College Charter & Disability Statement
College Charter
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The College Charter is a statement of the services the College sets out to provide for its students and for the community of which it is a part. It aims to conform to the principles set out in the Government’s "Charter For Further Education", and gives details of the ways in which the College strives to implement that Charter.
1.2 Full details of the courses offered by the College, and of the arrangements for monitoring, assessing and recording progress, as well as further information on College policies and procedure with regard to such matters as Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety, are given in other documents available from the College. The information that follows is meant to be neither exclusive nor exhaustive, but is intended to give an outline of what a student who enrols at the College can expect. It thus provides information that will be useful to prospective and current students, their parents, local employers and other interested members of the community. The details given in general apply to the students aged 16-19 who make up the bulk of the College’s population; some of these (e.g. the arrangements for Parents` Consultation Evenings) may not apply to post-19 students.
1.3 The College was last inspected by the Further Education Funding Council in March 1999. Copies of the Inspection Report, published in June 1999, are available from the College Secretary.
2.0 The College’s Mission Statement
2.1 Our mission is to encourage and enable Sussex learners to achieve the highest standards for participation and attainment through high quality education and training which puts the learner first. We will develop and sustain coherent and effective Mid Sussex partnerships that meet the needs of individuals, communities and the economy.
3.0 Courses
3.1 The College currently provides a wide range of courses leading to qualifications at GCSE, GCE A & AS Level, AVCE, GNVQ (Foundation and Intermediate Levels), Pitmans and Access to Higher Education courses for adults, as well as a range of other certificated and non-examined courses. Details of all these courses are given in the current College Prospectus and the Mid Sussex Adult Learning Partnership brochure, as well as in more detailed course leaflets, which may be obtained from the College.
3.2 Further information can also be obtained by attending one of the College’s Open Evenings, held during the Autumn Term; visits can also be arranged at other times, by appointment.
4.0 Applying for a place at College
4.1 Full details of how to apply for a place on a course at College, and the entry qualifications required for each course, are to be found in the current Prospectus.
4.2 Students who apply to the College from one of the local 11-16 Schools (Chailey, Downlands, Oakmeeds, Oathall and Warden Park) will normally be asked by their school to hand in their Application Form to the school’s Liaison Tutor by the end of the Autumn term. Students who apply directly to the College (e.g. from other schools) can expect to have their application acknowledged within 5 working days of its being received at College.
4.3 All students who apply will be invited for an interview, either at College, or, if they attend one of the local 11-16 Schools, at their school. The purpose of this interview is to negotiate, if possible, an appropriate course on which the student may expect to enrol.
4.4 The College will then confirm that a place has been reserved; a place on the course that has been negotiated may be subject to the fulfilment of any specified entrance requirements. It may be possible for an alternative course to be negotiated, at a later stage, if appropriate. Students will also be invited to attend an Introductory Day, held in July.
5.0 Enrolment
5.1 Enrolment for all courses normally takes place at the beginning of September, following the publication of GCSE results. At that time new students will have an interview with their Personal Tutor in the light of their results or their own change of preference. The Personal Tutor will normally be responsible for their guidance and support for the remainder of their course at College.
5.2 Once their timetables have been finalized, all new students will sign, normally within 3 weeks of enrolment, a Learning Agreement, giving details of their course and of any support they have received or expect to receive.
6.0 Change of Course
6.1 Students who feel unsuited to a course should discuss this with their Subject Tutors(s) and with their Personal Tutor. If they want to change to another course they should discuss this with the Subject Tutors(s) of that course. The intensive nature of AS courses normally means that course changes are not possible after the end of September. Any course change must be confirmed with the student’s Curriculum Leader before it can take place.
7.0 Monitoring, Assessing and Recording Progress
7.1 All students can expect to have assignments set regularly, marked and assessed thoroughly, and, provided the work has been submitted by the deadline set by the teacher, returned promptly, normally within 10 working days of this deadline. (This may not apply in the case of major projects or coursework submitted for examination, external assessment or moderation.) Students can expect to receive written formative feedback on a minimum of four occasions for a subject each term each term, and summative feedback on a minimum of two occasions.
7.2 Students can expect to receive written Reviews of their progress. Reviews are normally joint statements based on individual consultations between staff and students, and are intended to record achievements, targets and actions planned.
7.3 The College regards the education of its sixth-form (Year 12 and Year 13) students to be a three-way partnership between the College, the student and their parents/guardians. Consultation Evenings are held for parents and the schedule for Reviews and for parents’ Consultation Evenings is published in September and sent to parents.
7.4 Parents are encouraged to contact the College at any time during normal College hours if they are concerned about any aspect of their son/daughter’s progress; if they do so, they can expect to receive an initial response normally within 24 hours. Staff will also contact parents if they have concerns they consider appropriate to communicate to them.
8.0 Careers Advice
8.1 During their time at College all students receive a programme of Careers lessons tailored to fit in with their timetables. Individual appointments, with College and external Careers advisers, are arranged as appropriate, and students also receive invitations to attend outside events such as Careers and Higher Education conferences. Work experience/shadowing can also be organised for students who request it or for whom it is considered appropriate.
9.0 Extra-curricular Activities
9.1 All students can take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sport, drama, music and social events, organised by staff and by students themselves: details of these are given in the Prospectus and in Student Bulletins.
10.0 Religious Education and Daily Worship
10.1 In accordance with the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act, the College provides Religious Education for those who wish to receive it.
10.2 Every College day may include a voluntary act of worship, normally conducted by students. Attendance at all acts of worship in College is voluntary.
11.0 Relations with Employers
11.1 Employers requesting references for current and former students can normally expect to have their requests dealt with within 5 working days during term-time, and as quickly as is possible during holidays.
11.2 Employers who are asked to receive students on Work Experience can expect that College staff will provide clear guidelines about what the student is expected to achieve, to receive regular enquiries and/or visits as appropriate from staff during the course of the placement, and a request for a report on the student’s performance at the end of it.
12.0 Consultation with Students and Parents
12.1 The College carries out surveys of students` opinions on the services it provides, and publishes the results of these surveys within College.
12.2 Students may also make their views heard through College Council, which is made up of representatives of each Tutor Group. Both of the two Joint Presidents of the Student Executive, membership of which is drawn from the Council, serve as members of the College Corporation.
12.3 Parents can raise issues relating to College policy, either through their elected Parent members of the Corporation, or directly to the Principal.
12.4 Full details of the membership of the College Corporation (including the elected Parent members) are available from the College or on the web site.
13.0 Freedom of Speech
13.1 The College is committed to ensuring freedom of speech, within the limits laid down by the law, for all its students, staff and visitors.
14.0 Equal Opportunities
14.1 Haywards Heath College is committed to achieving equality of educational opportunity for all students, irrespective of gender; marital status; age; colour; race; nationality or ethnic or national origins; disability; sexual orientation; class; background; religion; politics; or trade union membership. The College Equal Opportunities Committee, on which both staff and students can be represented, monitors the application of this policy, a full statement of which can be obtained from the College.
15.0 Health and Safety
15.1 The College is committed to providing a safe environment for all its students and employees, as well as for visitors to the College. A copy of the full Health and Safety Policy may be obtained from the College Secretary.
16.0 Student Welfare
16.1 Students experiencing problems, with their work or other matters, will normally wish to speak to their Personal; the College also has a Welfare Officer who may be consulted in confidence. Both Personal Tutors and the Welfare Officer have names, addresses and telephone numbers of organisations whose help may be sought in appropriate cases. Details are also published in the Student Diary.
17.0 Fees, Grants and Transport
17.1 The College does not charge Tuition fees for students, aged 19 or under, enrolled on full-time courses, and whose attendance and progress are of a satisfactory standard. Details of fees for older, and for part-time students, may be obtained from the College.
17.2 Details of Government policies and procedures with regard to maintenance grants and finance for transport are available from the College.
18.0 Rules, Regulations and Expectations
18.1 The general expectation that the College has of its students in terms of behaviour is that they will treat all other College members, both staff and fellow-students, with consideration and politeness.
18.2 Under the terms of the Policy on Harassment, students are expected to contribute to an environment free from harassment. Activities should not disrupt the learning of other students and language should be inoffensive.
18.3 Students are also expected to show care for the College environment, and to refrain from behaviour that could bring the College into disrepute.
18.4 The College also expects all students to maintain regular and punctual attendance, and to make a full commitment to meeting the demands of their programme, including meeting deadlines set for assignments.
18.5 Rules for behaviour applying to specific areas of the College, such as laboratories, workshops etc. are published by the relevant College departments; students are also expected to observe rules applying to both public and College examinations, as well as to functions such as College balls.
18.6 Smoking is not allowed on the College premises, except in the designated Smoking Area. Students are not allowed to bring alcohol or drugs into College or to any College function or event. Students must not consume alcohol or drugs at any time or place, on or off the campus, during their College day.
18.7 Parking is only permitted in the designated area, and only by students who display a current College parking permit. Students who wish to obtain a parking permit should apply to the Transport Officer.
18.8 Details of the College’s policies with regard to student attendance, work expectations, conduct, as well as its sanctions policy and procedures, are to be found in the Student Diary.
18.9 Failure to comply with any of the College’s regulations or expectations may result in the sanctions policy being implemented by the College: this could, as a last resort, lead to a student being asked to withdraw from College.
19.0 Appeals and Complaints Procedures
19.1 Students who are unhappy with any aspect of the assessment of coursework should express their concerns the Curriculum Leader responsible for the subject. Students on NVQ courses should take their complaints to the College’s internal verifier, Rose Dean, for resolution of the problem.
19.2 Public Examination Boards have their own appeals procedures, details of which can be obtained from the College’s Examinations Officer.
19.3 If something goes wrong at College, students are encouraged to make an informal approach to the person involved or to the leader/manager of the area of service that is causing concern. Alternatively they can talk informally to their Personal Tutor, Curriculum Leader or any member of staff they know well. If these first steps cannot resolve the problem, a formal complaint can be made. Complete one of the College complaint forms, obtainable from Reception or the Student Welfare Office, and return it, sealed in the envelope provided, to the Principal’s Personal Assistant (Debbie Carruthers).
19.4 Students and their parents have the right to make a formal complaint; this should be addressed in the first instance to the Principal. The College makes every effort to ensure that complaints are investigated and dealt with thoroughly, fairly and promptly, giving an initial response to any complaint within ten working days. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction, they may appeal to the Corporation. Details of this procedure are available from the College. If you are still unhappy with the way the College has dealt with your complaint you have recourse to the Sussex Learning and Skills Council.
20.0 Publication of Examination Results and Student Destinations
20.1 The College will supply details of all Public Examination results obtained by its students, as well as known destinations, e.g. Higher Education, employment, to all interested parties; copies may be obtained from the College.
Disability Statement
1.0 Overall Policy
1.1 This College is committed to ensuring that disabled people, including those with learning difficulties, are treated fairly. All reasonable adjustments to provision will be made to ensure that disabled students and other disabled people are not substantially disadvantaged.
2.0 Physical Access
2.1 The College is committed to improving physical access to all its facilities, as resources permit. Access to most areas of the College for wheelchair users is now available.
3.0 Contact Names
3.1 The College’s Additional Support Co-ordinator is Bob Shemilt. He is responsible for the support of students who have leaning difficulties or disabilities as well as assisting with students who experience educational difficulty during their course at College.
3.2 The Welfare Officer is . She offers assistance to all students who require practical or emotional support, or information about a wide range of services and external agencies.
3.3 The Head of Careers is Trisha Mumford. If appropriate, the Careers Department may refer to West Sussex Careers in order to provide specialist help for students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties.
4.0 Admission Arrangements
4.1 The College Prospectus, published annually, outlines our procedures for admitting students, including those with disabilities and/or learning difficulties.
4.2 The College Application Form gives students and/or their parents the opportunity to highlight any special educational needs or disability students may have. In the case of students who apply to us while still at school, the school is asked to inform us of any special consideration the College should make when assessing the application and subsequently providing for the student (including special consideration to be sought from Examination Boards.)
4.3 All students normally receive a Pre-admission interview following application, and an Enrolment interview with their Personal Tutor before they begin their course. On both occasions (at which parents may be present) students are given the opportunity to discuss any reasonable adjustments to provision that they require. A member of the Additional Support Team will interview any student who has indicated a special educational need or disability on the application form at this time.
4.4 Following interviews, staff conducting them are asked to refer any new ‘reasonable adjustments’, of which they have become aware, to the Additional Support Co-ordinator, who will arrange for appropriate follow-up to be made, including an initial meeting with a member of the Learning Support team. The Additional Support Co-ordinator will also inform other staff, as appropriate, of students’ special educational needs or disability.
5.0 Educational Facilities and Support.
5.1 Curriculum support for students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties is normally provided in the following ways: initial assessment will be followed by individual Learning Support sessions or in-class support from Learning Support Assistants and advice to subject teaching staff as appropriate.
5.2 The College is developing a bank of special equipment in order to help meet the needs of disabled students, for example, lap tops for loan to dyslexic students, word processors with a facility to produce large print or Braille for partially sighted and blind students and radio microphone aids for deaf students.
5.3 The College has highly experienced staff with general teaching qualifications, as well as staff with specialist qualifications and experience. It endeavours to recruit additional specialist teaching staff and Learning Support Assistants where necessary.
5.4 The College is committed to increasing its staff’s awareness of needs of students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties, and their ability to meet those needs. The College’s Equal Opportunities Committee, representing staff and students, sets targets for improvement, and monitors and reports to the College’s Senior Management Team on progress in this area. Staff are encouraged to see provision for all individual students’ needs as part of good practice in teaching generally.
5.5 The College is prepared to enlist the support of specialist agencies, such as Educational Psychologists and Counsellors, and will arrange for testing and/or additional support for students, where this is judged to be appropriate.
6.0 Complaints and Appeals Procedures.
6.1 The College’s policy and procedures relating to complaints and appeals, which apply to all students, are described in the College Charter.
6.2 If a disabled student requested special arrangements to be made, such as the provision of a sign-language interpreter, in order, for example to present his/her case at an appeal meeting or interview, the College would make all reasonable efforts to meet such a request.
6.3 Students and/or their parents who wish to complain about the College’s Disability Statement, on the grounds, for instance, that it did not appear to cover the circumstances of their individual case, should make their complaint known to the Principal.
7.0 Examination Arrangements.
7.1 The College’s Psychological Assessment Co-ordinator is responsible for liaising with the Examinations Officer in order to ensure that students requiring special arrangements, for both internal and external examinations, are properly supported and catered for: this has included, in the past, the provision of enlarged texts for sight-impaired students; special seating arrangements, such as separate rooms, and/or extra time for examinations; and special equipment, for example, word processors, in order to meet the needs of such students. The College undertakes, when appropriate cases are brought to its attention, to liaise with external examining bodies so that special arrangements can be made.
8.0 Other Educational Support.
8.1 All students are allocated to a Personal Tutor, whose responsibility is to provide educational guidance and counselling to all the students in his/her care; a Curriculum Leader supports the work of each of the Personal Tutors.
8.2 The overall responsibility for supervising the College’s Tutorial and pastoral work belongs to the Learner Support & Guidance Leader. The College’s counselling and guidance systems are described in the Student Diary (which also includes a list of outside agencies to which students and/or their parents may turn for assistance), and in the College Charter.
8.3 The College Welfare Officer offers support of a non-educational kind to all students. She liaises with outside agencies as appropriate, and can provide advice, for example, on sources of financial assistance. She is also responsible for informing staff, in confidence, about students’ medical conditions that may affect their performance in class. Together with the Equal Opportunities Co-ordinator (Elizabeth Draper) and the Learner Support & Guidance Leader (Yvonne Sen), she administers the Student Hardship Fund. She also assists the teacher in charge of Health Education in providing students with information and advice on health-related matters. In common with a number of other members of staff, she is trained to provide First Aid.
8.4 At present, all members of the College’s Careers Team provide careers advice to all students, and liaise, as appropriate, with West Sussex Careers.
8.5 If students have any special dietary needs, the College’s Catering Supervisor (Fran Smythe) will do her best to meet their needs, and has always been willing to attempt to cater to students’ requests and particular requirements.
9.0 Physical Accommodation and Access.
9.1 Wheelchair access is now available to all parts of the main building by means of a lift and ramps. Other parts of the campus are accessible via ramps.
9.2 Specially designed lavatories for the disabled are also available in four areas of the building. The College has three designated car parking spaces for the disabled, in convenient locations.
9.3 Plans that show the precise location of access points for wheelchair users are available to all students, and visitors to the College.
10.0 Reviews and Evaluation
10.1 Haywards Heath College’s first Disability Statement was published in December 1996. It has been revised following consultation with staff and students, as well as with outside agencies and organisations.
10.2 The College intends to continue to seek to improve its Disability Statement, and would be glad to receive any comments about either its content or its format; anyone wishing to make any such comments or suggestions about how it could be improved, should contact, in the first instance, the College Secretary.
