AS/A2 LEVEL PROGRAMME

BOSTON SIXTH

COURSE HANDBOOK

2013 – 2014

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BOSTON COLLEGE

AS/A2 LEVEL PROGRAMME

COURSE HANDBOOK Section 1

WELCOME

Welcome to the A level Programme and your 'A' level course. We hope you thoroughly enjoy your studies at Boston College Sixth and successfully obtain the qualifications necessary for your career and personal development.

A-Level Staff Profile

Programme Area Manager Tom Edwards, MA Film Studies, BA (Hons) English Literature, PGCE

Lecturer in Maths Sudha Anand, MSc Nuclear Physics, PGCE

Lecturer in Science Jenny Blackburn, BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences, PGCE

Lecturer in Psychology and

English

Geraldine Brazil, BA (Hons) Psychology, English Literature and Classics, PGCE

Lecturer in History Alison Carlisle, MPhil, MA Historical Studies, BA (Hons) Historical Studies, PGCE

Lecturer in Maths Patrick Corke, BSC (Hons) Geophysical Sciences, BA (Hons) Theology, PGCE, Cert TESOL

Lecturer in Science Stephen Crozier, BSC (Hons) Chemistry, PGCE

Lecturer in English Susan Dempsey, MA English Language Teaching, BA (Hons) French and Russian, PGCE, Celta, Delta, ESOL L4

Lecturer in English Vicky Dennis, BA (Hons) French and Hispanic Studies, Cert. Ed., Celta, Delta, ESOL L4

Lecturer in Maths Hifas Faiz, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Lecturer in English and World

Development

Peter Holden, BA (Hons) Philosophy, History and Film, Cert TESOL

Lecturer In Sociology Hayley Johnson, BA (Hons) English Literature with Education Studies, PGCE, CELTA

Lecturer in Economics Peter Lavender, BSC (Hons) European Politics, Society and Economics, PGCE

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Lecturer in Law and

History

Orla McMahon, LLB (Hons) Law with History, PGCE

Lecturer in Science Adam Sellars, BSC (Hons) Biomedical Science, PGCE

Lecturer in Maths Andy Watkins, Post-Graduate Certificate in Applicable Mathematics, BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics, Cert. Ed.

Lecturer in Communication &

Culture

Andrew Cocks BSC (Hons) Science, MSC Public Understanding of the Communication of Science

YOUR PERSONAL TUTOR: Subject lecturers are here to help you achieve these aims and to progress from the course

with good grades. In addition to subject lecturers you will also have a personal tutor who will be allocated to you. Your personal tutor will help welcome you to College during your induction and help you settle in to College life, providing a source of help and information. Your tutor is your first point of contact with the College and your main source of help. Your personal tutor will meet your tutorial group once a week and arrange regular one-to-ones to help monitor your progress and achievement.

Section 2

QUALIFICATION AIM

You will be entered for AS and 'A' levels offered by a wide variety of examination boards. A levels continue to be the most common entry qualification into Higher Education and also offer entry into a wide variety of professions.

COURSE FRAMEWORK Learners normally study for AS subjects in their first year. In the second year learners continue with three of these subjects, giving you three full A-Levels and one AS Level. Alongside A-Levels learners can also re-sit their GCSE English and Maths. It is essential that you gain a GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths for study at University and Employment. A GCSE in Biology is also offered as an Evening Class. Those who wish to enter the teaching profession will require at least a grade C in a Science subject. Subject choices are made during enrolment and induction. If you need to change your subjects, or your course, you will need to discuss this with your tutor. Transfer or withdrawal from subjects needs the approval of the Programme Area Manager.

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EDUCATIONAL VISITS Various Educational Visits will be organised during the year. Previous visits have included: Warner Bros Studios in London, The Palace of Westminster, Manchester Law Fair, Bateman’s Brewery, Imperial War Museum North.

ASSESSMENT Assessment is by external examination and in some subjects coursework. Examinations take place in May/June for both the AS and A2 year. During your course your subject lecturers will set and assess work at regular intervals. You will be provided with a Progress Book in which to record your grades. We aim to return all assessed work to you within 15 working days. During each term you will undertake a formal timed assessment. Your progress will be regularly reviewed in lessons and in tutorials, however you also share the responsibility to achieve in your subjects and should undertake work at home as well as in lessons.

LEARNING STYLES These will vary according to the subjects you are studying. Your lecturers will ensure that you participate in a variety of learning situations which will interest you and ensure your success in external examinations. Support is available for any areas of weakness that you might have. You should initially refer to your tutor if you require, for example, extra help with English and Maths.

PLAGIARISM The use of other people’s work and the submission of it as though it was your own is known as plagiarism (plagiarism means theft of other people’s ideas). Any work forming part of an assignment, project, test or other assessment must be your own and must not contain any plagiarised material. Evidence of plagiarism will result in failure of the assessment. Any new assessment arrangement will be given with a strict completion date. You will also be subject to the College’s disciplinary proceedings. If you wish to quote material from a textbook or other source then this should be referenced in your assignment. Your subject lecturer or Personal Tutor will show you how to do this.

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PROGRESS REPORTING

Parents Evenings Parents are invited to visit the College regularly to find out more about your course, how you are progressing, options after your course has finished routes and any other details. There will be an opportunity to speak to key staff as well as your Personal Tutor.

Progress Parents are encouraged to visit the College with or without their son/daughter to discuss progress with your Personal Tutor and teaching staff.

Reports All College learners are assessed by the course team at the end of November to confirm continuation onto the full programme. If there is any doubt as to suitability to continue, learners and parents will be consulted in December.

Section 3

COLLEGE CALENDAR 2013/2014 2013 September 2nd Autumn term starts. Learner Services Induction week September 3rd Spalding Enrolment September 26th Higher Education Fair at BCUC October 3rd HE Parents’ Briefing ‘Going to University’ BCUC October 8th Spalding College in Action October 10th Boston College in Action October 16th Volunteer Fair at BCUC October 21st – 25th Half term October 29th HE Open Event October 30th & 31st Parents’ evenings November 5th School Taster day November 7th Boston College in Action November 14th Spalding College in Action November 15th Closing date for UCAS applications (internal) December 19th End of Autumn term

2014 January 6th Spring term starts January 23rd HE Open Event February 6th Boston College in Action February 11th Spalding College in Action February 17th - 21st Half term for learners March 3rd - 7th Careers week March 4th & 5th Parents’ evenings April 4th End of Spring term April 22nd Summer term starts May 5th Bank Holiday May 26th Bank Holiday June 10th Spalding Open Event (Information) June 12th Boston Open Evening (Information) June 26th Summer term ends Note Any learner taking holidays outside of holiday periods will be considered absent from the course. Learners receiving support from the College Bursary Fund need to be aware that they will not be paid for holiday periods taken outside the academic breaks.

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Section 4

REQUIRED PURCHASES You will be informed by your subject lecturers and subject booklets at the beginning of your course for any required purchases. In cases of financial hardship you should refer to your tutor and/or Learner Services counsellors.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

If you have financial difficulties you can apply for help from the College Bursary Fund, 19+ Learner Support Fund or 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund. This may help to meet the costs of: 1 Travel 2 Books and equipment (16-18, 19+ only) 3 Food (16-18, 19+ only) 4 Specialist clothing required for your course (16-18, 19+ only) 5 Childcare costs whilst at College (19+ and 24+ only) 6 Exams/tuition costs (19+ only) Some learners aged 16-18 are guaranteed help from the Bursary Fund – this includes:

learners living in care

recent care leavers

learners receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right

learners receiving Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment in their own right.

For further details please check with Learner Services staff.

Childcare If you are under 20, you may qualify for Care to Learn payments for childcare costs. Please go to Learner Services for more information, or contact Care to Learn on 0845 600 7979 or visit the website at www.gov.uk/caretolearn

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Section 5

SUPPORT SERVICES The College Mission Statement The College Mission Statement describes the type of College we provide for all our learners and staff.

‘to be a brilliant college that transforms people’s lives and makes an

outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of

Lincolnshire’.

All learners at the College attend voluntarily so there is not a set of ‘College Rules’. We do however have a range of policies which describe the standards we expect and what we offer in return. To access all the learner related policies and procedures please look on Moodle, or ask your Personal Tutor for details.

Section 6

POLICIES

At the College we have a range of policies detailing what the College will offer you and how we ensure high standards are maintained. To access the policies click on the links below. If this is not possible please ask your Tutor to provide you with a copy. Admissions Assessment and Examinations Assessment Malpractice Bullying and Harassment Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Car Parking for Residential Learners Compliments & Complaints Procedure Computer Services Unit: Code of Conduct and Practice and Equality Impact Assessment Coursework / Self Study Drugs and Alcohol Financial Support for Learners Functional Skills Hall of Residence Disciplinary / Sanctions Higher Education Admissions Induction Code of Practice Information, Guidance and Support International Student Late Enrolment Learner Attendance Learner Disciplinary Policy and Procedure for Further Education Learners Mobile Electronic Equipment Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

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Safeguarding Learners Skills for Life and Learning Support Tutorial – Full Time Learners – Appendix 1 Weapons and Search Work Experience Equality and Diversity – see our page on Moodle Examination Policy Students Copy Important Exams Information for Candidates Access arrangements – General Access arrangements – International Students Examination Clashes Conduct of Exams Internal Appeals Procedure – Students Copy Appeals Procedure – Externally Marked Exams

ATTENDANCE

You are required to attend all classes regularly and to be punctual. Your attendance will be carefully monitored and your tutor informed of any absences. If your attendance is unsatisfactory you might be given a report card which will have to be signed by your lecturer for each class you attend. If your attendance or effort fails to improve you would be placed on report to the Senior Tutor or Programme Leader who might eventually recommend termination of your course.

Attendance Monitoring

We want you to be successful on your course and to achieve your qualifications. It is therefore important that you attend all classes as good attendance is the key to being successful. The Attendance Monitor will work with you and your Tutors to promote good attendance. What will they do?

offer support if you are having problems which affect your attendance

refer you to Learner Services who can help with a range of personal problems and barriers to learning and attendance

refer you to your Tutor who will discuss your attendance and take action where appropriate

What can you do?

Avoid unnecessary absences, for example, by making appointments outside College hours

Inform the Attendance Monitor if you are going to be absent for any reason

Telephone (01205) 365701, option 2, or e-mail absent@boston.ac.uk, or text “BCABSENT” to 88020. Texts are charged at standard network rate. This information is also on the back of your ID badge

Please remember to give your name, ID number and reason for absence

The Attendance Monitor is: Gail Bevan

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CODES OF PRACTICE You are expected to return any text books issued to you at the end of your course or if you withdraw. Please refer to individual subject or section booklets for specialist area codes such as computing, laboratory safety and darkroom procedures.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Boston College places a high priority on the safety and wellbeing of our learners. We are

committed to creating and maintaining a friendly, welcoming and safe working environment

for all young people and vulnerable adults, whether learning is taking place on or off College

premises. We have a duty to safeguard all learners, and we will respond immediately if

there is a concern that a learner might be the victim of bullying, harassment, abuse or

neglect. All staff are trained in safeguarding and there is a designated specialist Safeguarding Team to help with any concerns you might have about your own or someone else’s safety. If you need to contact the Safeguarding Team please go to:-

Main reception

Learner Services

The ‘Stay Safe’ button on Moodle

E-mail staysafe@boston.ac.uk If you need to contact someone out of College hours about safeguarding contact:-

Children’s Social Care on 01522 782333

In an emergency situation dial 999 and call the police An important part of safeguarding is making sure only authorised people are on our College premises. Please help us with this by carrying your ID badge at all times and showing it if asked by a member of College staff.

At Boston College we respect everyone within the College community. We also emphasise

respect for personal property and for the facilities of the College. We therefore, expect

learners to work with us to create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued

and can work to achieve their full potential.

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Boston College

Skirbeck Road

Boston

Lincs PE21 6JF

Telephone: 01205 365701