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To return to the second year a student must pass at least two AS levels (at grade E or above) that can be continued into the second year. Please note that some of our AS levels do not have corresponding A levels and cannot be continued.
Esher College only takes full-time students, and to have a full-time course students must be taking two full A levels (the second year of study after AS). It is important to note that this is, as far as we know, as low a requirement as demanded by any other college or school. You may have read in the press that many schools require a grade B at AS to continue a subject, and many sixth-form colleges ask for grade Ds or higher at AS. We only ask for two grade Es, and we achieve great success with students in such a position, but our professional judgement is that if a student is not capable of passing two AS levels then they really will have no chance of success in the second year, which has much harder A2 exams.
We will write to the parents of all students who are giving concerns that they might not achieve the qualifications to progress to remind you of this requirement. For our part we also put on revision sessions and help and encourage all students who appear to be in danger of not returning. We will also help in August and September with progression guidance for any student who has unfortunately not qualified to return. | General |
| | There is some flexibility with second year courses, as with first year courses. The exact course will depend on the quality of the AS grades and the wishes of the student. However, we usually expect all students to take the minimum of:
3 full A levels (A2s) (or equivalent with OCR Nationals etc)
OR 2 full A levels AND a new AS level
AND an extension course. This extra course is generally compulsory for ALL students.
The extension courses are designed to develop and extend the skills that are crucial to A2 success and provide the opportunity to add a further qualification to the student's portfolio. Students studying 4 A levels are exempt from this process, but for all other students this is a College requirement. Most of the courses consist of 2 periods a week.
The range of courses offered is identified below. They fall into three categories. Please be aware that some of the courses are only available to students studying specific A level or Applied A level courses. Unfortunately students cannot always be guaranteed their first choice as it depends on their timetable and the availability of courses.
1. AS levels: a choice of Ancient History, Anthropology, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Science in Society or World Development.
2. Individual Project Work – Either completing an Extended Project or Arts Award Gold.
3. Subject Specific Extension courses such as AS Further Maths, AS Dance, Certificate in Radio Production, Certificate in Graphic Design, Certificate in Personal Finance, Certificate in Event Planning, Certificate in Working with Children and Young People, Sports Leaders Awards,16-19 Counselling Course.
In addition students are encouraged to take part in team sports and drama
| General |
| | If you want to report your son or daughter’s absence then telephone the main switchboard (020 8398 0291) or, if your son or daughter is in receipt of EMA, ask to speak to Tina Harrison (extension 322). If you have a query then please do telephone the main switchboard. They will answer your question if they can, or pass you on to a relevant member of staff. You are also welcome to email the College (eshercollege@esher.ac.uk) or email individual teachers. However, it is worth pointing out that although email seems to be an “instant” medium to the person sending the email, it may actually take longer to read and then answer an email than a telephone call to reception so it should not be used for urgent matters. On some days teachers teach every lesson and will clearly not have time to go to their emails, let alone write a substantial reply to a query, so please be patient if you do email.
In that respect we try to obtain the email address of every parent that has one. We still use the postal service as the main means of formally communicating with parents but we also use emails to remind parents of up and coming events, such as Consultation/Parents’ Evenings and Higher Education Evening. If you have an email contact that we do not know about, or if you change your email address, please email rbaldwin@esher.ac.uk and he will put your details on our database. | General |
| | An independent learner is a student who:
- Understands the nature of A level study and is making a successful transition from GCSE
- Is “self-starting” and always well-prepared for class
- Has an active involvement in the subject both in and beyond the classroom
- Contributes to class discussions and is engaged with the course material ,
Many of our students do need guidance and persuasion on the importance of taking ownership of their own learning. We will encourage them to see their experience at Esher as preparation for University and life at large. Some students have been taught in very controlled environments and are very dependent on teachers. However, at University they will need to be completely self-motivated. Esher College therefore provides a transitional environment where we will try to guide and inspire students to take control of their own learning. But you can be assured that if they find this difficult we will be pushing them hard and letting you know if the work is not getting done.
| General |
| | The College Nurse Service aims to provide all students with medical needs guidance to ensure that their health issues are supported throughout their time at College. Some students have a plan of care that is accessed should the student become unwell whilst at College. We also store student medication and liaise and meet with other health professionals involved with the student and assist students in accessing other services appropriate to their needs.
The role is also one of health promotion. There are regular health campaigns promoted throughout the college: from breast and testicular awareness to stress and anxiety. Outside agencies visit the College, such as Chlamydia Screening. We also have programmes on giving up smoking and lunchtime sessions on issues such as drugs and alcohol, sexually transmitted infections and healthy eating.
The College Nurse also works closely with the Counselling Team. Students can ask for counselling sessions themselves, or occasionally staff or a parent might suggest that a student may benefit from seeing a counsellor. All discussions are confidential, and it is also important to stress that students must agree to have counselling. It is strictly a voluntary activity.
| General |
| | Only by asking them yourself. Parents often ask if they could have access to the online databases which show their son or daughter’s attendance, and/or the marks that they are getting for their work. We don’t make that available directly to parents for two main reasons. Firstly, the Data Protection Act does not allow digital information collected about an individual to be given to others. Although there have been no test cases, we believe, in common with most educational institutions in the sixth form sector, that parents don’t have the right to look at their over-16’s electronic data without their child’s permission. So if you can get your child’s permission (or password) you can of course look at their attendance etc from home as easily as they can. Incidentally parents DO have a right to know how their children are getting on at Esher College and whether they are attending, and of course if you telephone the College or write to us we would be happy to tell you this information. In addition we do send two letters home a year with detailed information on attendance and progress. But there is a difference between a right to know about their progress and having online access to their real-time data.
Secondly we feel as an institution that we are a half-way house between school and University or the world of work. When your children go to University or go to work you will obviously not be given any access to their attendance and progress details! They need to learn to be self-motivating or how will they succeed at University? If we feel that they are not working hard enough, or not attending, and if they don’t respond to our concerns we will contact you. And if on occasion you are worried that they don’t seem to be working hard enough or they tell you that they don’t have to be in College you can always telephone us and we will be happy to give you our opinion of the truth of the matter!
| IT Related |
| | There is a variety of information available on the College website: www.esher.ac.uk
The latest important College news is updated on a regular basis. We also post information about College events, such as Parents’ Consultation Evenings and Higher Education Evenings. You will also find term dates, a range of College policies and information about our courses.
Our Adult Learning opportunities are also listed on the website. There is a variety of courses on Computing, Art, Photography, and Health and Fitness amongst others. We particularly welcome parents onto these courses.
| IT Related |
| | Absolutely not. The Study Support Team will assist any student who comes to the Study Centre for help with their work. We are happy to offer this at any stage in a student’s course – from the beginning to right at the end with help with revision, for example. All students are entitled and encouraged to use all the Study Support resources – the staff team, the website, the self-guiding worksheets.
| Learning and Study Support |
| | Your son or daughter could simply drop in to the Study Centre, Room G001 any time they are free. All the students are shown where that room is during our induction programme. Teachers will also help students book a session with Study Support. Alternatively if a student went on to the “Excellent Results” section of our website (a button to access this is on the front page of their personal web page) they could book a meeting and say what it was they wanted help with – for example, how to organise homework, how to plan an essay, how to improve their spelling!
| Learning and Study Support |
| | All students who have an identified learning need that has been disclosed to us are offered a weekly timetabled support session. In addition, many classes have a teaching assistant who attends lessons. All students in the class can ask that assistant for help during the lesson at appropriate moments. Students with English as an additional language are also offered specialised support.
| Learning and Study Support |
| | The exam boards are quite strict in their rulings on who might be entitled to extra time etc. Normally the student will need some sort of written psychological or medical report to be given concessions. If you think that your son or daughter might qualify, but at present you have no statement or letter, then do get in touch with Jude Smit, the Head of Study Support via her email jsmit@esher.ac.uk
| Learning and Study Support |
| | If there is clear evidence that a student seems to have a learning need, and yet no-one has previously formally identified that need, the College will offer the student Educational Assessments free of charge, and we will inform you of this. For example, all students take a screening test at the beginning of their time at Esher to try to identify needs as early as possible. If the test gives an indication that the student might benefit from help we will offer that help to them. If the results of the Educational Assessment indicate that the student is entitled to exam concessions we would let the student and you know immediately.
| Learning and Study Support |
| | Student Progress Letters will be posted home in the last week of November and in the last week of March prior to the Consultation Evenings. The dates of these evenings are:
Thursday 1st December Consultation Evening (Surnames A-F)
Thursday 8th December Consultation Evening (Surnames G-N)
Thursday 15th December Consultation Evening (Surnames O-Z)
We feel that the best way to approach these evenings is for the parent/s and the student to be present with the teacher.
The Spring Term Consultation Evening (March 29th 2012) is usually only by appointment: the teacher will get in touch with you if s/he thinks that would be productive, or you can make a prior appointment to see the teacher if you think that would be useful for you.
| Grading and Reporting |
| | A detailed prose profile will be written towards the end of the summer term for all students in the first year of their programme. This profile will contain two sections:
· A section where the strengths of the student are clearly identified and described. This will then form the basis of future references, particularly the UCAS reference.
· A second section, for student and parental consumption, which will suggest ways in which the student could improve their performance in the second year of the course.
This profile will be posted home to parents towards the very end of the summer term.
| Grading and Reporting |
| | If any student has an acceptable reason for missing lessons (illness, for example) then this can be authorised. The College therefore asks parents/ guardians/carers to telephone the College (in the case of EMA students, the EMA Officer), usually on the first day of absence, with their explanations for the absence. The College will also accept signed letters. Emails will also be accepted, but because of the possibility of forgery the College prefers telephone or letter if absences are repeated or prolonged.
| Absence |
| | The College can only go on the information it has. If you only authorise one day, then we cannot authorise subsequent days. But we are of course happy for you to authorise a lengthy absence once at the beginning, and once when they return, or to say “I know s/he will be away for at least a couple of days”, in which case we will authorise ahead.
| Absence |
| | We would prefer that you did telephone on the first day: preferably in the morning. We will accept authorisation after an illness has ended, but only up to an absolute maximum of one week after the absence.
| Absence |
| | Doctors’ or hospital appointments are also acceptable (with clear written evidence received IN ADVANCE of the absence). Dental appointments are not an acceptable reason: they should be made in free periods, weekends or holidays. The exception to this is emergency dental work (where a telephone call on the day will be accepted) or long-term dental problems/orthodontic work where a letter from the dentist is required as evidence.
University interviews or visits to Open Days will be marked as “I” ("Interview" which counts as “present”) if notice of them is given to the College in advance in writing. However, it is recommended to students that they do not miss more than 3 days of College during the year for interviews or Open Days unless it is unavoidable.
As a guideline, in addition to those reasons specifically mentioned above, the following reasons for absence will also be accepted as authorised but only by application in writing to a staff member in advance, either to Reception, the student’s tutor or the EMA Officer:
- Observation of a religious holiday
- Compassionate leave/funeral of close relative or friend
- Occasional care for a person if a student has a long-term caring responsibility which has been explained in advance to the College in writing (but under no circumstances looking after/babysitting younger family members, pets, visits to the vet etc.)
- Court attendance and related issues
- External examinations off-site (e.g. Music)
- Practical driving test – but NOT the theory test.
If the reason does not come under the above categories then a parent can always telephone Reception with the reason for absence: Reception will either authorise or pass to a senior member of staff for authorisation.
| Absence |
| | All academic studies (and the College’s own statistics) show that students with a high percentage of absences get lower grades than would otherwise be predicted. If a student has unacceptably high levels of unauthorised absence they will eventually be asked to leave the College.
Even if absences are authorised, and the College accepts them to be genuine, students may find themselves unable to continue with subjects because they are not covering or understanding the content in a subject and/or not completing set work. In these instances a student may be asked to withdraw from a subject, or even the College and it will be suggested that they restart the year the following September. There is no set level of attendance at which this will occur because it will depend on the individual, their work completion outside College, the reason for absence, or whether the student is likely to greatly increase their attendance in the near future.
| Absence |
| | Students are not expected to take holidays in term-time. In summer there are 7 weeks between the last day of the summer term and the first date that second years are required to return. This is plenty of time to arrange a holiday! Term dates are published on the web-site and on documentation at least a year in advance. Students who miss the beginning of the year for a holiday may well find that courses they wanted to take (both in their first and second year) are full. Students who take a holiday without permission before the end of the summer term in their AS year can be refused entry to the second year of their course. As a result of the pressure on both students and staff to complete the AS and A2 programmes in a short space of time we are not able to authorise any holiday in term time. In exceptional circumstances, parents may request permission for holiday leave from the Principal. Where this is granted, the absence will be marked "H" on the database.
| Absence |
| | Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly payment of £20 which is only for second-year students who received the maximum EMA in 2010/11. No new students can be awarded this. | EMA |
| | To qualify for EMA payment a student must attend College for three full days in any week (or both full days in a 2 day week, similarly every lesson in a one-day week) AND in addition have no more than one unauthorised absence (on ANY of the days).
| EMA |
| | All absences for EMA students should be reported on the EMA Direct Line : 0208 335 2513 by a parent/guardian. For more reasons for absence that will be authorised (providing the student attends 3 full days in a week), please see “What else will the College authorise apart from illness?” in the “Absence” Faq above.
| EMA |
| | Please remember that the EMA is paid directly to your son/daughter by a government department, NOT by Esher College. The first thing to do is for your son/daughter to go to the EMA Officer and ask whether the recommendation for payment has been made, and if not, why not. (Students are informed if we are NOT recommending payment, so if they have not had an email then they should have been paid). Only if your son/daughter has spoken to the EMA Officer and you think that s/he is due a payment that we have disallowed (for the attendance reasons above) should you telephone the College. Quite often students forget that they have missed lessons, or get the weeks wrong in terms of linking their attendance to a particular payment.
| EMA |
| | The Bursary Fund is provided to help students with the direct costs of study such as equipment, books, travel, exam costs and trips and visits, and is available to assist students who may have difficulties in completing their course because of financial considerations. There is also a small emergency portion of the fund in the case of unforeseen emergencies where completion of the course could be jeopardised by financial constraints. | The Bursary Fund |
| | As a general guide, students who have a family income of below £18,500 per annum should apply to the Bursary Fund if they require financial assistance.
Students in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of income support and disabled young people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance will be eligible to receive a bursary of £1,200 per year.
To be eligible to apply for financial assistance from the Bursary Fund a student must be:
- aged 16, and under 19, on 31 August 2011
- be an enrolled student as defined by the College; and
not be paying tuition fees
| The Bursary Fund |
| | Applicants in receipt of Benefits may be required to show proof of current benefit payments.
Applicants must provide evidence of income for tax year April 2010 to April 2011: usually the Tax Credit Notification TC602(E) will be sufficient but evidence of receipt of benefits, P60 or other relevant documents may be requested in addition. | The Bursary Fund |
| | Payment will be weekly in arrears. Payment will be withheld if the student does not comply with the College expectations regarding Attendance, Behaviour and Performance. | The Bursary Fund |
| | The College cannot say in advance how much money there will be per week per student. The College is given a fixed amount of money and it will be divided by the number of successful applications.
The payment is therefore likely to vary from one academic year to the next. Each year, after the 9th September, the College will know how many students have made successful applications and will then be able to calculate how much to pay each week. This weekly amount will be published to successful applicants. | The Bursary Fund |
| | Complete an application form.
Your completed application form together with evidence of income, should then be returned by hand, or posted to:
Ms T Harrison: Bursary Fund Officer
Esher College
Weston Green Road
Thames Ditton
Surrey
KT7 OJB
| The Bursary Fund |