REASSURANCE FROM COLLEGE AMID UNCERTAINTY OVER GCSE RESULTS

The largest local provider of post-16 education has voiced its concern over the level of uncertainty on GCSE results and has restated its offer of a guaranteed place for all those young people who have made an application, or still wish to join the college at the start of the academic year.

In line with government guidelines, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) will accept teacher-assessed grades for all applicants if these are higher than the moderated GCSE results they receive this week, and will do all it can to support young people to get them on to the best course for them at the right level.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “We believe that young people have experienced enough stress and anxiety over the last few months and we are keen to ensure that the GCSE results process does not add to this. We are extremely concerned about the national levels of uncertainty on grade moderation and how the appeals system might work.

“My message to all local young people awaiting their results is please do not worry. You are not to blame for the chaos surrounding results this year. You have already coped with so much during the coronavirus pandemic. NWSLC is happy to guarantee a post-16 college place, regardless of your results, and we will work with you to make your transition into further education as easy and enjoyable as possible.

“We wish everybody well for results day on Thursday and look forward to welcoming you to our college community and to supporting you in your next steps, whether you want to move on to higher levels of study in college or at university, or into an apprenticeship”.

 NWSLC will be working closely with local secondary schools to support young people as they receive their results, helping them to appeal, as necessary. The college has increased its staffing capacity for Thursday and Friday this week to make the maximum level of support available.

NWSLC is launching online enrolment for all its students for the first time, helping to reduce the numbers visiting its campuses, and maintaining social distancing. The college is due to start its new online enrolment process this week for students joining full-time study programmes as well as for those returning to college. NWSLC has spent the summer developing its website to make it easier for students to accept their college places and get started on the enrolment process.

Students who do not have access to the internet at home will be able to visit college campuses to use computers and enrol within a socially distanced environment.

Marion Plant added, “The enrolment process is extremely important to us and we want to make this as easy for our students as possible, bearing in mind that many of them will have been out of formal education for six months when they join us next month. We are keen to reignite their passion for learning and help them to gain the qualifications they will need to succeed in an increasingly challenging employment arena.”

The college is asking students to confirm that they will be accepting their place by emailing enquiries@nwslc.ac.uk. All applicants who have accepted a place will hear from one of their tutors by phone who will take them through the initial enrolment steps enabling them to complete their enrolment online. Everyone who has applied to the college will receive a call to provide advice and support, and to help them with their next steps.

As part of the enrolment process, students will be able to request additional support with their studies. Once they are enrolled, they can apply for financial support through the college’s Student Bursary Fund.

Induction for college courses will also take place online between 1-3 September 2020. The induction process will include a welcome from the Principal and college tutors, training on how to use Microsoft Teams and other online college systems, and arrangements to keep everyone safe as part of their college experience. There are also plans to stage the college’s very online first Freshers’ Festival to help everyone celebrate their first week at NWSLC.

Anyone who has not yet applied for a college course can still apply online. Advice and guidance teams will be available for anyone who is not sure about their next steps after they have received their GCSE results. You can talk to the team live via the college website or call 0330 058 3000 to speak to an advisor.