THE SKILLS ACADEMY A GUIDE FOR
PARENTS & GUARDIANS
WELCOME Hello and welcome to The Skills Academy. Here you will find all the information you need to help support your young person in their transition into further education. We are sure you have already heard of the fantastic facilities our college has to offer and are aware of our team of dedicated teaching staff, however, you may still have questions and that’s why we have created this handy guide. If you need any additional information, please get in touch via our website at www.skillsacademybillingham.ac.uk or by contacting our Student Recruitment Team on 01642 607 464.
ABOUT US Offering a range of introductory and level 1 courses, The Skills Academy is the ideal choice if your young person would prefer to learn in a smaller environment and is looking for a different kind of learning experience. Lessons are delivered in a calm and friendly environment, helping students to build the confidence and skills they need to succeed. There are also many opportunities to take part in wider activities and groups, charity fundraising and community projects.
STUDENT PERKS! FIND OUT MORE AT: SKILLSACADEMYBILLINGHAM.AC.UK/STUDENTSUPPORT
GYM ACCESS Grab a pass to the Durham University Sports Centre next door to our Stockton campus or check out the offers available at our Bede Sports Centre in Billingham.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
Students can speak to our Student Support and Wellbeing team about all the latest offers and discounts!
CAREERS ADVICE
Students can get advice with their CV, careers and university preparation.
PRINT CREDITS
Just another way to make life easier.
FREE TRAVEL*
Travelling to and from Skills couldn’t be easier, with bus routes available across Teesside. See our website for further details.
FREE MEALS**
FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 Completely free for students to use!
*Subject to change. Conditions may apply. **Subject to eligibility criteria. Visit the bursary section of our website to check your eligibility.
OUR FACILITIES Check out some of the fantastic facilities we have to offer below. Don’t forget you can book a tour or attend our open events and see for yourself.
Beauty Lab 9 As a hairdressing and beauty student, you will benefit from learning in our small and friendly salon. Appropriately named ‘Beauty Lab 9’ by previous students, the salon itself gives you access to state-of-the-art wash basins, work stations, a massage table and much more. All students will be supervised by a qualified lecturer.
Art & Design Room Realise your true potential in our colourful and creative art room. Paint, draw, model and photograph your way to success with help from our amazing lecturers. Showcase your skills at our own in-house exhibition and take part in real life commissioned artwork.
Computer Suite Technology is advancing everyday and whether you are browsing on the internet or creating digital artwork we can help. With a dedicated computer suite available, students are able to develop their skills and knowledge using a wide range of programmes and computer packages.
Katy’s Café Looking for a bite to eat? Katy’s Café has got you covered! Pre-order a hot meal or even just grab a snack during your lunch break.
Construction Room Our spacious construction room allows students to learn and practise new skills alongside each other. The room is equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment you will need to develop a wide range of hand-tool techniques, drawing skills and much more. There are also opportunities for up-cycling projects.
Communal Areas Whether you are looking to catch up with friends or grab a quiet minute to yourself, we have something for everyone. Although we are small, we have the space to make you feel comfortable and enjoy your time at The Skills Academy.
Working Kitchen Cook up a storm in our working kitchen and learn some skills for life. Whether you are interested in baking cakes or creating a curry, our facilities are the perfect place for you to learn.
Pool Table If you are looking to unwind between classes, you can do so with a friendly game of pool. Use our pool table and pool cues to socialise with friends and enjoy your experience with us at The Skills Academy.
STUDENT SUPPORT We offer a wide range of services to ensure your young person always feels safe and supported during their time with us. If they need help, either in or outside of the classroom, they can just ask.
Travel
Getting to The Skills Academy couldn’t be easier. We have partnered with Arriva North East and Stagecoach to offer all our fulltime students unrestricted1 bus travel across Teesside for FREE2. To find out more about our bus travel offer please contact Student Support and Wellbeing or visit www.stockton.ac.uk.
Course Fees
If you are under 19 at the start of your course there should be no fees to pay. If you are aged 19 or above speak to our Admissions Team about potential funding, fees, repayment and student loan opportunities3.
Student Bursary
When you come to The Skills Academy for an interview you will be invited to fill out a bursary application form, or you can apply online. This will determine whether you are eligible for support with travel, childcare, meals or equipment4. Students can also get a TOTUM card, giving discounts on music, fashion, books, films and much more. For more details about fees and funding visit: www.stockton. ac.uk/college-life/fees-funding-and-loan
Careers Service
Whether you have chosen your future career or not, our highly qualified and experienced career advisors can help you plan the route to your success. We support you to make informed decisions about your future, help raise your aspirations and reach your full potential.
The college has Matrix Standard accreditation which confirms the outstanding, comprehensive advice and guidance delivered by the team. Our careers advice is based on an embedded programme of careers education and guidance which meets the Gatsby Good Career Guidance Benchmarks. These benchmarks ensure you have access to quality careers guidance, together with work experience, encounters with employers and current labour market information. This in turn ensures you can make informed decisions about your future career plans. For more information on what services our careers team can offer please visit our website.
Safeguarding
With a dedicated welfare member of staff at The Skills Academy, we prioritise your safety at all times. We can offer advice, support and ensure that help can be sought from external agencies to enable the best outcomes for our students’ safety and overall wellbeing. If you should feel unsafe or feel you need to access support we are here to make sure you are heard and safe at all times. We offer information, advice and guidance on a range of issues including: • Mental health • Managing relationships • Housing • Substance misuse • Sexual health • Benefits • Internet safety
Student Support and Wellbeing
Student Support and Wellbeing are here to offer you support during your time at The Skills Academy. We organise activities and events throughout the year, giving you the
chance to pick up new skills, find new interests and prepare for the future. We can also help support you with any issues that might be affecting your studies, accessing advice and information on anything from financial worries to bullying, sexual health, drug or alcohol misuse. We also have great links with a number of external support services.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion We value the diversity of our college community and promote inclusion for all. We make sure that all of our students receive the same provision and access to our services. We encourage a culture of respect and commit to tackling prejudice at all levels. By encouraging students and staff to share their own experiences, we aim to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and respect.
English & Maths
These are the skills that we can all take for granted, but we all use English and maths
every day, often without even thinking about it. At The Skills Academy we know how important these skills are to your future success and that is why we want to help all of our students develop their basic knowledge and pick up the qualifications to match. For students under 19, it is a Government requirement that you keep working towards these essential Functional Skills and GCSEs, if you haven’t already achieved a pass or grade 9-45. If travelling with Stagecoach, weekend travel is not included. You will be charged to use the transportation on weekends and during holidays, but this would be offered at a discounted rate. 2 Unrestricted free travel is only offered to 16-18 students who are on a full-time course. All other students must be eligible for bursary. 3 Subject to any prior funding previously granted or obtained. 4 Subject to change. 5 Unless they are exempt. See condition of funding rules (Department for Education). 1
INDUSTRY READY Students will participate in a range of different sessions to support them to become industry ready. Our aim is to provide students with not just the knowledge but also the skills and behaviours to be able to enter industry or go to university at the end of their course.
Charity Fun We love a fundraiser at The Skills Academy, so you will get the chance to join the fun and help do your bit for a good cause.
Enrichment Being a student is about learning new skills, meeting new friends and building
great memories. That’s why, alongside your course, you will get the chance to take part in trips, activities and events.
Enterprise We want to help develop your career and professional skills. All programmes at The Skills Academy include enterprise opportunities and events where you can develop your own business deals.
Tutorials At The Skills Academy you will take part in regular tutorials alongside your course. This is a chance to keep track of your progress and get the support you need to plan your next steps.
JULIA FEELS SETTLED AT THE SKILLS ACADEMY I came to England from Latvia when I was seven and I have always lacked confidence when it came to learning and meeting new people. The Skills Academy really supported me and helped to boost my self confidence which will be important for me when it comes to achieving my future goals.
Next Steps: Julia is exploring options for college and full-time work with the ambition of becoming a full-time model.
JAMES GETS THE SKILLS HE NEEDS FOR HIS APPRENTICESHIP I really enjoyed my construction course, it has given me the skills I need to progress on to my electrical apprenticeship. We also had a really good career talk with a local electrical company which I found really useful.
Next Steps: James has secured an electrical apprenticeship.
Parents, we're here for you too! Upskill your maths and English for FREE with Stockton Riverside College Do you need to update your qualifications to progress in a job role? Maybe your qualifications are out of date or you just want to be able to help your young person with their homework? Here at Stockton Riverside College we can give you the skills you need for FREE. Our face-to-face lessons are held on both evenings and daytimes. However, our online classes are flexible and can be scheduled to work around your other commitments. Our lessons are designed to build your confidence and get you the grades you need to progress. Lessons are just two hours per week and we have dedicated maths and English tutors who will work with you at your own pace to get you where you need to be.
For more information, please contact: Paul Mundy T: 07860 861 006 E: paul.mundy@stockton.ac.uk
USEFUL CONTACTS The Skills Academy Reception
Welfare and Safeguarding Officer
01642 607 464
safe@the-etc.ac.uk
Admissions Team
Student Bursary
01642 865 566
studentfinance@ the-etc.ac.uk
Part of the Education Training Collective. The Education Training Collective (Etc.) is a group of vibrant colleges and training providers offering high quality educational opportunities. Incorporating Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, Redcar & Cleveland College, Stockton Riverside College and The Skills
theskillsacad
Academy, the Etc. delivers a full range of courses, training and apprenticeship opportunities to learners aged 14 to adult, as well as professional and commercial courses. We aim to create greater opportunities for all of our students and communities by equipping people with the skills to help them in to employment, raise aspirations and meet the economic demands of the region.
theskillsacad
@skillsacad
The Skills Academy Marsh House Ave Stockton-on-Tees Billingham TS23 3ET tracey.laycock@stockton.ac.uk www.skillsacademybillingham.ac.uk