AS/A2 LEVEL PROGRAMME BOSTON SIXTH
COURSE HANDBOOK 2013 – 2014
BOSTON COLLEGE AS/A2 LEVEL PROGRAMME COURSE HANDBOOK Section 1 WELCOME
Welcome to the A level Programme and your 'A' level course. We hope you thoroughly enjoy your studies at Boston College Sixth and successfully obtain the qualifications necessary for your career and personal development.
A-Level Staff Profile Programme Area Manager
Tom Edwards, MA Film Studies, BA (Hons) English Literature, PGCE
Lecturer in Maths
Sudha Anand, MSc Nuclear Physics, PGCE
Lecturer in Science
Jenny Blackburn, BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences, PGCE
Lecturer in Psychology and English
Geraldine Brazil, BA (Hons) Psychology, English Literature and Classics, PGCE
Lecturer in History
Alison Carlisle, MPhil, MA Historical Studies, BA (Hons) Historical Studies, PGCE
Lecturer in Maths
Patrick Corke, BSC (Hons) Geophysical Sciences, BA (Hons) Theology, PGCE, Cert TESOL
Lecturer in Science
Stephen Crozier, BSC (Hons) Chemistry, PGCE
Lecturer in English
Susan Dempsey, MA English Language Teaching, BA (Hons) French and Russian, PGCE, Celta, Delta, ESOL L4
Lecturer in English
Vicky Dennis, BA (Hons) French and Hispanic Studies, Cert. Ed., Celta, Delta, ESOL L4
Lecturer in Maths
Hifas Faiz, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in English and World Peter Holden, BA (Hons) Philosophy, History and Film, Cert TESOL Development Lecturer In Sociology
Hayley Johnson, BA (Hons) English Literature with Education Studies, PGCE, CELTA
Lecturer in Economics
Peter Lavender, BSC (Hons) European Politics, Society and Economics, PGCE
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Lecturer in Law and History
Orla McMahon, LLB (Hons) Law with History, PGCE
Lecturer in Science
Adam Sellars, BSC (Hons) Biomedical Science, PGCE
Lecturer in Maths
Andy Watkins, Post-Graduate Certificate in Applicable Mathematics, BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics, Cert. Ed.
Lecturer in Communication & Andrew Cocks BSC (Hons) Science, MSC Public Understanding of the Communication of Science Culture
YOUR PERSONAL TUTOR: Subject lecturers are here to help you achieve these aims and to progress from the course with good grades. In addition to subject lecturers you will also have a personal tutor who will be allocated to you. Your personal tutor will help welcome you to College during your induction and help you settle in to College life, providing a source of help and information. Your tutor is your first point of contact with the College and your main source of help. Your personal tutor will meet your tutorial group once a week and arrange regular one-to-ones to help monitor your progress and achievement.
Section 2
QUALIFICATION AIM You will be entered for AS and 'A' levels offered by a wide variety of examination boards. A levels continue to be the most common entry qualification into Higher Education and also offer entry into a wide variety of professions.
COURSE FRAMEWORK Learners normally study for AS subjects in their first year. In the second year learners continue with three of these subjects, giving you three full A-Levels and one AS Level. Alongside A-Levels learners can also re-sit their GCSE English and Maths. It is essential that you gain a GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths for study at University and Employment. A GCSE in Biology is also offered as an Evening Class. Those who wish to enter the teaching profession will require at least a grade C in a Science subject. Subject choices are made during enrolment and induction. If you need to change your subjects, or your course, you will need to discuss this with your tutor. Transfer or withdrawal from subjects needs the approval of the Programme Area Manager.
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EDUCATIONAL VISITS Various Educational Visits will be organised during the year. Previous visits have included: Warner Bros Studios in London, The Palace of Westminster, Manchester Law Fair, Bateman’s Brewery, Imperial War Museum North.
ASSESSMENT Assessment is by external examination and in some subjects coursework. Examinations take place in May/June for both the AS and A2 year. During your course your subject lecturers will set and assess work at regular intervals. You will be provided with a Progress Book in which to record your grades. We aim to return all assessed work to you within 15 working days. During each term you will undertake a formal timed assessment. Your progress will be regularly reviewed in lessons and in tutorials, however you also share the responsibility to achieve in your subjects and should undertake work at home as well as in lessons.
LEARNING STYLES These will vary according to the subjects you are studying. Your lecturers will ensure that you participate in a variety of learning situations which will interest you and ensure your success in external examinations. Support is available for any areas of weakness that you might have. You should initially refer to your tutor if you require, for example, extra help with English and Maths.
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.
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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.
Section 3
COLLEGE CALENDAR 2013/2014 2013 September 2nd September 3rd September 26th October 3rd October 8th October 10th October 16th October 21st – 25th October 29th October 30th & 31st November 5th November 7th November 14th November 15th December 19th 2014 January 6th January 23rd February 6th February 11th February 17th - 21st March 3rd - 7th March 4th & 5th April 4th April 22nd May 5th May 26th June 10th June 12th June 26th
Autumn term starts. Learner Services Induction week Spalding Enrolment Higher Education Fair at BCUC HE Parents’ Briefing ‘Going to University’ BCUC Spalding College in Action Boston College in Action Volunteer Fair at BCUC Half term HE Open Event Parents’ evenings School Taster day Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Closing date for UCAS applications (internal) End of Autumn term Spring term starts HE Open Event Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Half term for learners Careers week Parents’ evenings End of Spring term Summer term starts Bank Holiday Bank Holiday Spalding Open Event (Information) Boston Open Evening (Information) 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.
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Section 4
REQUIRED PURCHASES You will be informed by your subject lecturers and subject booklets at the beginning of your course for any required purchases. In cases of financial hardship you should refer to your tutor and/or Learner Services counsellors.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE If you have financial difficulties you can apply for help from the College Bursary Fund, 19+ Learner Support Fund or 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund. This may help to meet the costs of: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Travel Books and equipment (16-18, 19+ only) Food (16-18, 19+ only) Specialist clothing required for your course (16-18, 19+ only) Childcare costs whilst at College (19+ and 24+ only) Exams/tuition costs (19+ only)
Some learners aged 16-18 are guaranteed help from the Bursary Fund – this includes: learners living in care recent care leavers learners receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right learners receiving Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment in their own right. For further details please check with Learner Services staff. Childcare If you are under 20, you may qualify for Care to Learn payments for childcare costs. Please go to Learner Services for more information, or contact Care to Learn on 0845 600 7979 or visit the website at www.gov.uk/caretolearn
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Section 5 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.
Section 6
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) 8
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 ATTENDANCE You are required to attend all classes regularly and to be punctual. Your attendance will be carefully monitored and your tutor informed of any absences. If your attendance is unsatisfactory you might be given a report card which will have to be signed by your lecturer for each class you attend. If your attendance or effort fails to improve you would be placed on report to the Senior Tutor or Programme Leader who might eventually recommend termination of your course. Attendance Monitoring We want you to be successful on your course and to achieve your qualifications. It is therefore important that you attend all classes as good attendance is the key to being successful. The Attendance Monitor will work with you and your Tutors to promote good attendance. What will they do? offer support if you are having problems which affect your attendance refer you to Learner Services who can help with a range of personal problems and barriers to learning and attendance refer you to your Tutor who will discuss your attendance and take action where appropriate What can you do? Avoid unnecessary absences, for example, by making appointments outside College hours Inform the Attendance Monitor if you are going to be absent for any reason Telephone (01205) 365701, option 2, or e-mail absent@boston.ac.uk, or text “BCABSENT” to 88020. Texts are charged at standard network rate. This information is also on the back of your ID badge Please remember to give your name, ID number and reason for absence The Attendance Monitor is: Gail Bevan
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CODES OF PRACTICE You are expected to return any text books issued to you at the end of your course or if you withdraw. Please refer to individual subject or section booklets for specialist area codes such as computing, laboratory safety and darkroom procedures.
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.
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Boston College Skirbeck Road Boston Lincs PE21 6JF Telephone: 01205 365701
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