Student support

Additional (Learning) Support

If you have or think you may have a medical condition, physical or sensory impairment, learning differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum Condition or any other learning needs, our Additional Support Team can help you. Our dynamic team have been recognised for the exceptional support available to students by the British Dyslexia Association and the Association of Colleges. If you're a current student looking for help or advice, visit us in the Skills Development Centre in BG06 at Queens Drive or ask your Progress Coach. For prospective students and parents you can email additionalsupport@newcollege.ac.uk

We can provide:

1:1 teaching
1:1 in class support
Software programmes
BSL interpreters
Specialist equipment
Help with exam arrangements

Find out more about details of our Additional (Learning) Support services

Careers and HE advice

Your Progress Coach can help you to choose a career or university course and we offer a range of activities to support this and help you to develop transferable skills. The College’s Careers Advisors can provide extra advice to help you decide your best route into work or university. For more information on our careers programme and resources

click here.

Childcare

If you have children, there are funds to help you with childcare costs while you are studying at College, depending on your age and circumstances. For more details, please contact Student Services. You can receive funds to use any registered child minder or nursery. ‘Imagine Co-operative Childcare’ is an independent purpose-built nursery located behind New College. It is open from 8am to 6pm, and offers flexible childcare for children aged 3 months to school age.

Exams and assessments

Our Exams Team will provide you with information and advice about your exams and other external assessments along with your subject lecturers. If you currently study from home and are not enrolled as a student at New College, there is still the option to take your exams with us. Private candidates can apply to take exams at New College for a wide range of qualifications, including iGCSEs/GCSEs and A Levels. For more information and details of entry and exam fees, please contact exams.office@newcollege.ac.uk IMPORTANT - If you are joining New College part way through a qualification e.g. you have completed study for AS/A Levels elsewhere, you MUST see our Exams Team in your first few weeks. Please note that new linear A Levels cannot be transferred in the same way that old AS/A qualifications can.

Health and wellbeing

We are committed to providing and promoting health and well-being within the College and have been awarded the national 'Young People Friendly' award. The College has qualified nurses who are able to provide general health advice, first-aid, help and support with medical conditions and where considered appropriate, referral to specialist support services. Other members of staff are trained to provide first aid. The nurses are available Mon-Fri, 9.00am-3.30pm. An appointment does not need to be made, though you may have to wait during busy periods. They are based in BG32. We also have Additional (Learning) Support Student Mentors based in BG27 - the Wellbeing Room. They provide:

1-to-1 meeting to provide support and to discuss any concerns you may have.
daily drop in sessions when needed in times of worry.
recommendations to teaching staff to support you in the classroom.
a quiet space to come to, if you are finding college overwhelming.
signposting for you to internal support and external agencies.
building resilience and motivation.
transition support when making the move from school to college.

This service is by referral only. Students also have access to the Togetherall website, resources and community! Togetherall is a safe, anonymous online community for mental health support.

Looked after people

At New College we recognise that sometimes young people with experiences of being in care want or need a little extra support. At New College we believe that all young people have the right to an education, regardless of what is happening at home. We are committed to ensuring our looked after young people and care leavers receive the best opportunities and support to succeed and work closely with The Virtual School for Swindon and neighbouring authorities. The Student Services Team includes people who are here to help and support your move from school to College. Our team will work with you to identify ways we can assist you on a 1-to-1 basis, addressing any individual needs and concerns you may have. On a need to know basis, certain staff will be made aware that a young person is, or has been, in care, but they will not be told any further details unless they are part of your immediate support team. We can also work with your Progress Coach and your lecturers to ensure they are sensitive to your needs.

Mentoring

If you are anxious about coming to College, or need support once you are here, you should ask your tutor about the availability of a study mentor or your classroom teacher about arranging for a study buddy. You could join the mentoring scheme yourself to help new students in your second year.

Multi-faith chaplaincy

Our multi-faith Chaplaincy Team can support you with information and advice on faith issues and can be a friendly listening ear at times of personal loss or difficulty. They have links to local faith communities in Swindon.

Personal advice and counselling

Counsellors in College are here to help if you have any personal problems that affect your learning. They will listen and support you and the service is confidential.

Safeguarding and the prevent duty

We care about the safety of our students and everyone at New College supports our duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our students. If you, as a student here, have any concern about your wellbeing or safety or the safety of another, then you should:

Talk to your Progress Coach, teacher or a trusted member of staff.
Come to Student Services and ask to speak to someone from the Safeguarding Team.

The prevent duty

Under the Prevent Duty, the College has a legal duty to highlight the dangers of radicalisation and involvement with violent extremist ideas. We are conscious to balance this with our responsibility to promote freedom of expression. It is not about preventing students from having political and religious views and concerns, but about supporting them to use those concerns or act on them in non-extremist ways. The government defined extremism in 2011 as ‘vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs'. They also include in the definition 'calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas'. Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups. In College, all our members of staff now have mandatory training on this statutory Prevent Duty. Our Progress Coaches are using resources to highlight to their students the dangers of radicalisation and in particular online grooming. If you have any concerns, please contact the Safeguarding Team: safe@newcollege.ac.uk. You can also report terrorism related content to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit

Young carers

In New College, we work closely with colleagues from Swindon Carers Centre to ensure that we understand the needs of young carers. As a result of our continuous commitment in the provision of support to Young Carers at New College, we have achieved all three standards of The Swindon Young Carer Award. Our Young Carers Policy says how we will support any learner who helps to look after someone at home.

British Values

The College is dedicated to promoting values, which prepare you to live and work in modern Britain, by developing an understanding of:

Democracy - How we can influence decision making through democratic processes such as the national electoral system or our own and student rep selection process.
The Rule of Law - The rule of law is the principle that no one is above the law and that the law applies equally to us all.
Individual Liberty - We understand and exercise our human rights in a safe environment.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance - We promote the importance of mutual respect through our policies and procedures and we actively promote diversity.