Connections
Welcome to Connections - issue 5 - 6 October 2020
Viewpoint
For College updates please visit our website: http://www.guernseycollege.ac.gg/wp/
COVID-19 CURRENT INFORMATION - reminder
As we are currently in Phase 5b of the exit from lockdown we just wanted to clarify the position in terms of students’ attendance at College should they have recently returned to the island.
Anyone returning from a ‘Group A’ country must by law self-isolate for 14 days.
Anyone returning from a ‘Group B’ country must self-isolate for seven days before they have the option of being tested for COVID-19. If they receive a negative test result, they may move into what is being called ‘passive surveillance’.
More information about Group A and B countries what passive surveillance means can be found at https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel/phase5b
In terms of attendance at College, any student who has received a negative COVID-19 test result and moved into the seven-day passive surveillance phase is able to attend.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the following in regard to
COVID-19:
- Our facilities teams are still undertaking an enhanced cleaning regime across all campuses.
- We have a good supply of hand sanitiser on all campuses.
- We promote good hand hygiene.
- We promote good respiratory hygiene.
- If anyone becomes unwell with any flu like symptoms (headache, muscle aches, blocked nose) fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell, they must stay at home. Anyone developing symptoms at College will be sent home immediately and advised to contact the Coronavirus helpline to arrange testing.
- At this time there will be no College trips outside of the Bailiwick; the only exception being in respect of visits to Group C countries as defined in the Exit Strategy. Currently this is only the Isle of Man.
College News
The 4 pathways of the Access course
Access Life Skills
The ‘Life Skills’ pathway is for students who would benefit from developing their practical life skills in the home and in the community. Students study a City and Guilds qualification at Entry Level 1. Each week, they engage in ‘out and about’ activities and visits to local attractions. Students also participate in healthy activities, for example, swimming at Beau Sejour, walks in the park and sailing. The course supports learners in transitioning to adult services and other community agencies.
Access Progression
The ‘Progression’ pathway has been designed to support personal development and exploration of the workplace. They are studying a City and Guilds qualification at Entry Level 2/3. The College aims for this group to develop independence, self-awareness and personal direction of growth relating to work placements and healthy living choices. This course will feed into Workforce Academy or Step Up.
Access Workforce Academy
The ‘Workforce Academy’ pathway is for students aged 16 – 22 with special educational needs. The programme supports students in undertaking work placements in meaningful employment three days per week, with the remaining two days spent at the College studying for a City and Guilds Qualification at Entry Level 3 in Retail, Hospitality and Catering.
Thanks to the Guernsey Press,. We love this picture of our student Erin!
Huge thanks also to those employers mentioned.
If any other employers would like to get involved please contact Tristan: tristanb@gcfe.net or Sue: slambeth@gcfe.net
Access Step Up
The ‘Step Up’ pathway includes students who are considering a Progress to Level 1 pathway option, preparing them for further study at this level. It also offers work placement experience for those students interested in pursuing employment opportunities in a vocational setting on completion of this course.
MacMillan Coffee Morning
Parent/Carer focus Groups for the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Review
These focus groups will support the Independent Review of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision in the Bailiwick. The review will be used to identify good practice and also inform the evolution of provision; identifying opportunities that will support the on-going development of an educationally inclusive culture across the Bailiwick.
The review will provide an evaluation of the Bailiwick’s effectiveness in:
· Identifying children and young people with SEND;
· Meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND;
· Securing good outcomes for children and young people who have SEND.
The review is being conducted by the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen) (https://nasen.org.uk/). Nasen is a high quality provider of SEND support and development with vast experience at both a national and jurisdictional level.
Kamal Bodhanker, Nasen Reviewer, will be hosting focus groups on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th October from 16:00-18:00. If you would like to be considered as a participant in the parent/carer focus groups, please contact Eloise Willis (Eloise.Willis@gov.gg) to register your interest. Due to the current travel restrictions, the reviewers are currently unable to travel to the Bailiwick. Therefore, these Focus groups will take place via the video conferencing platform Zoom. Focus group participants will be randomly selected, and practice calls can be made available to any parents/carers unfamiliar with Zoom.
World Mental Health Day
The College is supporting World Mental Health Day on Saturday (10 October). The aim is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world particularly at this time when the daily lives of many people have brought all sorts of challenges. Our students follow a Personal Development Programme which covers all aspects of social, moral, cultural and spiritual health education and they will be undertaking sessions related to Mental Health & Wellbeing through the programme.
Parents Evenings Dates - Reminder!
Parents Evening for courses based at Delancey Campus was held on 28 September 2020; for courses based at Coutanchez Campus on 5 October 2020 and for courses based at Les Ozouets Campus the date is 12 October 2020.
Some Tutors are hosting their Parents' Evenings on different dates due to availability, so you may have been given a date different to those above.
However, if you have not received an invitation to a Parents Evening, you were unable to attend, or if you have any queries, please contact the relevant CLO for your son/daughter/ward's Programme Area (contact details are at the bottom of this newsletter).
UCAS Applications
UCAS has a really useful parent guide, with the option for signing up to newsletters, accessed via this link. Please take some time to look at this information if your son/daughter/ward is in their final year.
Here is the application timeline
· Fri 23 Oct: First Draft of Personal Statement submitted
· Fri 4 Dec: Internal deadline for submission of UCAS application by student
· Fri 11Dec: Internal deadline for submission of UCAS reference by Tutor
· Fri 18 Dec: Internal deadline for submission to UCAS of student application by College
Courses in furniture restoration and upholstery
Want to learn how to reupholster a seat or re-cover a lampshade? Interested in upholstery, furniture restoration or soft furnishing? If you'd like to develop your skills or try something new why not take a look at our great range of courses.
Click here to find out more (page 49) https://bit.ly/35MH3dI
Childcare and Early Years course
Interested in a career in childcare and early years? Join our NCFE CACHE Level 1 Award in an Introduction to Early Years Settings course. Starting in October this is a part-time course specifically designed as a taster course and is a required qualification if you would like to become a childminder. To book your place email juliej@gcfe.net
Sovereign Silver Surfers over 65s course
Do you know someone who would like to gain confidence in using a computer? Or to improve their skills? We have places available on our Sovereign Silver Surfers courses!
FREE - to those over 65 year years of age! Kindly sponsored by
Our beginners course starts Monday 12 October and runs for 8 weeks. Topics include: getting started, an introduction to the internet, using email and other basic packages. An intermediate course, following on from this then starts on Monday 18 January. Sessions are from 1.30pm-3.00pm at our Les Ozouets Campus. Practise these skills in a safe and supportive environment using College computers.
Interested? To find out morecall 737500 or email: enrolment@gcfe.net
Handbook for Students, Parents and Carers
Here is a link to our handbook for students, parents and carers. It is an invaluable guide to Guernsey College and contains dates and contacts that will be very useful for you to have to hand. ProPortal allows parents/carers access to further information on a student’s progress on their course, including attendance, punctuality, time table, targets and progression. Instructions on how to set up an account to view a student’s profile can be found in this handbook.
Swimarathon 2020 - Why not sign up?
Key Dates
Term Dates
Monday 7 September 2020 - Term starts
Friday 23 October 2020 - INSET DAY (College closed for students)
Monday 26 October - Friday 30 October 2020 (inclusive) - Half term
Friday 18 December 2020 - Term ends
Monday 4 January 2020 - Term starts
Monday 8 - Friday 12 February 2021 (inclusive) - Half term
Monday 15 February 2021 - INSET DAY (College closed for students)
Thursday 1 April 2021 - Term ends
Monday 19 April 2021 - Term starts
Monday 3 May 2021 - May Day Bank Holiday
Monday 31 May - Wednesday 2 June 2021 (inclusive) - Half term
Friday 25 June 2021 - Term ends
Parents' Evenings
28 September 2020 - courses based at Delancey Campus
5 October 2020 - courses based at Coutanchez Campus
12 October 2020 - courses based at Les Ozouets Campus
1 March 2021 - courses based at Delancey Campus
8 March 2021 - courses based at Coutanchez Campus
15 March 2021 - courses based at Les Ozouets Campus
Student Progress Reports and Parental Surveys
Survey 1: Autumn term
Survey 2: Summer term
Student Events
Christmas Celebration: Friday 18 December 2020
Future Workforce Recruitment Event: Date to be confirmed in March or April 2021
Apprentice of the Year Event: Monday 7 June 2021
Celebration of Achievement Event: Thursday 10 June 2021
Summer Ball: Friday 11 June 2021
More information on the above events can be found in the Handbook
Provisional Exam Dates
iGCSE Maths: 25 May and 8 June 2021
GCSE English: 7 and 10 June 2021
Contacting You
The College’s preferred method of contact with parents and carers is via email. Please add the email address of your child/ward's course Customer Liaison Officer to your list of ‘safe senders’ or to your contacts list/address book to ensure communications from them arrive directly into your inbox, rather than going into ‘junk’ or ‘spam’.
As you will be contacted directly by the relevant CLO regarding events specific to your child/ward’s course/programme area, it is important that they have an up-to-date email address for you. Their details are listed below.
Customer Liaison Officer Contact Details
- Hospitality & Catering/Hair & Beauty/Sport & Public Services/Creative & Digital Arts/Performing Arts: Gillian McCartney gillianm@gcfe.net
- Business/Office Administration/IT & Computing: Fiona Girard fionag@gcfe.net
- Construction & Engineering: Fiona Fish fionaf@gcfe.net
- Health & Social Care/Childcare: Julie Jones juliej@gcfe.net
- Access/English & Maths/ESOL/Learner Support Services: Lindsey Hutchins lindseyh@gcfe.net
Apprenticeships:
Programme Leaders Contact Information
Creative & Digital Arts and Performing Arts: Jon Snow - jonathans@gcfe.net
Childcare: Paula Grady - paulag@gcfe.net
Business, IBCP: Cheryl Stevenson - cheryls@gcfe.net
Engineering: Mark Pratt - markp@gcfe.net
Access, Progress to...: Sue Lambeth - slambeth@gcfe.net
English & Maths: Philip Emberton - phile@gcfe.net
Construction: Timothy Le Tissier - timothyl@gcfe.net
IT & Computing, Office Administration: Dan Hunter - danh@gcfe.net
Health & Social Care, Public Services: Liz Curtis - lizc@gcfe.net (Kayleigh Baddeley is now on maternity leave)
College Prospectus 20/21
Princess Royal Centre for the Performing Arts
Follow PRCPA here to keep up to date with the latest developments:
https://www.instagram.com/performingartsgsy
Alternatively visit the website, follow The Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts on Facebook or on Twitter @PRCPAGuernsey and now on Instagram @performingartsgsy
WELL BEING
Useful Links
https://www.facebook.com/GuernseyCollege/
TWITTER
Guernsey College@GuernseyCollege
WEBSITE
http://www.guernseycollege.ac.gg/
COLLEGE PROSPECTUS