INDEPENDENT LEARNING We nurture

Moving up to Sixth Form College you’ll experience a new level of independence that will develop your skills, attitudes and knowledge in preparation for your next steps; whether this is university study, an apprenticeship or employment.

At Long Road, you’ll have lessons from Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 4:10pm, but unlike school you won’t spend all day in class.

We’ll encourage your learning to flourish with independent study periods, providing you with a variety of study spaces across the campus for you to visit between your lessons. Much of your independent study time will be spent in our Student Centre or our Learning Resource Centre; a study complex made up of a central library, computer rooms, group study area and silent study space. This time will be spent reviewing your notes, completing assignments, reading around your topics, discovering current research in your field and preparing for your next class.

Alex (he/him) was home educated before joining Long Road to study A Level’s in English Language & Literature, Economics and Media.

“I love being a student at Long Road because the wide range of support has allowed me to establish new friendships in an openly accepting and positive environment.”

Emma (she/her) joined Long Road from Cromwell Community College to study A Level’s in English Language & Literature, History and Sociology.

“I love the overall atmosphere of Long Road - the genuine communal focus that the students and staff hold; and how willing teachers are to help you, without putting extensive pressure on anybody.”

All our resources are easily accessible online giving you the flexibility to choose where you spend your independent study time; this could be working from home, at your favourite café or outside in one of our many green spaces. Simply connect to wifi to access our college intranet site; from here you can download assignment briefs and resources or upload finished work for your teachers to mark.

Making the transition to studying at sixth form may be challenging: you will need to step up and take ownership of your learning. But don’t worry; as you settle into Long Road life you’ll learn how to organise your independent study time, carry out your own research, analyse sources and present your arguments. We will help you develop a positive mindset so that you feel confident in reaching your academic goals. At Long Road we use the VESPA framework to support you to achieve your best. It’s designed around practical strategies that are focused on developing your v ision, e ffort, s ystems, p ractices and a ttitude - 5 important areas of self-development that together add up to sixth form success!