Early College Placements – Filton College
- These opportunities are for year 11 students.
- Under special circumstances year 10 students may be considered.
- All opportunities are infill into 16-18 provision. Only 2 ECP students per group are permitted
- Closing date for applicants is Friday 28 May 2010
What can you study?
We offer a range of courses for young people. There are three main paths of study you can choose from:
- Vocational courses at Entry Level 3 or Level 1. Under the new rules for Foundation Learning, students must take a Personal Development qualification and the three functional skills in English, Maths and ICT as well as the vocational qualifications. The programme can be supplemented with additional activities to make up to 4 days a week.
- Where a student has the ability, they may join a level 2 vocational course, where they will take 2 functional skills.
- GCSE level 2 programme. This is a one year course where the students will study 5 GCSEs, of which English and Mathematics are compulsory and the remaining 3 will be discussed at interview. The students will also study ICT functional skills, Certificate of Employment Skills and participate in the tutorial programme. Students will need to achieve a level 1 score in their initial assessment in Literacy and Numeracy in order to be considered for the course.
- IN GEAR - a course aimed at students who, in ordewr to progress after year 11, need to achieve at least level 1 foundation skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT. They will also study personal developemnt, vocational units and sports, in order to progress after year 11. The course is 3 and a half days Mon - Wednesday 9.30 - 3.30 with half an hour for lunch, and Thursday 9.30 - 1.00.
So what vocational areas are available?
The following programmes are available to ECP learners:
LEVEL 1
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How do we support the students?
Coming to Filton College is just like going to school but in a College environment. Students will get all of the support they would receive in school including:
- Individual tutorials
- Group tutorials?
- Parents evenings
- Reports to the school and parents 3 times a year.
- Enrichment opportunities
- Access to careers guidance, counselling and welfare
- Ongoing support from Connexions staff
So what is the experience?
The student will study at Filton College for up to four days a week. They will be studying alongside post-16 students and will be fully integrated into the College.
Early College Placement learners can access all of the College’s facilities and resources.
As part of your programme you will gain from a comprehensive enrichment programme, which could include sport, drama, work experience, trips, ICT and much, much more.
If sport is your passion, you may wish to apply to join the Bristol Academy of Sport. The Bristol Academy of Sport is an initiative developed at Filton College in response to various demands from students wanting to study and play sport at the same time.
It enables students to pursue their sporting interests, whilst obtaining suitable academic qualifications from our wide range of further education qualifications. You could participate in golf, netball, basketball, table tennis, cricket and taekwando. (Footbal, Rugby and American football are not available to ECP students because of thier age.)
Top of pageHow to Apply
Download an Early College Placement application form.
Download an Early College Placement Student Profile.
Download a Funding Letter.
Download the materials Fees.
Students will not be considered until all 3 of these items have been received.
All referrals must go to the Filton College 14-16 Office on either
0117 909 2374, or email either:
rusty.ansell@filton.ac.uk
isobel.tancock@filton.ac.uk
What happens next?
- After an application has been received from the school, the student will be invited into Filton College with parent/carer and Connexions worker.
- After the interview and before joining Filton College the student will be invited into a Filton Factor taster Day to assess their suitability for the course.
- The student will also have an assessment with someone from the learning support team to see if they have any special learning needs.
- At the beginning of the course the student will have a comprehensive induction programme and will be supported by our Early College Placement Officer. They will also have a course tutor who will help and support them.
- Throughout the course, reports will be sent to parents/carers and the school. The student and their family will be invited in twice a year to meet with the tutor and discuss their progress.
Information for Parents
It may be a daunting experience considering sending your child to College early, however our team of professionals along with your school are here to help and support you. We consider mainly year 11 learners, but some year 10 candidates may be considered.
Your child’s school and Connexions Personal Advisor will complete their application to Filton College.
Once the paperwork is completed and received by us, including the funding proforma, you and your child will be invited into the College to ascertain suitability. We will offer advice and pre-course guidance along with an interview with a course specific tutor.
Young people need to be considered for an Early College Placement through their School Student Support Group or Pastoral Support Process. If schools inform the college of the meeting date in advance a member of college personnel can then attend.
You will be kept up-to-date with your child’s progress and you will receive termly reports and opportunities to meet with College staff twice a year to discuss your child’s progress.
Information for Schools and Advisors
Year 11 students and some year 10, can be admitted to courses if this is deemed appropriate by the school/LEA and if, in the judgement of the College, the student would benefit from the learning opportunity and can meet College requirements.
- The provider (i.e. school or LEA that holds the funding for the student) must agree that a college placement could be suitable. If no such agreement has been arranged, parents could be liable for all tuition fees.
- The student is guided by school staff / Connexions Personal Advisor to apply for an appropriate course from the College prospectus (the College’s career advisor could be consulted). Parents and students should be aware that all costs as stated in the prospectus apply to 16-18 year olds only.
- The online application form is to be completed by the student. A student/profile is completed by the school. These are sent along with a funding letter direct to Filton College’s 14-16 office. An interview cannot be arranged until all three of these documents have been received.
- An interview is arranged with the appropriate course tutor and the Early College placement officer.
- If the student is successful at this early stage they must attend a Filton Factor day during which they will do a literacy & numeracy assessment and a diagnostic assessment to identify any learning needs.
- Students will be notified, after this, if they have been successful or not.
College’s expectations on the course
College requirements for Early College Placement students are the same as post 16 i.e.:
- Attend all classes on the timetable on time including any work experience and activities
- Complete all work set to the best of their ability
- Behave in a normal, adult manner with everyone at College, in line with the College Student Agreement.
Fees
The fees per learner are £3500 per 6 term year (2010-2011) and are invoiced to the school at the beginning of the year. There may be material fees incurred as part of the course and these are charged as an extra. Transport and lunch arrangements are not the responsibility of the college and need to be organised by the school if appropriate.
If a young person withdraws half way through a term, the school will be charged the whole term and refunded any subsequent terms.
The fees we charge do not include additional support for students with learning needs. If a student has an assessment of educational need or requires support with behaviour, basic skills or a disability, additional charges will need to be agreed to cover such costs.
Students have to pay their own cost for text books, stationery, educational visits, some materials, etc in addition to home to college transport. The care and maintenance of any equipment issued is the responsibility of the young person. If a young person turns up without any specified equipment, they will not be allowed to join the course. If the referring school asks parents to pay for specified equipment, materials, the college will not broker this.
Attendance Reports
Reports will be sent out twice a year to the person in school who referred the student and to parents/carers; a copy is kept by the early college placement officer in the student’s file. Schools will be emailed attendance reports fortnightly, two weeks in arrears. All absences (including long-term absences) are followed up by letter or a telephone call.
Download
Click on the link below to download the guidance for schools to identify an early college placement student