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School Leavers > Introduction to College

Introduction to College: Prepare and Change

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Courses Code
QD1STSTEP
Study method
Part Time
Location(s)
Cannock Tamworth
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  • Is this course for you?

    If you are a school leaver between the ages of 16-18 who is unsure of your next steps and are anxious or worried about starting college, then Introduction to College could be the perfect course for you whilst studying with us at South Staffordshire College.

    Our dedicated tutors will help you gain the confidence and skills you need to succeed in whatever your chosen path may be. We will help you develop your teambuilding, digital and employability skills through a wide range of fun and interactive lessons over 4 days a week. You will participate in units such as volunteering, learning a new skill, and physical activity, which will help contribute to you completing your Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award which is a mandatory element of the Introduction to College course.

    As part of Introduction to College, we will also support you immensely with progression as our biggest goal is to see you thrive in your next steps after spending the year with us.

    “A great environment, supported by great staff. A good opportunity to make new friends, find your place, and pick up some skills along the way.”
    (Abraham Goodwin-Meads, Introduction to College Student at Tamworth College, 2022-2023)

    “I have learned lots to be honest, mainly writing CV’s as I wasn’t that confident in doing them before. On a scale of 1-10, I would have scored myself 4 in confidence, but now I would score myself around a 7 since doing the course. I have found the whole course enjoyable and feel that the teamwork especially will help me in future.”
    (Introduction to College Student at Tamworth College, 2021-2022)

  • Required qualifications

    You will need to be working towards your GCSE maths and English and have previously achieved grade 1-2’s in these subjects. We do not accept students that have passed their GCSE English, maths or both.

  • What skills will I develop?

    Introduction to College has been designed to fully support you in gaining the essential skills you need for progressing to your dream course, job or apprenticeship. Whatever that may be, we will provide you with all the tools you need to succeed.

    Throughout your time with us you will gain skills such as:

    • Listening
    • Presenting
    • Problem Solving
    • Creativity
    • Staying Positive
    • Aiming High
    • Leadership
    • Teamwork
    • Confidence

  • Careers

    After completing Introduction to College, there are multiple opportunities available to you. If you are 18, you could go into full-time employment after completing your employability unit and take those skills into a workplace. If you are still required to be in education, you could then move onto another curriculum course of your choice or an apprenticeship (based on your GCSE’s).

  • Work experience

    As per college policy, all students must take part in 30 hours of work experience throughout the year. Where possible, this will be in a sector you have an interest in or can be if you already have a part-time job or volunteer. Students are expected to find and source their own work placements, but tutors can facilitate and help where necessary.

  • English and maths

    All students will attend mandatory GCSE English and maths classes with dedicated, professional teachers to receive the best education to improve your previous grade. You will follow the GCSE curriculum as well as studying in-house lessons of contextualised maths and English with your main tutors who will relate the subjects to modern life to help with understanding (hence why we don’t accept students who have passed GCSE English and maths as they would also have to do this as part of the course).

  • Other important information

    As part of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, students will be required to leave campus to complete units such as volunteering, learning a new skill, and physical activity. All these units are certificated, but to complete the whole award, students will participate in a 2-day (6 hours each day) expedition that involves elements of walking, cooking and map reading.

  • Is this course for you?

    If you are a school leaver between the ages of 16-18 who is unsure of your next steps and are anxious or worried about starting college, then Introduction to College could be the perfect course for you whilst studying with us at South Staffordshire College.

    Our dedicated tutors will help you gain the confidence and skills you need to succeed in whatever your chosen path may be. We will help you develop your teambuilding, digital and employability skills through a wide range of fun and interactive lessons over 4 days a week. You will participate in units such as volunteering, learning a new skill, and physical activity, which will help contribute to you completing your Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award which is a mandatory element of the Introduction to College course.

    As part of Introduction to College, we will also support you immensely with progression as our biggest goal is to see you thrive in your next steps after spending the year with us.

    “A great environment, supported by great staff. A good opportunity to make new friends, find your place, and pick up some skills along the way.”
    (Abraham Goodwin-Meads, Introduction to College Student at Tamworth College, 2022-2023)

    “I have learned lots to be honest, mainly writing CV’s as I wasn’t that confident in doing them before. On a scale of 1-10, I would have scored myself 4 in confidence, but now I would score myself around a 7 since doing the course. I have found the whole course enjoyable and feel that the teamwork especially will help me in future.”
    (Introduction to College Student at Tamworth College, 2021-2022)

  • Required qualifications

    You will need to be working towards your GCSE maths and English and have previously achieved grade 1-2’s in these subjects. We do not accept students that have passed their GCSE English, maths or both.

  • What skills will I develop?

    Introduction to College has been designed to fully support you in gaining the essential skills you need for progressing to your dream course, job or apprenticeship. Whatever that may be, we will provide you with all the tools you need to succeed.

    Throughout your time with us you will gain skills such as:

    • Listening
    • Presenting
    • Problem Solving
    • Creativity
    • Staying Positive
    • Aiming High
    • Leadership
    • Teamwork
    • Confidence

  • Careers

    After completing Introduction to College, there are multiple opportunities available to you. If you are 18, you could go into full-time employment after completing your employability unit and take those skills into a workplace. If you are still required to be in education, you could then move onto another curriculum course of your choice or an apprenticeship (based on your GCSE’s).

  • Work experience

    As per college policy, all students must take part in 30 hours of work experience throughout the year. Where possible, this will be in a sector you have an interest in or can be if you already have a part-time job or volunteer. Students are expected to find and source their own work placements, but tutors can facilitate and help where necessary.

  • English and maths

    All students will attend mandatory GCSE English and maths classes with dedicated, professional teachers to receive the best education to improve your previous grade. You will follow the GCSE curriculum as well as studying in-house lessons of contextualised maths and English with your main tutors who will relate the subjects to modern life to help with understanding (hence why we don’t accept students who have passed GCSE English and maths as they would also have to do this as part of the course).

  • Other important information

    As part of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, students will be required to leave campus to complete units such as volunteering, learning a new skill, and physical activity. All these units are certificated, but to complete the whole award, students will participate in a 2-day (6 hours each day) expedition that involves elements of walking, cooking and map reading.

Testimonials

Photo of Lee Hollyhead shaking hands with Claire Boliver at Student Awards

“It’s a great introduction course to help give you a taste of what college is like.” Lee has now progressed onto our Level 2 Computing with Software Engineering course at Tamworth College!

Lee Hollyhead

Former Introduction to College Student at Tamworth

Apply for a course

  • Introduction to College: Prepare and Change

    Cannock College

    Start Date: Start Any Time

    Code: QCD1STSTEP

    Part Time: 28 Weeks

    Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week

    Apply
  • Introduction to College: Prepare and change

    Tamworth College

    Start Date: Start Any Time

    Code: QTD1STSTEP

    Part Time: 28 Weeks

    Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week

    Apply
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