Moving from school to college is a big step, and we aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that each student makes a smooth transition and has the best possible experience at Southwark College.
Southwark College offers a very different environment for young adults with students given more independence and responsibility than they may have been used to in school. We help to prepare them for the world beyond college, whether that is employment, apprenticeships or going on to higher level study, by supporting them to develop self-motivation, time management, communication and teamworking skills.
Southwark College offers three main routes for 16-18-year olds:
- Vocational courses such as BTECs are available in a huge range of subject areas and are aimed at a specific career sector and usually include work experience.
- Apprenticeships developed with employers, combining working and earning a salary with a programme of training
- ESOL courses to improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and help young people progress to higher level programmes.
If you have any queries or concerns as a parent or carer, please speak to our student services and admissions team using our contact us page.
You can also view the wide range of Student Support and Learner Support we have available on this website from the main menu.
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Supporting your child at College
As a parent or carer, you can support your child to fulfil their potential at college in a number of ways:
- Good attendance
Aiming for 100% attendance and getting to College on time are vital to every student’s success and we rely on parents and carers to support us with this. We monitor students’ attendance and inform parents and carers if their child is missing or regularly late for classes. If your child is unable to attend College for any reason, please call 020 3757 4000 or contact their tutor by email preferably by midday on each day of absence. See our term dates. - Independent study
You can help by ensuring there’s a quiet space at home where your child can complete homework and assignments, and revise for exams. - Monitoring progress
We encourage parents and carers to attend our regular progress evenings where you can come along with your child to find out how they are doing, discuss any issues, and talk about their next steps. You will also receive a report on your child’s progress every term.
- Good attendance
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English and maths
Achieving English and maths qualifications is important for every student.
If your child has not achieved English and maths GCSE at grade 4 (C) or above before coming to Southwark College, they will study these subjects alongside their chosen vocational course, sitting exams in order to gain the English and maths qualifications they need.
We ask parents and carers to remind students of the importance of attending their exams, arriving at least half an hour before the start of each exam with the necessary materials.
The GCSE English and maths examination dates for academic year 19/20 are:
Date Examining Board Qualification Code Subject Paper Time Duration 02/06/2020 Pearson GCSE 1EN0 01 English Language English Language Paper 1: Fiction and Imaginative Writing Morning 1h 45m 05/06/2020 Pearson GCSE 1ENO 02 English Language English Language Paper 2: Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing Morning 2h 05m 19/05/2020 Pearson GCSE 1MA1 1F Mathematics Mathematics Paper 1: Non-Calculator Foundation Tier Morning 1h 30m 19/05/2020 Pearson GCSE 1MA1 1H Mathematics Mathematics Paper 1: Non-Calculator Higher Tier Morning 1h 30m 04/06/2020 Pearson GCSE 1MA1 2F Mathematics Mathematics Paper 2: Calculator Foundation Tier Morning 1h 30m 04/06/2020 Pearson GCSE 1MA1 2H Mathematics Mathematics Paper 2: Calculator Higher Tier Morning 1h 30m 08/06/2020 Pearson GCSE Mathematics Mathematics Paper 3: Calculator Foundation Tier Morning 1h 30m 08/06/2020 Pearson GCSE Mathematics Mathematics Paper 3: Calculator Higher Tier Morning 1h 30m -
Learning support
We offer a wide range of support to help your child get the most out of their learning experience. Our Student Support centre on campus provides extra help with English or maths, and help for people with dyslexia, autism, Asperger syndrome or a physical disability or mental health difficulty. We also provide Supported Learning courses which have built-in support for young people with high needs.
Find out more about our Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. You can also call us on 020 3757 4000 to discuss your child’s specific SEN needs.
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How your child can progress
We offer courses at a wide range of levels, from pre-entry level through to higher education courses such as Foundation degrees, with most of our vocational qualifications consisting of a year’s study.
This means that your child can start on a course at the right level for them, whatever their current qualifications and – provided that they successfully achieve their qualification – progress on to the next level the next academic year. Many school leavers join us with low GCSE grades and, with the right motivation and attitude, are able to progress up through the levels to achieve an advanced qualification which equips them for a successful career.
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Careers advice
We see our role as helping students not only to gain a qualification but also to find a job. The College’s Guidance and Progression Officers offer an on-going careers service throughout students’ time at College, providing help with CV writing, job applications and interview practice. Find out more about our careers and employability support.
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Safeguarding
We are committed to making sure that the College is a safe place for your child to come and study every day. All of our staff are trained in safeguarding (protecting young people and vulnerable adults from dangers such as abuse, cyber bullying, exploitation and radicalisation) and follow strict procedures in terms of reporting, escalating and dealing with concerns.
We work closely with the police and external agencies to keep our students safe both on and off campus.
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