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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 |
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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 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, Award in Design & Layout, Certificate in Personal Finance, Certificate in Event Planning, Certificate in Working with Children and Young People, Sports Leaders Awards, Certificate in Model Making and Presentation, 16-19 Counselling Course and CLAIT Plus Certificate For IT Users.
In addition students are encouraged to take part in team sports and drama | General |
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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 is an “instant” medium, it may actually take longer to 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 are trying to obtain the email address of every parent that has one. For now we will still be using the postal service as the main means of formally communicating with parents but we intend to use emails to remind parents of up and coming events, such as Consultation/Parents’ Evenings and Higher Education Evening. We have just written to all parents where we do not have an email address to ask if they have one, so if you have an email contact that we do not know about, please email rbaldwin@esher.ac.uk and he will put your details on our database. | General |
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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 |
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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. Each month there is a health campaign 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.
The College Nurse Lisa Herouvin may be contacted on 0208 3980291 ext 304 or lherouvin@esher.ac.uk | General |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 the students have already taken a screening test to try to identify needs early in their time here. If the test gave an indication that the student might benefit from help we will offer that in the very near future. 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 |
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All students will be given grades for all their courses in November and March, and these grades will be sent home to you. There is a system of grading students which sets:
a) The Attainment Grade: summarising where the student is at that particular point in time.
b) The Benchmark and/or the Target Grade.
c) The UCAS Grade
a) Attainment Grade
This is the grade which in the judgement of the teacher represents the level of attainment of the student. This grade corresponds with the available AS level grades - Pass grades A to E, or for the full A level (usually taken in the second year) - Pass grades A* to E. The grade will be based on actual performance in all areas of the course, including:
· performance in homework
· examined coursework
· practical work
· internal examination marks
· external examination marks.
The attainment grade won’t necessarily be a simple average of all the assessments, but it is likely that 50 % or more of grades allocated will have been at the level of the attainment grade or above. Given the variations in students, marks throughout a term or a year, a teacher will make a careful judgement about what they consider to be an appropriate overall attainment grade taking into account best performances in relation to significant pieces of work set.
b) Benchmark/Target Grade
The “benchmark” grade entered on the profile form which you will receive in late November is the minimum grade which the student should be looking to achieve. This benchmark grade is calculated from the student’s overall GCSE average grade which gives a reasonably reliable statistical prediction of the most likely final outcome (based on national figures).
So, if a student has a higher attainment grade than target grade it shows that they are doing better than might be expected. If they have a lower attainment grade than benchmark grade then they are doing worse than might have been expected and the reason for this should be discussed with them. If the benchmark grade is the same as the attainment grade then the student is performing as well as national average statistics would suggest – but that should not stop the student trying to do better!
In the March profile the teacher sets a “target” grade. This is again the minimum grade that the student should be aiming for in the summer exams. It will never be set less than the benchmark grade or the attainment grade, so it should represent a genuine target that the student hopes to achieve with hard work.
c) The UCAS Grade
The UCAS grade is a prediction of what the College thinks the student might get at the end of the A level course. It will be based mainly on the AS grade for A level students but performance throughout the year will also be taken into account, bearing in mind that the AS papers can be retaken by the student. The UCAS grade is set in September of the second year.
The UCAS grade will at the minimum be the AS grade. If there is evidence that the student is definitely capable of performing at a higher standard than their AS grade, then their UCAS grade can be raised. | Grading and Reporting |
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Student progress letters (SPL) are posted home on two occasions in each year, in late November and March. They include a general text explaining our profiling system and giving dates of Consultation Evenings and they also contain information which specifically relates to the progress of each individual student. In particular parents will be told:
The first SPL in late November will show the benchmark grade (see above) and the attainment grade. The March profile will show the minimum target grade as described above and the attainment grade.
The percentage attendance figure and work production percentage will also be included on the SPL. Punctuality statistics are also included. | Grading and Reporting |
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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 sent in the letters and are shown in the College Events section of this page.
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 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 |
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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 |