New College Doncaster - Our Ethos and Culture

We’re delighted that you’ve applied to join New College Doncaster in September – thank you for attending your interview with us. The college’s popularity has grown year-on-year and we’re proud of our students, our staff, our high academic standards and our culture.

This is the first in a series of booklets we’re preparing for you, to give you a flavour of things to come.

BRENDON FLETCHER Principal

“Students at New College Doncaster experience a culture of very high expectations, which supports them to maximise their potential and achieve their aspirations. Teachers challenge students to be the best that they can be, to have very high levels of attendance and punctuality, and to develop strong, in dependent learning skills. This culture prepares students exceptionally well to progress to their next steps”.

Ofsted, December 2021

My role is to ensure that students are wellsupported and making excellent progress throughout their New College journey. I want to make sure that their tutorial programme is really valuable to them, that their Progress Tutors are able to provide them with outstanding personal support and guidance, and that their teachers are able to put effective support in place for them when it’s needed. I’m really excited about getting to know our next group of Y12 students.

JACKSON Vice Principal (Progress, Intervention and Support)

I’m responsible for our team of Progress Tutors in College, ensuring that students receive the best possible care, support and challenge. I am a member of the College’s safeguarding team and I play a role in the College’s intervention and support procedures, often assisting the Senior Leadership Team where there are more significant concerns around attendance, commitment or conduct.

SALLY SMALL Lead Senior Progress Tutor

My role in college is to ensure that students’ wider experiences in college help to support their own personal development. I’m interested in making sure that their courses help to develop their employability skills and their readiness for work or university, and that they have opportunities to enrich their learning in college. I also manage systems to track student attendance, which is an essential ingredient of success. Student feedback is important, and I am responsible for creating opportunities for them to share their views and comments about their experiences.

welcome welcome

SCOTT FAULKNER Assistant Principal (Student Experience & Personal Development)

HELEN

PROUD OF OUR PEOPLE

What matters to us is that students work hard, grow as young adults and find rewards from their time and the opportunities at New College. Our students bring maturity and commitment, making a positive decision to move somewhere new after Year 11, taking a step into adulthood and independence.

Our students don’t wear uniforms, our college doesn’t have bells, and students use a teacher’s first name. This is because New College is in some ways like being at university, and we’re preparing students for university and work. We focus on the things that matter most in sixth form study – your academic standards, your progress, your attendance and work, your future.

Students come to New College from across the City of Doncaster and beyond. We’re proud that our students come from different schools and different walks of life. At New College Doncaster we enjoy the things we have in common but we celebrate our diversity and the unique identities and experiences that each of us bring. A move away from school to a sixth form colleges provides many students with the opportunity to express themselves in new ways, to create new friendship groups, and to meet people they might not have been able to meet at school.

Leaders and staff successfully support students to become highly respectful and active citizens. Students have an excellent understanding of British values such as mutual respect and tolerance, and endeavour to emulate these values. They are very respectful and courteous to each other, to staff and to visitors to the college. They feel safe at college and are confident that, if they have any concerns, these will be addressed quickly.

Ofsted, December 2021

OUR COLLEGE FACILITIES

The college was built in 2017 and so is still one of the newest, purpose-built sixth forms in the region.

Hopefully you’ll have already attended one of our Open Events or Taster Days and had a good chance to look around. You’ll also be able to explore our facilities at your Induction Day in July.

What can you look forward to?

A FREE GYM

available to students and staff, and on-site sport facilities.

study spaces for you to work in outside of lessons.

BOOKABLE STUDY ROOMS USE OF COLLEGE STUDY SPACES

for small groups in our Learning Resource Centres.

The learning environment at the college is highly conducive to successful working. Ofsted, December 2021

AN OPEN ACCESS IT SUITE

and bookable laptops.

drama and music facilities.

SPECIALIST DANCE HIGH-SPECIFICATION

classrooms and equipment.

STUDENT PARKING

for registered students.

for independent study up until 5.30pm.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities to enrich your learning and support your own personal development are planned into each of your courses at New College Doncaster. For each course, you will enjoy a minimum of 6 enrichment opportunities, such as trips and visits, competitions, visiting speakers or engagement with universities, employers and apprenticeship providers.

As well as all the opportunities you’ll have within your courses, you will also have the chance to get involved in a huge range of extra-curricular programmes.

There are around 70 different extra-curricular programmes at New College Doncaster. Some of these are bite-size programmes lasting 5 weeks, and some will run for a full two years. This gives you flexibility to get involved as much as you’d like.

Our extra-curricular opportunities fall into 5 categories:

HEALTH & WELLBEING LEADERSHIP & LIFE EXPERIENCES SUPER-CURRICULAR

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

COMPETITIVE SPORTS

All students have the chance to participate in international visits whilst studying with us. Over previous years we have had Ski Trips to Italy, Sports Coaching opportunities in Malta and this year Teaching Experiences in Thailand. A number of these visits are heavily subsidised through the Turing Scheme, enabling students to experience international visits with only a small financial contribution to costs. More information will be provided regarding these visits when you start with us in September.

To get a flavour of what will be on offer for you next year, take a look at this year’s extra-curricular opportunities.

YOUR PROGRESS TUTOR & TUTORIAL PROGRAMME

Every student has a Progress Tutor and they’ll be someone you’ll work closely with throughout your two years. They’ll have oversight of your attendance, engagement and academic progress and will help to review any support you may need. They’ll support you in making plans for life after New College, and they’ll provide 1-1 pastoral support and care.

Your Progress Tutor will also deliver your weekly tutorial. The tutorial programme provides students with the opportunity to explore and discuss a range of topical issues relevant to young adults. It will help you settle into college and learn more about how to be an effective independent learner. It will support you in exploring your options in terms of careers, university, apprenticeships and employment, and with the applications processes.

MENTAL & PHYSICAL HEALTH

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

STAYING SAFE

Some of the topical issues you’ll explore include: sexual relationships, controlling relationships.

BODY CONFIDENCE

BEING A CITIZEN IN MODERN BRITAIN

bullying and online abuse. fundamental British values, inclusive environments, recognising and responding to extremism and exploitation, multicultural Britain, equality and diversity within society.

LIVING INDEPENDENTLY

bills, mortgages, wage slips, loans and finance.

LIVING ON A BUDGET

outside of college - gun and knife crime, honour-based violence, forced marriages. and healthy diets.

Students have a very good understanding of how to keep themselves safe from all risks. They understand the potential risks of radicalisation and extremism at college and in their personal lives. They have a strong understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment and are fully aware of the importance of demonstrating appropriate behaviour towards other students.

Ofsted, December 2021

SUPPORT AND STUDENT WELLBEING

As well as academic support, for example if you need extra help with your courses or if you need advice about careers and future plans, there’s also a lot of personal support available, should you need it.

Your Progress Tutor will often be the person you can turn to if you’re experiencing any personal difficulties. They can help to bring the right people together to support students and can be a helpful point of contact for parents or carers.

If things get particularly tough, students can self-refer to our team of college counsellors, for one-to-one counselling support. Sometimes it can be good to have someone to talk to privately, and some students benefit from seeing our counsellors for a number of supportive sessions.

Our safeguarding team are there for when a student is at greater risk of harm, trained and equipped to provide more specialist support, and to help find external support when it’s needed.

Our study support team works closely with students with special educational needs or disabilities, so that students make exceptional progress in their courses, and are ready for their next steps after college.

We also have lots of visits in college from other organisations that can provide information, advice and resources to our students.

For example, sexual health organisations, mental health organisations, and drugs and alcohol awareness.

Students benefit from excellent pastoral and academic support.

They [students] feel safe at college and are confident that, if they have any concerns, these will be addressed quickly.

Support for students with high needs is very strong.

This support enables students with high needs to settle into college life, contribute to lessons well, and make significant progress in achieving their planned outcomes.

Ofsted, December 2021

PROUD OF OUR CULTURE

New College is a stepping stone from school to university or employment. Lots of things will feel similar to school and the size of the college will probably seem familiar to many students. But New College is a step up, more adult, and this brings additional freedoms and opportunities, coupled with high standards and some additional expectations.

CARE

We know that our students and staff perform at their best when they feel valued, heard and supported.

CHALLENGE

Our students rightly have high expectations of our teachers, and our teacher expect the very best from our students. Students take pride in their work, are proud of being part of our sixth form college community and they are ambitious in their plans for the future.

CANDOUR

Being honest is important for our students and staff. Students and teachers talk often about what’s going well and what areas can be strengthened. We’re transparent about what we expect of one another, what students can do to improve, and what teachers can do to help. We invite and welcome the views of students about their experiences at New College.

COLLABORATION COMMITMENT

We’re proud of how hard our staff and students work. New College students and staff are dedicated, resilient and strive for continuous improvement. They commit to sixth form college life and all the wider opportunities it brings.

We achieve more by working together. In lessons, opportunities to work collaboratively deepen learning and help students to establish friendships. Teachers across our 3 colleges collaborate too, helping to make sure you get a top-class educational experience.

Leaders and staff successfully support students to become highly respectful and active citizens. Students have an excellent understanding of British values such as mutual respect and tolerance, and endeavour to emulate these values. They are very respectful and courteous to each other, to staff and to visitors to the college.

Ofsted, December 2021