programme of study

Bespoke Enrichment programme

All students engage in a bespoke enrichment programme, which focuses on developing the same essential skills to support your progression to higher education and employment.

• Presentation skills • Lateral thinking • Independent research • Critical thinking and problem solving • Resilience and resourcefulness

term 1

In your first term, you will choose either a 10-week pre-graduate or pre-professional pathway:

The pre-graduate pathway is based around specific subject areas and is designed to consolidate and develop your knowledge in preparation for university application. Some pre-graduate programmes link directly to existing A level subjects, whereas others are intended to bridge the gap between sixth form and university courses.

The pre-professional pathway is based around a career, rather than an academic subject, and is designed to develop your understanding of a specific job role. You will learn about the skills and knowledge needed for a certain type of employment and have the opportunity to undertake a related work placement. Below is a sample of some of the pre-graduate and pre-professional enrichment activities; a full list of all enrichment activities is available on the college website.

Pre-Graduate • Politics • Biochemistry • Medical Society • Law Society • Criminology • Astrophysics

Pre-Professional • Pre-nursing • Pre-teaching • An introduction to accountancy • Cyber security • An introduction to marketing and advertising • Photography

term 2

In the second term, you will have a choice of selecting another ‘pre-graduate’ or ‘preprofessional’ enrichment programme or choosing a ‘wider skills’ enrichment activity. The wider skills enrichment activities are varied in nature and aim to give you the chance to develop new skills that go beyond traditional classroom study.

an experience like no other

wider skills

The following are examples of ‘wider skills’ enrichment activities that were available for students in the last academic year: • Sign language • Yoga • First aid • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award • Football/netball • The college musical • Brass band • Digital animation

NB: Enrichment activities will be subject to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Supporting You

Student Performance and Development Leaders The college counsellor

We have a specialist team of Student Performance and Development Leaders (SPDLs) at RSFC, their passion to support you throughout your time at RSFC is resolute.

When you join RSFC we get to know you really well so that we can help you achieve your full potential. Your SPDL will be your critical and professional friend while you are studying with us. You will meet with them each week in a group tutorial and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to talk exclusively about you!

Your SPDL will help you settle quickly into college life, and they will work with you to ensure you achieve the best results possible. Your SPDL will help you to think about your goals, set targets to enable you to reach those goals and track your progress.

Being a sixth form student is about being an independent learner and being able to self-evaluate, which means recognising your strengths and areas for development, and taking responsibility for your own learning. Your SPDL will have a clear overview of your academic and personal development while at college, and they will support you on your journey to success. They will be a central supportive figure in your transition from school to college, as well as supporting and guiding you in all aspects of your progression to higher education and employment. Your SPDL will be the point of contact for your teachers and your parents/carers to discuss any aspect of your progress and welfare.

Time spent at college should be rewarding but it can also be a time when some students face difficulties either within college or in their personal lives.

If you find yourself experiencing problems, RSFC have a college counsellor who will give you the opportunity to talk privately and support your individual needs. The counselling room is a private, quiet place, which provides a comfortable and relaxed environment.

The Students’ Union

Rochdale Sixth Form College places a very strong emphasis on the involvement of its students in the running and organisation of the college. We are keen to ensure that students shape our future direction and we seek students’ views through focus groups, questionnaires and the Students’ Union.

The Students’ Union is involved at all levels of the college, acting as a link between the senior leadership team and the student body. They represent students in all matters concerning their education and help to promote the general welfare of students. They are also responsible for organising and implementing many of the major student events in the calendar each year.

For more information about joining our Students’ Union, contact Sarah Turner via email: s.turner@ rochdalesfc.ac.uk