New College Pontefract
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NCPONTEFRACT
CONTENTS 3 WELCOME
18 - 19
4 - 5
KEY STEPS TO ENROLMENT
20 - 21
6 - 7
YOUR SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
22 - 23
YOUR PROGRESS
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8 - 9 10 - 11 12 - 13 14 - 15 16 - 17
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YOUR SUBJECT CHOICES YOUR RESULTS
YOUR WELLBEING AND SUPPORT YOUR ASPIRATIONS
YOUR ENRICHMENT
YOUR TRAVEL OPTIONS
OUR FORMER STUDENTS
24 - 25 WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY FAQS
WELCOME WELCOME
Your New College
Many congratulations on receiving a conditional offer to study at New College Pontefract from September. Many of you will have been interviewed some time ago over the phone, so we look forward to meeting you in person soon. I am so proud to tell you that the College has recently been awarded ‘Sixth Form College of the Year’ and ‘Overall FE Provider of the Year’ so you couldn’t be joining us at a better time. We hope that you will find this booklet useful in answering some of the many questions you no doubt have. See you in July for your NCP Induction Day and good luck with the rest of your studies. Vicky Marks Principal
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New College Pontefract
One of my main roles is to ensure that your transition from school to college is as smooth as possible. This can be a daunting time for any young adult and making the decision about where to study post 16, and which courses to choose, are most likely the biggest decisions of your life so far. Once you are at college I want to ensure that you have an amazing experience both inside and outside of the classroom and that we enable you to continue to grow as an individual to leave completely ready for the next journey in your life. I’m a Maths teacher who is not only passionate about my subject but also helping young people to become all they can be. You will see me around the college on a daily basis and I’m really excited about getting to know our next group of Year 12 students. Neil Mumby Vice Principal (School Liaison, IAG and transition) As Vice Principal my main role is to ensure that you receive the highest quality education during your time at New College. I work closely with teaching staff to ensure that high standards are consistent throughout all subjects and qualifications so that students are able to achieve the best possible outcomes. Part of my role involves checking that students are being provided with all the information, resources and skills that they need to succeed, and also that students are using these tools effectively. You will see me frequently around college and I am very much looking forward to meeting our new year group. I teach Physical Education and I believe that every young person deserves the best education possible to enable them to excel in their chosen futures! Chelsea Branson Webster Vice Principal (Quality, Standards and Performance)
Sarah Barber Assistant Principal
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James Morris Assistant Principal
Jo Holden Assistant Principal
Lisa Wiles Assistant Principal
Your New College
ENROLLING ENROLLING STEPS TO
We know you’ll be working hard to achieve the best possible grades in Year 11. We also know that your teachers will be keen to make sure you’re awarded the fairest possible grades, reflecting the skills and knowledge you have developed at school. The conditional offers we make at interview and the grades needed for our courses remain unchanged and your conditional offer will be based on the grades you receive this summer in the normal way.
In July, we will invite you by letter to attend for enrolment. This is a great opportunity to start settling into college before the summer, to meet your teachers and to find out more about your chosen courses. Your teachers will also provide you with some summer independent learning activities to help you hit the ground running in September.
Here are some key dates for you: GCSE Results Day Thursday 12 August 2021 A-Level Results Day Tuesday 10 August 2021
Enrolment Days Under review, given the earlier GCSE results day. We will let students know as soon as possible! Start of Teaching Year 12 - Thursday 9 September Year 13 - Monday 13 September We will let you know which date and time to attend for enrolment. This is when we review your GCSE results with you and make final decisions about your place at New College Pontefract and the subjects you’ll study with us. It’s extremely important that you let us know if you can’t attend on the day and time of your appointment by emailing studentservices@ ncpontefract.ac.uk well in advance of the enrolment day.
If any of these arrangements change as a result of government decisions, we’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity.
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
YOUR SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
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Your New College
New College Pontefract is an academic sixth form which is different to both a school sixth form and a general further education college. All of our students are aged 16-19 and all of our students are studying qualifications, mostly A-Levels but a good number studying A-Level equivalent qualifications – applied general qualifications such as BTEC courses. New College is a stepping stone to university, apprenticeships or employment and your experience with us will feel different to Year 11. It’s not just the fact that students don’t wear uniforms and that we don’t have bells. It’s mainly about the adult relationship we develop with our students. We work hard to get the balance right – expecting students to work hard and make good progress, checking carefully that things are going well, but relying on you to use your time and the college facilities effectively as a young adult and as an independent student.
In 2020, New College Pontefract was named as both Sixth Form College of the Year and Overall FE Provider of the Year at the 2020 TES Awards. This was joined by the SLT winning a ‘Silver’ award in the Team of the Year category at the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
SUBJECT CHOICES New College is the perfect size for sixth form study – we’re small enough to feel like a community but large enough to offer a huge range of subjects. This means you can genuinely choose the subjects that really interest you, that play to your strengths and that link to your future plans. We can tailor your combination of subjects to you as an individual. Helping you to select the right courses is critically important, which is why your interview and your enrolment meeting after your GCSE results are so important. Don’t worry if you’ve changed your mind about your subjects, just let us know by emailing studentservices@ncpontefract.ac.uk, or let us know when you enrol. It’s best to let us know as soon as you can though, as subjects do become full. Summer Independent Learning (SIL) Instructions for completing the SIL for each course is available on our website ncpontefract.ac.uk/SIL. This work is intended to keep your mind active and to prepare you for the courses that you are studying at college. The work is compulsory and will be either handed in during your first lesson or tested during the first week of term. It’s really important that you put in enough time and effort to get this right – it’s the first impression your teachers will get and it will help you to really decide if you’ve made the right subject choices. Don’t leave it until the last minute, as you will need approximately 12 hours per subject to complete the work.
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
PROGRESS Throughout your time at New College you’ll know exactly how you are progressing. We use lots of assessment, including traditional exams, but also small, informal knowledge checks during lessons and via your homework (directed independent learning). You’ll be receiving lots of regular feedback, reflecting on the areas you need to target, and addressing any weaknesses really quickly. This helps you to feel confident and in control, and it means you’ll be very well-prepared for your final exams or assignments. After each assessment your teacher will review any extra support you need and agree with you your next steps. You and your parents/carers can check all of your assessment grades and a summary of agreed support and next steps through Cedar, our online portal. Each student will also have a progress tutor who will have the helicopter view of how you are getting on across all of your subjects.
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
RESULTS Our latest set of results before Covid-19 are outlined below. Grades in 2020 were in line with our previous outstanding results and we are confident that we are the right place to be if you want the best chance of academic success. • Pass rate for both A-Level and BTEC was 100% last year. • We are the top provider of post-16 education in the region. In the government performance tables for progress in A-Level courses. • 60% of all A-Level students achieved an A*-B grade. • Our achivement rates are outstanding. We ranked third out of 82 sixth form colleges nationally. • Students are supported to find the right courses and succeed in completing and passing them to very high levels. • We have been ranked in the top 5 sixth form colleges in the country for achievement for the last 6 years. • 92% of New College students studying BTEC qualifications achieved distinction or distinction* grades last year, supporting very good progression to university, employment and high quality apprenticeships.
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
WELLBEING & SUPPORT New College is a place that embraces and celebrates our differences. We want all of our students to feel happy, valued and wellsupported. Your progress tutor will often be your first port-of-call if you’re finding things tough. They can provide you with individual advice and support or signpost you to other professionals that can also help, such as our team of counsellors or organisations outside of college. We run lots of events and campaigns throughout the year, helping students to stay safe and to make positive decisions that support good physical and mental health. We also have an experienced and committed team supporting students with additional learning needs (SEND) and a dedicated safeguarding team.
New College has a dedicated team of counsellors situated within the privacy of our onsite Well-being Hub, to confidentially support our students with their mental health and emotional well-being. Regular 1-2-1 appointments or drop-in sessions are available throughout term time. The Well-being Hub is also where you will find our Safeguarding Officer, should you have any safeguarding concerns or queries.
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
ASPIRATIONS
BA CC AL AU RE AT E
AC AD EM IC ST /VO UD CA Y TI ON AL
IN D LE EPE AR N NI DE NG NT
CO M SE M RV UN IC ITY E
NC LT
At New College we provide tailored support for you so that you have the very best chance of progressing from New College to a great university, apprenticeship or job. We’ll ask you to review your career plans at key points, so that we can signpost relevant talks by visiting universities or employers, or we can arrange for you to have a careers interview. We’ll support you in finding high quality work placements if you have particular careers in mind, such as medicine or teaching, or if you’re studying Applied General courses which include work placements, or if you’re considering work or apprenticeships rather than university. If you’re aiming for the very highest grades you’ll be able to be part of our Excellence Academy and join the Raising Aspirations Programme, focussing on preparation for applications to Russell Group universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and for very competitive degree courses which have extra hurdles to overcome. We’ll also create opportunities for all students to engage with universities, employers or apprenticeship providers within the courses they are studying.
DE PE R V EL SO OP NA M L EN T
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The NCLT Baccalaureate is an award that we have created that you can achieve during your time with us. It is designed to help you grow and develop confidence in skills such as communication and teamwork. Find out more on P20.
Your New College
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
ENRICHMENT At New College we expect all students to benefit from our varied enrichment programme. Activities are grouped into ‘Clubs and Societies’, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, ‘Super-curricular’ and ‘Leadership and Life Experiences’. If you’re sporty, you might be interested in the football, rugby, netball or basketball teams, or perhaps our skiing trip to Italy? If you enjoy travel you could take part in World Challenge, fundraising for an expedition to a far-flung part of the world. We offer Duke of Edinburgh Silver and Gold awards, too. You could get involved in our student executive team and stand for election, organising events, raising money for charity, giving a voice to the student body. You could become a Student Ambassador and support your subject departments during open events and as a peer mentor. There are also many opportunities to attend trips, or to join talks by visiting speakers, some of which will be organised within your courses, and some which are open to students across the college. At New College there is lots to get involved in outside of lessons and it’s a great way to make new friends, learn new skills that will be valuable for life, develop confidence and discover hidden talents. If you don’t see anything that interests you, let us know or feel free to run your own club! Find out more at ncpontefract.ac.uk/enrichment
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
THE NCLT
BACCALAUREATE BA CC AC AD AL EM IC AU ST /VO UD CA Y TI RE ON AL AT E IN D L EP E AR EN NI DE NG NT
CO M SE M RV UN IC ITY E
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Here at New College, we have created the NCLT Baccalaureate which is an award you can achieve during your time with us. The award aims to recognise all the hard work and dedication you put into your studies as well as other aspects of college life you are involved with. By taking part in the programme, you can choose from a range of activities to complete which will challenge you and help you grow and develop confidence in softer skills such as communication and teamwork. You will make new friends through enrichment activities and become more socially aware of the challenges other people face in your community. At the end of the programme, you will receive a certificate, endorsed by The University of Hull through an awards ceremony to celebrate your achievements.
DE PE VE RSO L O PM NAL EN T
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Your New College
In order to complete the NCLT Baccalaureate, students must fulfil all four sections of the programme. Academic/Vocational study: complete all timetabled lessons until the end of Year 13. Independent Learning: you will complete some learning on a personal interest, outside of your studies, in preparation for building the skills needed to study academically at university. This could be online learning, be part of a university programme or an Extended Project Qualification; or if you want to pursue an apprenticeship, you can complete The Employability Award, supported through the University of Hull. Personal Development: You can participate in the college enrichment programme, including anything from Sports, Health and Well-being sessions, to Debating, LGBTQ+, STEM club and Music. Community Service: You can take part in a voluntary project with an organisation or independently to benefit other people in the community.
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New College Pontefract
YOUR
TRAVEL OPTIONS Transport provision for college includes routes from locations all over the Yorkshire area. This provision is a mixture of either public service buses or one of our twelve private college services. Please see the map for the college service routes. For more information visit ncpontefract.ac.uk/travel
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Your New College
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New College Pontefract
WHAT OUR
STUDENTS SAY Scarlet Mackie
The Snaith School What subjects are you studying at New College? Biology, Chemistry and Law What is it like studying at New College? One of the best parts about studying at New college is how hard we were pushed in order to be the best we can possibly be. This helped me be successful in my subjects to be able to get the grades for my desired career Did you take part in any Enrichments? I didn’t take part in any Enrichment activities, but there was a huge selection to choose from. What is your next step? Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lancaster.
Vanessa Obasogie Royds School
What subjects are you studying at New College? Media, Textiles and Law What is it like studying at New College? It is a great environment at New College and the staff are always willing to push you to your highest potential. Did you take part in any Enrichments? I did the Media Magazine and was a Textiles Student Ambassador. What is your next step? BA in Fashion Design with Marketing at Northumbria University.
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Your New College
Max Crompton
Outwood Academy City Fields What subjects are you studying at New College? Music, Geology and BTEC Music Performance What is it like studying at New College? The Music courses were fantastic and provide different opportunities to learn about a range of subject areas that I would not have looked into otherwise. Did you take part in any Enrichments? I signed up to take my grade 5 in music theory. What is your next step? BA in Music at the University of Huddersfield.
Sam Kay
Kettlethorpe High School What subjects are you studying at New College? Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry What is it like studying at New College? The best part of studying at New College was the friendliness and support from all the teachers. I thoroughly enjoyed all my lessons and was never afraid to ask for help. Did you take part in any Enrichments? I took part in the Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze), was runner-up for President of the Student Executive committee and was an A-Level Maths ambassador. What is your next step? BSc in Mathematics at Durham University.
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New College Pontefract
FAQS
What if I change my mind about my subject choices? Not a problem. Just let us know by emailing studentservices@ncpontefract.ac.uk by Friday 9 July. You can also change subjects when you come to enrol. Changing subjects will obviously depend on there being space available on the course, and you achieving the subject entry requirements. What if I don’t get the grades I need? Don’t panic! We offer a huge number of courses all with different entry requirements, so if things don’t go quite to plan we’ll explore all of the other options that are available to you at your enrolment. What if I haven’t done the Summer Independent Learning? The SIL is a requirement for all courses and MUST be completed before the start of term. It will be the basis of your first assessment and it will tell us how committed you are to studying with us. Any incomplete work will be expected to be done within a very short deadline and you will have given a poor first impression. If I change my mind about courses, what happens to the Summer Independent Learning? You will need to complete the SIL for the courses that you enrol on before the start of term in September. If you are undecided between 2 courses, we strongly recommend that you complete the work for both courses. This will help you to decide which you prefer and will also mean that you are ready in time for the start of term. What if I’ve also applied to my school sixth form? That’s no problem. Remember that you are free to apply to as many places as you like and you don’t have to make your final decision until after your GCSE results, when you officially enrol. At this stage, any places you accept are simply provisional (and you can accept places at more than just one place, for the time being). What if I haven’t been to a New College Taster Day? Lots of students will have spent a day with us, but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t. Look out for our Virtual Taster Day that will be appearing on our website soon.
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Your New College
OFFICIAL Check out our range of apparel including the official NC hoodie at ncpontefract.ac.uk/nc-official
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NEW COLLEGE PONTEFRACT Park Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4QR Phone: 01977 702139 Email: enquiries@ncpontefract.ac.uk
