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www.boltoncollege.ac.uk

Top 5

books to enjoy whilst at home

From tales of fantasy to navigating through modern-day life, here’s our list of books your child can escape into whilst at home.

1. The Kingdom of Back – Marie Lu A young adult fantasy about a musical prodigy, and the dangerous lengths she’ll go to make history remember her. Nannerl Mozart is a young woman in 18th century Europe, meaning music composition is forbidden to her. One day, a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer.

2. Tweet Cute – Emma Lord A modern rom-com about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

In this book, the two main leads end up in a Twitter war involving snarky memes and retweets, but at the same time, they’re falling for each other in real life via an anonymous chat app.

Check out

our student mag with no name!

Challenges 3 Competitions 3 Keep-fit routines 3 Creative ideas to fill your time 3 Plus so much more!

Click here to view

College Connect page 12

3. Not So Pure and Simple - Lamar Giles This book takes a look at societal pressure, toxic masculinity and the complexity of what it means to be a ‘real man’. A very appealing and thought-provoking book, with lots of humour to enjoy at home.

4. Infinity Son – Adam Silver A fast-paced adventure about two brothers who are caught up in a magical war, generations in the making. Brotherhood, love, and loyalty are put to the test, with no one escaping the fight unscathed.

5. The Gilded Ones - Namina Forna 16-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else due to her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so that she can finally feel like she belongs.

However, on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the colour of impurity, and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

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Employability Skills & Work Placements We’re committed to helping your child develop the skills, qualities and values that employers look for, beyond the expertise acquired in their subject classes.

We extend this help to outside the classroom and the College environment by giving all students online access, via Moodle, to a range of interactive modules. Topics include problem solving, team working, CVs, personal statements, job search skills and more, and because we work closely with local and national companies, we know what skills and experience they look for.

Your child will get the most out of these materials by having regular reviews with their designated Learning & Development Mentor.

Work placements are another way we’re helping your child to prepare for working life - learn more in next month’s College Connect.

Parent/Carer Evenings We have two Parent/Carer Evenings a year which we strongly advise you to book on to.

The first one focuses on how your child’s settled in and college life in general. The second is all about your child’s next steps, once their current course finishes.

You’ll receive your booking invite via text or email.

Please email admissions@boltoncc.ac.uk, with your email address and mobile number, if your child hasn’t included these on their application form.

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Information, Advice & Guidance Ofsted said: “Staff provide a range of good information, advice and guidance to support learners in making career decisions.”

“Well-targeted information, advice and careers guidance enable learners to make informed choices about the next stages in their learning and career.”

Our Student Services Centre is a great source of support, especially for help with looking for work and applying for university.

Our Careers Advisors provide regular job search sessions, and can help with writing a CV, looking for vacancies, interview techniques and more.

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We are part of the University of Bolton Group so our students have opportunities to experience life at university.

The Careers Team visit classes to speak to learners about university and arrange guest speakers to discuss all aspects of applying to university - what to consider when choosing a degree, how to complete an application and the financial support available.

To gain a place at university, your child will apply through UCAS; we can help guide them through the process from start to finish, helping your child to secure a university offer.

Your child can visit the Careers Team in Student Services at any time, and speak to one of our advisors about their career or university.

Greater Manchester Higher Greater Manchester Higher* provides opportunities for learners across Greater Manchester by delivering a curriculum-connected and industry-insightful targeted programme.

The team also offer targeted projects, including a Y12 online mentoring programme and a Uni:4U summer programme, offering the opportunity to attend free university taster events.

Its regional Hub, based at the University of Bolton, delivers programmes in schools and colleges across Bolton, Bury and Rochdale.

As a network, they aim to highlight the progression routes to higher education and provide activities that raise the aspirations of learners, inspiring them to continue their educational journeys.

Your child may have the opportunity to get involved in a number of sessions and events, including talks about higher education options, managing UCAS offers and Q&A sessions with current university students.

We hope that your child gets involved and makes the most of the exciting opportunities available!

You can find out more about these projects and events at www.gmhigher.ac.uk or by emailing the Hub Manager, Elin Stewart, on elin.stewart@boltoncc.ac.uk *Delivering the governmentfunded NCOP programme, which is targeted based on learner postcodes. More information can be found on our website: www.gmhigher.ac.uk/about

Check out

our student mag with no name!

Challenges 3 Competitions 3 Keep-fit routines 3 Creative ideas to fill your time 3 Plus so much more!

Click here to view

College Connect page 16

Virtual Open Days You are welcome to experience one of the University of Bolton’s Virtual Open Days.

You can book your place at: www.bolton.ac.uk/opendays or email opendays@bolton.ac.uk

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The Door to

University As you may be aware, Bolton College is now part of the University of Bolton Group. This brings huge benefits for your child, including enhanced progression opportunities into Higher Education; smoother transitions; and access to taster days, subject masterclasses, guest speakers and university facilities.

We’re making it possible for all our young people to reach their full potential and continue to study at a higher level, should they wish.

The University offers a wide range of courses, following on from programmes run at Bolton College. Taking part in a Virtual Open Day is a great way to find out more!

You can book your place at www.bolton.ac.uk/opendays or email opendays@bolton.ac.uk Being part of the University of Bolton Group provides some fantastic opportunities for our learners.

Check out the latest progression offer…

Group Progression Scholarship* This new scheme is a merit-based award of up to £3,000 in the first year of study, when Bolton College students progress to the University.

The scholarship works as follows: • Students achieving 128+ UCAS points (ABB/DDM) will receive £3,000 • Students achieving 112+ UCAS points (BBC/DMM) will receive £2,000 • Students with lower UCAS point scores will receive £1,000 *The Group Progression Scholarship is subject to change and the terms and conditions of the University of Bolton

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Progression to

University

Salahuddin Adam Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Level 3 Now studying Motorsport Technology at the University of Bolton ‘I completed the Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair course and that enabled me to continue my studies at the University of Bolton. I’m now studying for a BSc in Motorsport Technology and hope to work for a Formula 1 team in the future.’

Lauren Hawkins Health & Social Care Level 2 Now studying Community Development and Youth Studies at the University of Bolton ‘The tutors have been fantastic and I’ve been given personalised support, advice and guidance to help me with my learning and progression to university.’

Daniel Morris Performing Arts Extended Diploma Level 3 Now studying Theatre and Performance at the University of Bolton ‘I’ve enjoyed learning more about the different methods of acting, the history of theatre, how the performing arts business works and observing the rehearsal process of shows produced by the Octagon Theatre.

My long-term ambition is to get a job either as an Actor or Writer.’

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Part of the University of Bolton Group

T- Levels - Looking Further Ahead Right now the future of vocational education is being rewritten by the government. The first phase of this, starting from 2020-2023, is the introduction of the new T Level qualification, which will represent the new gold standard for vocational qualifications at advanced level, and is the equivalent of three A Levels.

T Levels have been introduced to ensure that young people on vocational courses have the up-to-date technical skills that the economy needs. There will be 25 new pathways, or courses, to match the UK’s main occupations.

So what’s new in these qualifications? A key change is the introduction of 315-hour industry placements, allowing students to develop substantial workplace skills and make links with employers whilst at College.

Depending on their course, your child may get the opportunity to progress to a T Level in September 2021!

Interested? You can find out more here: www.boltoncollege.ac.uk/t-levels

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