College Learners Induction Handbook 2015 16 docx

College Learners

Induction

Handbook

2015/16

course information: 02082664000 main switchboard: 02082008300

Introduction and Welcome

Principal’s address

Welcome to Barnet and Southgate College, one of the largest Colleges in London and a great place to study or develop new skills. This handbook gives you some key information about the College and our support services. Our staff are here to help you to achieve your goals and aspirations, our expectation of you is that you attend regularly, work hard and make the most of your opportunities at College. We take the views of our learners very seriously so please do feedback to us on what we are doing well, and what we could do better. I hope you enjoy your course. David Byrne Principal and Chief Executive Barnet and Southgate College

Term Dates

Autumn Term: 7th September – 18th December 2015

Half Term: 26th October – 30th October 2015

Spring Term: 4th January – 27th March 2016

Half Term: 15th February – 19th February 2016

Summer Term: 13th April – 3rd July 2016

Half Term: 23rd May – 27th May 2016

Respect

Equality & Diversity

Policy Statement

This means we expect our learners to show respect to everyone and never to

bully, discriminate against or harass others. We will not tolerate any racist,

sexist or homophobic behaviour or any disrespectful treatment of people with a

disability or learning difficulty. Breaches of the Equality & Diversity policy

would lead to the college taking disciplinary action.

If you see anybody behaving in a way that contradicts the Equality & Diversity

policy, please tell your tutor or a member of the Learner Services team.

Barnet & Southgate College is committed to achieving equality and diversity

for all of its learners, staff, and the broader community which it serves. We

welcome, celebrate and value the diversity of our learning community and

seek to promote an inclusive learning and working environment where

everyone can achieve to their full potential. We have a zero tolerance of

discrimination, harassment and bullying of any kind.

Respect – Code of Conduct

A reminder of a few College rules…

Your College ID badge must be worn at all times and be shown if requested by a member of staff.

You are expected to attend all your classes and to be on time

You should not wear anything that covers your head or face apart from approved safety equipment or for religious reasons.

You should follow instructions for completing assignments and exams without cheating, copying or plagiarising and you should hand in all assignments on time

You should keep mobile phones switched off in all learning areas unless directed otherwise and not to use any facilities on mobile phones, personal stereos or similar equipment to cause trouble or affect another person’s right to privacy.

Unacceptable behaviour includes…

Eating/drinking in classrooms/learning resources centres

Playing loud music from iPods/mobile phones in college buildings

Carrying of any weapons

Bringing drugs or alcohol on to college premises

Spitting

Staff will not tolerate disrespectful or abusive behaviour and will apply the disciplinary procedure when necessary

You can access a full copy of the Code of Conduct via Pro-Portal which is your individual learning plan and you will be asked to tick a box to say that you have read and agree to keep to the rules.

Health, Safety and Security

We want to ensure your health and safety while studying at the College and take the security of you and your belongings very seriously.

Security We need you to help us make Barnet and Southgate College a secure, safe and friendly place for all our students, staff and visitors. Please help us to do this by wearing your student ID Card at all times unless you have been asked to remove it for health and safety reasons. Never lend your card to anyone else or swipe someone else in at the turn-stiles using your ID card. You are responsible for the safekeeping of your own property (money, phones, bags etc.). Never leave your personal belongings unattended

Safeguarding What to do if you are worried that someone is at risk of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect: What does that really mean? It means that you can come to speak to a member of staff about anything that is worrying you:

problems at home

bullying/cyberbullying

a friend with problems

financial help

relationship worries

anything that’s stopping you getting on with your life and studies You can talk to your tutor or any other member of staff, particularly the welfare advisers and safeguarding officers who are trained and here to listen and help. You will find them in the LRC or Student Hub, just ask a member of staff. The information you tell a member of staff is private, we won’t tell anyone else without your permission, unless we find that you or someone else are in danger of being harmed. We will be open and honest with you and endeavour to support you through this. Safeguarding Contact : http://www.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk/safeguarding

Looking after our Environment Please help us to keep our campuses clean and tidy by using the litter bins providing around the College. Please do use the recycle bins where they are provided.

Fire and Emergency Evacuation If the fire alarm sounds, leave the building by the safest route possible and follow the instructions of the Fire Warden. If you are away from your classroom or learning area, do not return to collect any of your possessions. Go to the nearest assembly area outside and do not go back into any of the buildings until you have been told it is safe to do so. Please make sure you know what to do in an emergency and if you have any concerns, please report to a member of staff immediately.

First Aid If at any time you think a First Aider is required, please contact the nearest member of staff or reception.

No Smoking Policy

You must use the permitted areas only. This means that:

Smoking or being in possession of lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes is not permitted in any buildings or vehicles used by Barnet and Southgate College staff, students, customers and visitors. (This includes the use of E cigarettes)

Smoking is not permitted immediately outside the entrances or open windows of the College premises.

The College raises awareness of the dangers associated with exposure to tobacco smoke.

Disciplinary action: any student or visitor disregarding this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

Refectory Opening Days & Times Grahame Park Term Time: Mon – Friday 8.30 – 14.00* Holidays: 10.00 – 14.00* (*Coffee shop open until 15.00) Southgate Term Time: Mon – Thurs 08.30-17.00

Friday 8.30-15.00

Holidays: 10.00 – 14.00

Wood Street Term Time: Mon 08.00 – 16.00

Tues 08.00 – 20.00 Weds 08.00 – 14.00 Thurs 08.00 – 18.00 Friday 08.00 – 15.00

Holidays 10.00 – 14.00 Closed over Christmas

Support Services

Learner Services

Support for your studies, careers & welfare and things that are worrying you

The College offers a broad range of support services such as

Learner Services Advisers who can support you with your course work, iLearn, welfare and health issues

Counsellors for help with emotional issues

Careers Advisers for help with University applications, courses & CVs

Safeguarding & Equality Officers to talk to if you feel at risk or something is worrying you

Here to Help Assistants for help with printing, booking an appointment, finding resources

To book an appointment with any member of the team, a Learner Services Adviser, Counsellor, Careers Adviser, or Safeguarding & Equality Officer, just pop in to your campus Learning Resource Centre and an adviser will be there to make you an appointment.

Alternatively – phone Learner Services on 020 3764 4403

contact us via Social Media

@learnservicebsc https://www.facebook.com/BarnetSouthgate We offer a professional, friendly and confidential service. These services are accredited by Matrix, an external standard that recognises quality in advice and support services.

Staff will help you to find the help you need to succeed!

Learning Support (LS)

Learning Support is available to students who require additional help in order

to be successful on their course. Depending on the individual cases and

funding available, this could include:

• 1:1 support with specialist dyslexia, literacy, language or numeracy (additional classes – 1 hour a week)

• In class support • Exam Access Arrangement • Specialist equipment loan service & specialist software • BSL signer/Communicator Support • Mobility support/personal care support • Small group support You can be referred for learning support as a result of a previous history of

support needs or if you have achieved a GCSE D or below and your tutors

identify specific needs difficulties that require extra help. Our staff will help to

identify your support needs according to your course demands and put in

place an appropriate individual learning programme.

Please contact one member of the Learning Support team as below or

talk to your personal tutor

Southgate Campus: Lisa Woollard, Centre for Supported Learning, B4 Grahame Park Campus: ALS Staff J107 Wood Street: ALS Staff, EF16 or Patricia Gladstone DG12

Customer Services

Financial Assistance

You may be entitled to financial assistance to help you with the costs of

studying at Barnet and Southgate College. The types of assistance available

are 16-18 Bursary, Free College Meals, Travel, Childcare, Grants, Fees and

Hardship. You have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the funding and

you will need to show evidence of your financial circumstances. Payment of

the funds is contingent on good attendance and punctuality. Further

information, including application forms, is available from The Customer

Services Team on each site or you can download the information from the

College’s website or by clicking on this link.

http://www.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk/learner-support-fund

Oyster Cards

Barnet & Southgate Learners can have their application for an oyster card authorised by applying online http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14308.aspx#tkt-tab-panel-3

Or come with your application to the Fees & Payments Office at each campus, where it will be stamped

Any queries over your application – please contact Stephen Cullimore – Customer Services Manager

Tutorials

Personal Tutors

During your time at the college, you will have a Personal Tutor. Your Personal

Tutor is there to look after your interests, provide advice and guidance, and

deal with any issues or problems you have and communicate with your subject

teachers and your parents/guardians if you are under 18. Your Personal Tutor

will also be keeping an eye on your attendance, punctuality and conduct at the

college. Your Personal Tutor will hold regular group and individual tutorials to

check on everyone’s progress.

Tutorial Workshops

As well as your course of study, you will have regular tutorial workshops during

your time at College. These workshops are where you get the chance to learn

about other aspects of life outside studying. They are there to help you grow

and improve not just as a student, but as a person. Sometimes there will be

guest speakers invited to your tutorial, trips and visits, group discussions and

many other activities. There are number of ‘themes’ to tutorial workshops

which change as the year goes on. These ‘themes’ focus on your issues that

matter to you as a young person in today’s world. Your tutorial workshops will

usually fit into these ‘themes’ with activities, resources and discussions used

that are relevant. Work that you do in tutorial workshops is often supported by

activities and events around the College as a whole, for example, if the ‘theme’

for a particular term is ‘Staying Safe Online,’ you can expect there to be lots of

activities going on to do with internet safety and security. The idea is to make

you aware of the things that affect you as a person, not just in your studies, but

in the wider world too! Sessions will also cover such topics as sexual health,

drugs, motivation as well as helping you to progress on to higher education or

employment

Important news about the college and your courses are also announced in

tutorials. REMEMBER: Tutorials are compulsory and form part of your

attendance at the college.

Individual Learning Plans

Approximately every six weeks or so, you will sit down one to one with your

Personal Tutor and complete an Electronic Individual Learning Plan (EILP).

This is very important; because it will show how you are getting along in your

studies as well as establishing a number of targets that you will be expected to

meet. This is also a good opportunity to discuss any issues or problems that

you might have. You can access your EILP at any time through ProPortal

which is an application that provides the students with access to their

Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Students are also able to view their personal

details, enrolment details, attendance and punctuality and set up their goals,

strengths and developments among other features.

You can find out more about ProPortal and how to set SMART targets on this

YouTube clip which you can access by clicking on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMi4CtRjiac&feature=youtu.be

Attendance & Punctuality Attendance Policy

We expect you to attend all your lessons and to be on time. We know from experience that when students miss lessons or turn up late they are less likely to achieve their full potential – every minute of learning counts! You also disrupt other students’ learning if you are late for classes. Your tutors will monitor your attendance and punctuality regularly and, if you are under 18, they will report your attendance to your parent or carer.

Reporting absences & lateness

Lateness or absences due to sickness should be reported to your curriculum office. Your tutors will give you the number.

Get Involved and Have Fun! Enrichment Activities

There are many ways to get involved in college life from playing sport, to social events and being part of shaping the college. More detailed information will be available at your campus through the Learner Services Induction or on iLearn. However, any ideas for activities or events are welcome at any time, again speak to a Learner Services Adviser. Examples of previous student led activities: • Organising a games league i.e. table tennis or connect 4 • Film Club • Ladies Only – Girls group meeting to talk about girls stuff • Debating Club – talking about the topics on your mind • Celebrating Black History month with foods from different cultures and

inspiring role models • English Speaking Club • Charitable events like Children in Need, Red Nose Day

Sport Enrichment Activities A variety of sport, leisure and social clubs are available at College campuses along with workshops and activities to enhance your time here. For more information on sports look out for events, workshops and celebrations in the new Student Hubs, on noticeboards, on iLearn or through your tutor.

Nick Nanikhan

College Sports Maker

[email protected]

Tel: 02037644373

Office: B13, Southgate Campus

I am the College Sports Maker for Barnet and Southgate College. Over the course of the next 5 years I will be targeting our students across all sites to participate in 30 minutes exercise a week! 2015/16 is an exciting time in terms of sports and enrichment with many partnerships with local facilities that will enable our students to gain access to some fantastic activities throughout the year. If you are interested in sports & enrichment at college please check our social media pages. (Our timetable continuously changes so please check)

Like us on Facebook: Barnetsouthgate-sports

Follow us on Twitter: @bsc_sport

Follow us on Instagram: BSC_SPORT

Moodle/iLearn: Sports & Enrichment

All pages provide information on our enrichment timetable, how to contact us and photos of our activities. Our sports survey can also be found either on our iLearn page or alongside the college surveys when students first log in. This is a key way to find out what you are interested in doing whilst at college and should be completed during induction week. I am available to come and speak to your tutor groups to inform students about the activities on offer at college and welcome any queries from students & staff! The College gym membership scheme is as follows: £75 for the academic year (Sept-July) £50 for 6 months £10 for one month Throughout the year there will be numerous opportunities to access either discounted or free activities. (Please check sports social media pages) In addition, look out for events, workshops and celebrations in the new Student Hubs, on noticeboards, on Moodle or through your tutor. If you have an idea for a club or activity please speak to a member of Learner Services Team in the Learning Resources Centres, the Student Hubs or tweet us.

A variety of sport, leisure and social clubs are available at College campuses along with workshops and activities to enhance your time here. For more information on sports, and Sports Union membership please refer to the Sports Handbook, available from receptions, the Sports dept. and online as a download on iLearn and the College website. Look out for events, workshops and celebrations in the new Student Hubs, on noticeboards, on iLearn or through your tutor.

Sports England - As part of a new initiative from Sports England to encourage

students to be more active, Barnet and Southgate College offers an exciting

opportunity for all students to take part in an activity or sport, such as Dance,

Pilates, Zumba, football, dodgeball, volleyball, table tennis as part of their

timetable. The scheme started in September 2014 and has so far attracted

over 8,000 students. The aim of the activity sessions is to have fun, make

friends and chill out.

Want more information!

Donna Berridge Sports Activation Co-Ordinator

[email protected]

Follow BSC Sport on facebook & Twitter…

Learner Voice Learner views on all aspects of college life are important to Barnet and Southgate College. There are many ways in which the College gets the views of its learners. You can help us to this by: • Becoming a Student Rep. Being a Class Rep is an important role, but is

also good fun too. Class Elections will be held up to 21st October 2015.

Training will take place over lunch time during the week commencing 2nd

November 2015

• Putting yourself forward to be elected as a Student Governor or on to the

Advisory Council for the College Corporation

• Participating in Learner Forums, Meet the Principal over lunch, drop in

weekly forums, and Curriculum Area Student Rep meetings or just simply

coming along to chat to a Learner Services Adviser.

• Completing College Surveys

• Providing feedback through LOOP

• Helping with the Student Conference

Being a Student Representative looks good on your CV or UCAS form and it can help you develop new skills. Look out for more information at your induction to Learner Services or through your tutor.

Compliments and Complaints If you have a concern connected with your course, please speak to one of the following:

the person directly involved

your student representative

your lecturer

your personal tutor or course leader

the Manager of the Curriculum Area in which you are studying. Any member of staff will be able to point you in the right direction and every effort will be made to resolve your concern at this informal stage.

If your concern has not been resolved informally you may decide to make a formal complaint. Complaint forms are available at Reception desks or on the college website and should be posted or handed in at Reception marked for the attention of

the Quality Office. You may also write directly to the Senior Quality Administrator or e-mail to [email protected]. The form should be completed as fully as possible and it is especially important that you tell us what your desired outcome would be. We always strive to get it right and delight our students and customers. If you would like to give us a compliment please send an email, a letter or a Compliment & Complaint form to the Quality Office and they’ll make sure it is recorded and sent to the right person

Using ICT

Use of College Facilities

The College has a range of IT facilities to support you in your studies. We are proud of our IT facilities and to ensure they offer the best possible service, we ask all our students to use the computers responsibly. Please do not use them in any way which may be offensive to others, do not download or forward any abusive material, do not tamper with and misuse equipment or software and only use the software provided by the college. Use of the IT facilities is subject to the Acceptable Use Policy and UK law. Access may be removed and/or disciplinary measures taken if misuse occurs.

The College Network

As soon as you are enrolled, your own personalised user ID is created for you. This is the username you use to log on to the system. Your password is set to your first initial in upper case, the first letter of your surname in lower case and you date of birth in dd/mm/yyyy format. So John Smith born on the 14th January 1983 will have a password of Js14011983. You will then need to change your password to something that you can remember. You should then register to be able to reset your password at any time. NB: You only need to do this the once! The first time you login, you will be presented with the following set of 4 screens. If you follow through and set up your security answers to the questions you will be asked, you will then be able to reset your password at

any time and from any computer inside or outside the college without having to contact anyone

.

Click the “Next” button.

Enter your network user id.

Answer the 4 security questions above. This will setup your answers in the system. No one will have access to your answers. If you do not wish to use the real answers – you can put anything you like –but you will need to remember what you put.

Click Next when you have answered all 4 questions.

The final screen to confirm that you have finished.

How to reset your password

Simply go to the following web address from any computer anywhere in the world…

http://passwordreset.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk/

Enter the letters bsc followed by a backslash, followed by your userid e.g. bsc\stccar and follow the prompts. Wait 15 minutes before trying your new password to access any of the Barnet and Southgate facilities.

iLearn

iLearn is our Virtual Learning Environment. It is an online platform where you can access a range of information related directly to your course(s)

You can use iLearn to contact your tutors and peers, submit coursework electronically. You can access your course information, including assignments, hand-out, participate in online forums and stay up-to-date with any developments related to your course as well as other useful resources.

You will use iLearn regularly and will be able to access this for free from anywhere at any time, so long as you have an Internet connection. Go to our link here and browse some of the open courses e.g. the online Induction Courses: http://ilearn.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk

As a new learner, you will need to take a look at the following areas but before you do, here’s a quick video on navigating around iLearn: http://youtu.be/ih1oua2lXcw

College Induction information is available online on iLearn under the Tutorial tab. http://tinyurl.com/l9gonwb

Also, see information about Learner Services and Online Help to learn how to access or forward College emails to your mobile phone and how to use iLearn.

Printing Full-time students get £10 free print credit each academic year and part-time students get £4 of free credit.

Pricing Each page printed will be priced differently depending on whether it’s in colour

or in black and white. Colour pages will be charged at 10p, black and white will

be charged at 4p. If you use duplex printing however, printing on both sides of

the paper, charging will be 25% less per printout. For example, a two page

word document printed on both sides in black and white will cost 6p as

opposed to 8p. To print a Word document in duplex (double sided), go to print

and then select “Print on Both Sides” from the settings section.

When you log into a computer system, a pop up window will present itself

showing you your remaining credits. Every time a print job is sent, this value

will decrease.

Papercut Client

After you select a job to print, you will be prompted to select a printer queue.

On all campuses there will be a Colour and Mono queue. The colour queue

will send the print jobs to just the colour printers where your job can be

released. The mono queue will send the print jobs to both colour and mono

printers where your job can be released. At these printers you will either have

to swipe your id card on the reader or enter in your network username and

password to release your jobs. In addition you may also find local printers on

the list depending on whether the classroom you are currently in has any.

When printing a document, a dialog box will pop up asking you to confirm your

printout. Here you will get the opportunity to view how much the job will cost

and also cancel before sending out the print job.

Remaining

Credits

Check

Usage

Confirmation Box

If the job has been sent to the Colour or Mono queue, you will get a notification

stating that it’s been held in a queue and ready to be released.

Topping Up Print Credits If your print credit level starts getting low, you are able to top up via the

learning centres. Here the staff will be able to add funds to your account where

you will be able to use them instantly. You will be able to see your top up

reflected in the Papercut client located on your desktop.

Check Print Usage - Administration You are able to check your print credit usage at any time by clicking on the

“Details…” link within the Papercut client, or clicking on the PaperCut link on

your desktop. It will ask you to enter in your login credentials to allow access.

When successfully logged in, you will be shown your print summary as well as

being able to see your transaction history, recent print jobs etc.

Doc

Name

Print Queue No. Pages

Cost

Papercut Admin Web Interface

Our Campuses

Wood Street Southgate Grahame Park Wood Street High Street Grahame Park Way Barnet Southgate London EN5 4AZ London NW9 5RA N14 6BS

Main Switchboard : 02082008300

I know and am clear about…

Where things are in the college Details about the Course Team Leader for my course

How to borrow books and use the LRC

Information about my qualification and how this is assessed

Where to go for information, advice, guidance and welfare support

My weekly timetable and the term/holiday dates on my course

Where to go for Financial help What my course includes, how the course is designed, different modules…

The role of my Tutor Punctuality and attendance – what is expected of me

Where to find information about the enrichment programme

The procedure for reporting lateness and absence from class

How to get additional learning support to help with my studies if I feel I need this

How to access and use iLearn and my college email

The college’s policy on Equality & Diversity

Resources, books and equipment I need for my course

How I must behave in the college My Individual Learning Plan and tutorial schedule

Who to speak to if I have a problem or complaint

The Student Representative system at the college

The college’s policy on keeping students safe

How to print documents

The college Code of Conduct Health & Safety on my course