College Learners Induction Handbook

2014/15

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: 8th September – 19th December 2014

Half Term: 27th October – 31st October 2014

Spring Term: 5th January – 27th March 2015

Half Term: 16th February – 20th February 2015

Summer Term: 13th April – 3rd July 2015

Half Term: 25th May – 29th May 2015

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.

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

A full copy of College Code of Conduct will be given to you to sign to show you agree with 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: Monday – Thursday 9.30 – 15.00

Holidays: 10.00 – 14.00 Southgate Term Time: Monday – Thursday 08.30-15.00

Holidays: 10.00 – 14.00 Wood Street Term Time: Monday – Thursday 08.15-20.15 Friday 08.15 – 15.15 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

• Learning & Community (L&C) Advisers to help with your course work, Moodle and assignments

• Counsellors for help with emotional issues • Student Advisers for help with welfare, housing & health issues • Careers Advisers for help with University applications, courses & CVs • Safeguarding & Equality Officer 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, L&C Adviser, Counsellor, Careers Adviser, Student 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 Grahame Park 020 8266 4030 phone Southgate 020 8982 5123 phone Wood Street 020 8275 2832 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!

Additional Learning Support (ALS) 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 • Specialist assessment for dyslexia or dyscalculia • 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 for extra English or Maths if you have achieved a GCSE D or below. 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 ALS team as below or talk to your personal tutor

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

Maths and English at Barnet & Southgate College

  

Improving English and Maths skills is a very important thing to do. All employers require their employees to be able to communicate verbally and in writing, read and find and use information, solve number problems. It is also true that when students move onto a higher level course they will need higher level English and Maths skills.

At Barnet and Southgate College we will ensure that all students are able to develop these skills and gain valuable qualifications.

The main qualifications we offer are:

• GCSE (English and Maths) • Functional Skills (English, Maths & ICT)

These qualifications go up to level 2 and we expect students to work towards and gain either a C grade GCSE or a Level 2 Functional Skills while they are at college.

If you do not have a GCSE grade C in English or Maths you will be timetabled with a class. For example:

During your induction we will find you a suitable class. You may be asked to do an assessment in order to join a GCSE or Functional Skills class. Please try your best at these assessments as it will help us to then find the right class at the right level for you.

If you have any questions on this, your personal tutor will have the answers for you.

Good luck and I hope you get the English and Maths qualifications you need for your progression!

Jose did his GCSE English and Maths at school. He got a D in English and an E in Maths. He is going to be taking GCSE English and Functional Skills Maths this year. He wants his grade C GCSE English and his Functional Skills Maths as he wants to get onto a L3 course next year.

Customer Services Financial Assistance

You may be entitled to financial assistance to help you with the costs of studying at Barnet and Southgate College. 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

Free College Meals You may be entitled to a free meal for every day you attend College. You need to be aged 16-18 and your parents will need to be on a means tested benefit. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.

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.

Support from Tutors 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.

Tutorials As well as your course of study, you will have a Tutorial lesson every week. Tutorials are where you get the chance to learn about other aspects of life outside studying. Tutorials 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 tutorials 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 tutorials will usually fit into these ‘themes’ with activities, resources and discussions used that are relevant. Work that you do in tutorials is also 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.

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. Attendance Incentive Scheme Barnet and Southgate will reward students for good attendance. Students who have 100% attendance and punctuality will be entered into a prize draw with the chance of winning a cash prize.

Reporting absences & lateness Lateness or absences due to sickness or any other reason 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 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, 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.

Nick Nanikhan

College Sports Maker

Nicholas.Nanikhan@barnetsouthgate.ac.uk

Tel: 02082008300 ext. 5083 / 6443

Office: B13

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! 2014/15 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: (search Sports & Enrichment within the course finder)

 All pages provide information on our enrichment timetable, how to contact us, 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 the students are interested in doing whilst at college, alternatively you can use the following link: http://tinyurl.com/o8pruea We also have our Sports Fresher’s Activity Sign up Week and Refreshers Activity sign up week during Induction week in September and in January after the Christmas break, look out for details on all of our social media platforms! 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: • £30 per term, £10 per month or £75 for the year. With unlimited access to

all our classes and facilities • £3.50 for Pay as you go to use the weights and cardio gym.(£10 joining

fee) 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 sports activity please speak to Nick Nanikhan, he can be found in office the B-block in office B13 or alternatively any of the sports staff will be able to direct you! – or you could always tweet us! ☺

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. • Putting yourself forward to be elected on to the new Advisory Council for

the College Corporation • Putting yourself forward to be elected as the new Student Governor on

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

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 & Complaints The College takes any concerns you might have very seriously. If while you are studying at the College and 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 • a manager or the Head of the Curriculum Area in which you are studying.

If the problem isn’t resolved after speaking with someone informally, you may wish to make a formal complaint. An explanation of the formal complaints process and the form you can use to send us your complaint is available on the college website under College Policies. And of course, if you have any compliments you would like to give the College, we are happy to receive those too!

 

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. Once you login you will be asked to change your password. Please change your password to something that you can remember. 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.

 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.

Remaining

Check

Doc 

Print Queue  No. Pages 

Cost 

 

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. 

 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 Tel: 020 8200 8300 Tel: 020 8982 5050 Tel: 020 8200 8300

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, the different modules it covers…

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